Introduction: Understanding Refugee Protection in Canada
If you are preparing for a refugee hearing in Canada, it’s completely normal to feel nervous or unsure about what to expect. This hearing is an important step in your refugee claim, where you will have the chance to share your story, present evidence, and explain why you cannot safely return to your home country.
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)—specifically the Refugee Protection Division (RPD)—oversees these hearings. The goal is not to intimidate you, but to understand your circumstances and decide whether you qualify for refugee protection under Canadian law.
If you’re feeling anxious, remember this: your hearing is your opportunity to be heard, believed, and protected.
- Read the IRB Claimant’s Guide (official handbook)
- Basis of Claim (BOC) form (PDF)
- IRB Forms index
1. Refugee Hearing Questions in Canada: What to Expect
At the heart of every refugee hearing are the questions that help the member (the decision-maker) understand your personal journey. These questions are designed to clarify your identity, your reasons for fleeing, your fears of returning, and your efforts to seek safety.
a. Identity and Background
The hearing often begins with questions about who you are and how you can prove it:
- What is your full name, date of birth, and citizenship?
- How did you obtain your identification documents?
- Are your family members part of your claim?
These questions help confirm your identity and establish consistency with your Basis of Claim (BOC) form and other records.
See what to expect at hearings here.
b. Reasons for Leaving Your Home Country
You’ll be asked to describe what forced you to flee:
- What happened that made you leave your home country?
- Who or what are you afraid of if you return?
- Have you experienced harm or threats because of your religion, political opinion, social group, or gender?
Be specific, and speak from your experience. The member asks not just to verify facts but to understand your emotions and truth. The Member will compare what you say at the hearing with previous evidence to determine credibility.
c. Internal Flight Alternative
The refugee board may also ask:
- Could you safely live in another part of your country instead of coming to Canada?
- Why would that be unreasonable for you or your family?
You’ll need to explain why relocation within your home country isn’t safe or realistic.
d. Attempts to Seek Help
The member may ask:
- Did you go to the police or other authorities?
- Were you denied protection or told there was nothing they could do?
- Did you contact human rights groups, shelters, or NGOs?
These questions help assess whether you tried to get protection before leaving.
e. Travel and Arrival in Canada
Expect questions about your journey:
- How did you travel to Canada?
- Who helped you?
- Have you made a refugee claim in another country before?
This information helps confirm your immigration history and travel route.
2. Preparing for Your Hearing
Preparation is one of the most powerful ways to feel confident. Most hearings are scheduled several weeks in advance, giving you time to review your BOC form, organize documents, and practice your answers. Applicants are also advised to attend a ‘Hearing Ready Tour,’ which provides free online sessions to help them understand the hearing process.
If you do not attend your hearing, you will be scheduled for an abandonment hearing. The RPD will issue a new Notice to Appear for your abandonment hearing, outlining the specific date, time, and location you’re required to attend.
Key Preparation Steps:
1. Review your Basis of Claim (BOC) form carefully.
Be sure you remember the details and timeline of your story. If there are any inconsistencies, practice how to explain them honestly.
2. Gather all your documents.
This includes identity papers, letters from family members, police reports, medical records, or proof of threats in your home country. Bring other evidence like news articles or country condition reports that support your claim. You should also organize and bring all the documents you submitted to the IRB-RPD to your hearing.
3. Practice answering questions.
Try rehearsing with your representative or a trusted family member. Focus on staying calm, speaking clearly, and sharing your emotions naturally.
4. Confirm your hearing date and time.
Review the notice you receive from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. You can only request to change your hearing date or time due to emergencies or illness. Missing your hearing could result in an abandoned claim.
If you have an emergency, use the Application to change the date or time of a proceeding (PDF).
5. Plan emotionally.
It’s okay to feel nervous. Refugee hearings often bring up painful memories. Practice grounding techniques, breathing, or speak to a counselor before your hearing date.
6. Seek professional help.
A lawyer or registered immigration consultant can assist applicants in preparing their case and representing them during the hearing.
3. Virtual and In-Person Hearings
All IRB hearings are scheduled as virtual by default; you may request an in-person hearing.
In-Person Hearing
If your hearing is held at an IRB office, you’ll meet the member, your representative, and possibly the Minister’s counsel face-to-face. You’ll also take a solemn affirmation to tell the truth before answering questions.
The RPD member will introduce everyone and explain the hearing process at the start of the hearing. The RPD member will ask you to testify under oath or affirmation that your statements are true.
The hearing is a private and confidential proceeding, typically lasting less than three hours. If you’re under 18 and have made a refugee claim on your own, the IRB will assign a designated representative to support you and guide you through your case.
Need to attend in person? Use the Application for an in-person hearing.
Virtual Hearing
Many hearings are now conducted online through a secure computer system. Your hearing will begin when everyone has connected online for a virtual hearing.
You’ll need a quiet space, stable internet, and access to your documents. The virtual hearing format can be more comfortable for some people but requires preparation — test your camera and microphone in advance.
Follow the RPD virtual hearing (Microsoft Teams) guide and the tech setup checklist.
The RPD member will usually take a short break in the middle of the hearing. You may be eligible for an open work permit while waiting for a decision on your refugee claim.
