The Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is often the last legal safeguard available to a person facing removal from Canada. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate that removal would expose the applicant to persecution, a risk to life, a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, or a danger of torture in their home country. The PRRA is governed by sections 112 to 116 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and is assessed by an officer within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This guide explains the 2026 PRRA process, who is eligible, how to prepare a strong application, and the critical differences between a PRRA and a refugee claim.
What is a PRRA?
A PRRA is a written risk assessment conducted by an IRCC officer before a person is removed from Canada. Its purpose is to ensure that Canada does not remove anyone to a country where they face a serious risk of persecution, torture, cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, or a risk to life. The assessment applies the same legal definitions of Convention refugee and person in need of protection used in the refugee claim process, but the procedural framework is very different: the PRRA is a paper-based process with no oral hearing in most cases, and the officer is an IRCC decision-maker rather than an independent IRB member.
Who is eligible for a PRRA?
A person becomes eligible for a PRRA when they receive a removal order that is in force and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) notifies them that they may apply. Persons who have had a refugee claim rejected by the RPD are subject to a 12-month waiting period before they can apply for a PRRA, measured from the date of the final RPD or RAD decision or the date of withdrawal or abandonment. Persons who never made a refugee claim, such as those whose claims were found ineligible under the Safe Third Country Agreement, may be eligible for a PRRA without the waiting period.
Certain categories of persons are excluded from PRRA eligibility entirely, including persons subject to extradition and persons found inadmissible on grounds of security, violating human or international rights, or organized criminality, though these persons may still receive a limited assessment under a different process.
PRRA vs. refugee claim: key differences
The most important difference is the scope of evidence. A PRRA applicant who previously had a refugee claim can only present new evidence that arose after the RPD rejection or that was not reasonably available at the time of the RPD hearing. Evidence that was available during the refugee process but was not submitted will generally be excluded. This makes the PRRA significantly narrower than the original refugee claim for most failed refugee claimants.
Second, the PRRA is almost entirely a paper-based process. Oral hearings are only granted in exceptional circumstances, typically where credibility is a central issue and the officer cannot resolve it on the written record alone. Third, the PRRA is decided by an IRCC officer, not an IRB member, and the standard of proof and procedural protections are somewhat different. Fourth, a positive PRRA grants protected-person status (the same result as a successful refugee claim), but a negative PRRA does not carry an automatic right of appeal; the remedy is judicial review at the Federal Court.
Preparing a strong PRRA application
Because the evidence threshold is strict, PRRA preparation must focus on what has changed since the RPD decision. The most effective PRRA applications typically include updated country-condition evidence showing a deterioration of conditions in the home country or the applicant’s specific region, new personal evidence such as threats received after the RPD decision, evidence of events in the home country that specifically affect the applicant or their group since the RPD hearing, and expert reports or affidavits from country-condition specialists.
The written submissions must clearly link the new evidence to the legal test for protection and explain why the new evidence changes the risk analysis. Simply repeating arguments that were made and rejected at the RPD will not succeed. The PRRA officer will have access to the entire RPD file, so the submissions should build on the RPD record rather than relitigate it.
Oral hearings
Under section 113(b) of the IRPA, the PRRA officer must hold an oral hearing if there are factual issues that require an assessment of credibility and the evidence is sufficiently important that it could justify granting protection. In practice, oral hearings are granted infrequently. Applicants who believe an oral hearing is necessary should make a specific written request explaining why credibility cannot be assessed on the paper record alone.
After the PRRA decision
A positive PRRA decision grants protected-person status, which allows the applicant to apply for permanent residence from within Canada. A negative PRRA decision means the removal order remains enforceable and the CBSA will proceed with removal. The applicant may apply for leave and judicial review at the Federal Court within 15 days of notification of the negative decision, and may request a stay of removal pending the judicial review. The stay is not automatic and must be granted by a Federal Court judge based on a three-part test: a serious issue to be tried, irreparable harm if the stay is not granted, and the balance of convenience favoring the applicant.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for a PRRA?
You become eligible when the CBSA notifies you that you may apply, which occurs when you have a removal order in force. If you previously had a refugee claim, there is generally a 12-month waiting period from the date of the final RPD or RAD decision before you are eligible.
What evidence can I submit in a PRRA?
If you previously made a refugee claim, you can only submit new evidence that arose after the RPD or RAD decision, or that was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing. If you never made a refugee claim, you can submit the full range of evidence supporting your risk.
Will I get an oral hearing?
Oral hearings are rare in PRRA proceedings. The officer may grant one if credibility is central to the decision and cannot be assessed on the written record alone. You should request an oral hearing in writing if you believe one is necessary, with reasons.
What happens if my PRRA is approved?
A positive PRRA grants protected-person status, the same status as a successful refugee claim. You may then apply for permanent residence from within Canada. Your removal order is stayed while you hold protected-person status.
What happens if my PRRA is refused?
A negative PRRA means your removal order becomes enforceable and the CBSA will schedule your departure. You may apply for leave and judicial review at the Federal Court within 15 days and may request a stay of removal. The stay is not automatic and must be granted by a judge.
Can I get a second PRRA?
In limited circumstances. If your removal has not been carried out and a significant period has passed since the first PRRA decision, or if country conditions have materially changed, you may become eligible for a subsequent PRRA. The availability of a second PRRA depends on the specific facts and timing.
This guide provides general information only and is not legal advice. For advice on your PRRA application, please contact BridgePoint Law Professional Corporation.