Applications for permanent residence in Canada are normally made from outside of the country. If a person is already living in Canada, however, and if he or she can show very strong reasons for wanting to stay here while the application is processed, the government may grant special permission to apply from within the country. This request is called a Humanitarian and Compassionate or H&C application; there is a cost of $550 per adult and $150 per child to file this application (plus a $490 Right of Landing fee if the application is accepted).

The government grants H&C applications in exceptional circumstances. The most important factors are whether or not the applicant is well-established in Canada (for example, if he or she has lived here for a very long time, has family here, etc.) and how difficult it would be for him or her to return home to make the application (for example, if there is a war in the applicant’s homeland, if he or she does not have any family left there, etc.). In preparing this type of application, it is very important for the applicant to give the government as much good evidence as possible.

This type of application can be made by people with temporary status in Canada, as well as by people without any status. Even someone who has hidden from Immigration and is living here illegally can make this type of application, provided there are very strong humanitarian reasons to make an exception in their case.

We assist in gathering the necessary documents for our clients and we send detailed written submissions with the application.  For further information, please contact us at info@vanlehrer.com

Last revised: January 2007