published on 18 July 2025 @ 10:34 am · COMMENT

PRRA Access Expanded for Nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo

In response to the worsening conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Government of Canada has announced a temporary change to the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) program for individuals from that country. The PRRA process offers certain individuals a final opportunity to demonstrate that they would face a risk of persecution, torture, or other serious harm if returned to their country of origin.

Under normal procedure, individuals who have received a negative decision on their asylum claim must wait at least twelve months before becoming eligible to apply for PRRA. However, due to the deteriorating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which include reports of war crimes and severe human rights violations, Canada is temporarily waiving this twelve-month bar for eligible individuals.

Specifically, individuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo who received a negative decision on an asylum claim, or on a previous PRRA application between July 5, 2024, and July 4, 2025, may now be eligible to apply for a PRRA without waiting the usual one-year period. This change will allow affected individuals to present new evidence demonstrating they would be at risk of serious harm if returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those who are subject to an enforceable removal order will be contacted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and informed of their eligibility to apply.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE