About Humanitarian & Compassionate Applications
Under section A25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a foreign national who is inadmissible, or who doesn’t fit into an existing immigration class, can ask IRCC for an exemption based on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds — either for permanent residence, or from a specific requirement of the Act or Regulations.
Who This Is For
H&C applications are a discretionary, exceptional pathway — generally for people with strong, established ties to Canada who would face significant hardship if they had to leave and apply through a normal channel. Common factors IRCC weighs include:
- Establishment in Canada (time in the country, employment, community ties)
- Best interests of any children directly affected
- Health considerations
- Family ties in Canada
- Hardship if required to obtain a visa from outside Canada in the normal manner
Important Limits
- You must not already be eligible to apply for permanent residence through an existing class — H&C is for people who need an exemption
- You can only have one H&C application under consideration at a time
- Certain categories (e.g. those already holding a Temporary Resident Permit in some circumstances) may not qualify
H&C decisions are discretionary and can take significant time — there’s no guarantee of approval, and it’s generally treated as an option after more direct pathways have been ruled out.
How We Help
We assess whether H&C genuinely fits your situation before recommending it, and if so, help build the strongest possible evidentiary record of establishment, hardship, and ties to Canada.