Humanitarian and Compassionate Applications (H&C)

Under Section 25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), immigration officers have the discretionary authority to approve permanent residence applications from individuals who do not meet the standard requirements of the Act. This process allows officers to consider Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds when exceptional circumstances justify an exemption.

What makes H&C applications unique is that they are based on a holistic, case-by-case assessment of the applicant’s personal situation. Officers consider a variety of factors, including:

• The hardship the applicant would face if required to leave Canada
• The applicant’s establishment and ties in Canada
• Contributions to the community
• The best interests of any children affected
• Adverse conditions in the applicant’s home country
• Health or medical concerns, and more

Applicants must provide strong, well-documented evidence to support their case and show why they should be allowed to stay in Canada on humanitarian grounds. Success depends on presenting a compelling and complete picture of the circumstances.