What is a PRRA?

A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is a risk assessment conducted by IRCC officers (not the IRB) for individuals facing removal from Canada. The PRRA determines whether returning the person to their country of nationality (or last country of residence) would expose them to risk of persecution, torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment.

The PRRA is intended as a last safeguard before removal — providing a fresh assessment of country-conditions risk separate from any prior IRB refugee-protection decision the applicant may have received.

Who can apply for PRRA?

Most foreign nationals facing a removal order can apply, with key exceptions:

• One-year bar after RPD/RAD decision: those whose IRB refugee claim was decided in the last 12 months cannot apply for PRRA. After 12 months, they become eligible.
• DCO (Designated Country of Origin) bar (pre-2019 framework): historically limited PRRA eligibility for nationals of "safe" countries. This bar was struck down by the Federal Court in 2019 and is no longer applied uniformly.
• Multiple PRRA bars: those previously refused PRRA generally must wait 12 months before reapplying.

The PRRA process

1. Removal order issued (or about to be issued) — applicant becomes PRRA-eligible.
2. CBSA provides PRRA notice — typically a written notification that the applicant has 15 days to indicate intent to apply, 30 days to file a complete application.
3. Applicant files PRRA submissions — country-conditions evidence, personalized risk narrative, supporting documents, often a sworn affidavit.
4. IRCC officer reviews — usually a paper-based review (no hearing).
5. Decision — positive (Protected Person status, leads to PR application eligibility) or negative (removal can proceed).

PRRA grounds

The PRRA assesses risk under sections 96 and 97 of IRPA:

• Section 96 — Convention refugee grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, particular social group.
• Section 97(1)(a) — risk of torture.
• Section 97(1)(b) — risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment.

Common gotchas

• 15/30-day deadlines. PRRA application deadlines are strict. Missing them forfeits the PRRA option.
• New evidence only. PRRA is generally limited to risks that arose after any prior IRB decision, or evidence that wasn't reasonably available. Re-arguing the same risks the IRB rejected is not effective.
• Country conditions disclosure. Strong PRRAs include current UNHCR, US State Department, Amnesty International, HRW reports specifically on the applicant's risk profile.
• Pre-removal context. A PRRA is filed when removal is imminent — coordinate immediately with an RCIC-IRB or immigration lawyer. Time pressure is real.

See also

• RPD and RAD — the IRB refugee divisions.
• H&C — an alternative pre-removal pathway.