- “Adults can apply for a study permit while waiting.”
- “Minor children in Canada don’t need a study permit if they (or a parent) are refugee claimants to attend kindergarten, elementary or secondary school.”
If you need an interpreter or have trauma-related challenges, you can request a special hearing accommodation. Children under 18 do not need to be present at your hearing unless specifically requested by the IRB-RPD.
Minor children do not need a study permit to go to kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school in Canada. The designated representative is a free support person appointed by the IRB to help you understand each step of the refugee claim process and ensure your rights are protected.
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Interpreter notice timing (tell the IRB if you need one; changes must be sent no later than 10 days before the next proceeding).
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Accessibility & trauma-informed accommodations (Guideline 8).
4. During the Hearing: How to Speak and Answer Questions
The member asks most of the questions, but your representative can clarify or support you. The Minister’s counsel (representing the government) may also ask questions, though not always.
Tips for Testifying
Tell the truth.
Always be truthful during your testimony to maintain your credibility with the Member. If you’re unsure about a detail, say, “I don’t remember exactly.”
Take your time.
You can request breaks if you feel overwhelmed.
Speak clearly.
If you don’t understand a question, ask the member to rephrase it.
Show your emotions honestly.
You don’t need to hide fear or sadness; this is your story. Only look at your documents if the RPD member asks you during the hearing.
Remember, you are not being judged — you are being heard.
5. Submitting Evidence and Supporting Your Claim
The RPD member carefully reviews every document you’ve submitted and determines which ones will be accepted as valid evidence for your refugee claim.
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Identity documents
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Reports from human rights organizations
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Letters from family members or school officials
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Police reports or hospital documents
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Country condition reports showing why your home country remains unsafe
Make sure to submit new or updated information before your hearing date. Your representative can guide you on what’s most effective.
Start with your country’s National Documentation Package (NDP); the RPD and RAD rely on the most recent NDP.
Deadline reminder: send evidence 10 days before your hearing (or 5 days if responding). If you’re late, make a late disclosure request.
6. After the Hearing: What Happens Next
Once your hearing ends, you’ll wait for a decision from the Refugee Protection Division. When your hearing concludes, the RPD member will invite your legal counsel to present the reasons your refugee claim should be accepted.
The member will decide whether to accept or reject your refugee claim based on your testimony, documents, and overall credibility. If your claim is refused, it means the RPD member has determined that you do not meet the definition of a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection under Canadian law.
If your claim is abandoned, the RPD will not hear your refugee claim, and you will not be allowed to make another claim in the future. If your claim is abandoned, you will probably have to leave Canada.
Accepted
You will be recognized as a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection. You can then apply for permanent residence and start rebuilding your life in Canada.
Rejected
You may be able to appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division or request a review. If this happens, seek legal advice right away.
RAD Timeline
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Notice of Appeal: within 15 days of receiving written reasons. Read More
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Perfect the appeal (Appellant’s Record): within 30 days of receiving written reasons. Read More
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If you can’t appeal to RAD, consider Federal Court judicial review (strict deadlines). Read More
While waiting for the decision letter, stay in contact with your representative and make sure the IRB has your current address and contact details.
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Open work permit eligibility while you wait.
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Keep IRB updated & upload docs via MyCase (portal guide).
7. Emotional Care and Mental Health During the Refugee Process
Many people find the refugee process emotionally exhausting. Talking about traumatic experiences, especially in a formal setting, can trigger fear, sadness, or anxiety.
You deserve emotional support throughout this process.
Consider reaching out to a licensed psychotherapist or trauma-informed counselor, especially if you experience:
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Nightmares or flashbacks about your home country
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Trouble sleeping before your hearing date
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Difficulty speaking about painful experiences
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Anxiety or panic attacks before or during your hearing
Therapy can help you feel calmer and more grounded. It can also help you prepare emotionally so you can share your story clearly and confidently.
8. Key Takeaways for Refugee Claimants
Be honest and consistent.
Your credibility is the foundation of your claim.
Prepare early.
Review your BOC form and practice explaining your story.
Bring all your documents.
Don’t assume the IRB has everything you’ve submitted.
Take care of your mental health.
You deserve to feel safe and supported during this time.
Final Words of Encouragement
Every refugee hearing is a story of courage. By coming to Canada, you’ve already taken a brave step toward safety and healing. The Immigration and Refugee Board wants to hear your truth — in your own words.
Remember, it’s okay to feel afraid. It’s okay to pause and collect your thoughts. What matters most is that you speak from the heart, answer questions honestly, and trust that your voice deserves to be heard.
With preparation, evidence, and emotional support, you can face your hearing with strength and confidence — and take one step closer to the protection and peace you deserve.
Support From Aref Psychotherapy
At Aref Psychotherapy, our licensed Canadian clinicians specialize in working with refugees, immigrants, and newcomers who are coping with trauma, displacement, or the stress of the refugee-hearing process. We provide trauma-informed, culturally competent online therapy across Canada—so you can connect with a therapist safely and privately from your own home. Sessions focus on emotional regulation, rebuilding a sense of safety, and strengthening resilience before and after your hearing.
Accreditations: All therapists are licensed under provincial colleges in Canada and follow the CRPO and CPO professional standards for confidentiality and ethics.