Getting legal help
Immigration / refugee law
Legal Aid Ontario provides eligible clients with a range of services for immigration and refugee legal issues, including:
Representation by a lawyer – the certificate program
The certificate program helps you pay for a lawyer’s services, in certain circumstances. For example, certificates for refugee cases are available if the refugee claim has merit. You must be financially eligible to qualify for the certificate program.
Call Legal Aid Ontario toll free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information. Free translation services are available in 120 languages when you call.
Legal Aid Ontario does not provide certificates for the following issues:
- Assistance in obtaining permanent resident status or checking status of application with Citizenship and Immigration Canada
- Sponsorship applications
- Renewal of temporary resident permit or student visas
- Problems obtaining Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage
You may be able to get help for these matters at your local community legal clinic or Student Legal Aid Service Society.
Refugee Client & Lawyer Rights and Responsibilities
A lawyer for a refugee client has a responsibility to give them a copy of the Client & Lawyer Rights and Responsibilities in English, French or, if possible, their native language. These standards are in place to protect refugee clients and to better define their relationship with their lawyer.
The Refugee Law Office
The Refugee Law Office (RLO) is a staff office that specializes in immigration and refugee law. It assists clients with their refugee claims and other risk assessment applications, their detention reviews, appeals of deportation orders and Federal Court hearings, including stays of removal. You must be eligible for legal aid to quality for these services. The RLO also provides legal information to lawyers and community groups.
Questions:
Do you have a hearing with the Refugee Protection Division (of the Immigration Refugee Board)?
Do you have a hearing with the Refugee Protection Division (of the Immigration Refugee Board)?
If you have a low income and you require assistance at the Immigration and Refugee Board, Legal Aid Ontario may be able to provide legal help.
For more information, call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258.
Do you have a detention review?
Legal Aid Ontario provides legal services to refugees held in detention, mainly through the Refugee Law Office.
If you have a low income and you require assistance at your review with the Immigration Refugee Board, Legal Aid Ontario may be able to provide legal help.
Call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.
Do you have an examination or admissibility hearing, (formerly known as an inquiry)?
Do you have an examination or admissibility hearing, (formerly known as an inquiry)?
Legal Aid Ontario does not provide legal representation (a lawyer) at the admissibility hearing or inquiry for permanent residents convicted of criminal offences.
If you have a right to appeal, you may be able to get assistance at your appeal hearing. Call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.
Do you want to appeal your deportation order?
Financially eligible permanent residents and convention refugees can get legal aid for appealing a deportation order in some cases. Call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.
Please note: If your deportation order is because you have been convicted of a crime, you can only appeal if the conviction carries a term of imprisonment of less than two years.
Do you want to make a submission to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?
Do you want to make a submission to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?
Legal Aid Ontario does not usually provide assistance for this type of claim.
Legal help is available in very rare cases, for example if:
- you are experiencing domestic violence or abuse
- you have no remaining family in your home country, and you have family members with status in Canada;
- medical treatment for a life threatening condition is not available in your home country;
- a parent who has been ordered deported has Canadian-born children, who have a substantial connection to Canada.
However, legal help is not available if you fear risk or imminent harm in your home country.
Some community legal clinics and Student Legal Aid Service Societies (SLASS) also do this type of work. Contact a clinic or SLASS in your area to see if they can help.
Please note: Legal Aid Ontario does not cover the Citizenship and Immigration filing fees for these types of cases.
Do you want to make a sponsorship appeal?
Legal Aid Ontario provides coverage where there is merit for sponsorship appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).
Call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.
Do you have a judicial review?
In some cases, help is available for judicial review applications of negative Refugee Protection Division (RPD) decisions, failed humanitarian and compassionate claims, negative pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) decisions and decisions by the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) to dismiss appeals of sponsorship denials and deportation orders. All applications for judicial review are assessed for merit.
Call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.
Other resources
Please note that these are external links and Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for their content.
Government services
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Information about how to work, study, visit or immigrate to Canada. Learn about the Canadian refugee system, how to sponsor your family, and how to become a Canadian citizen. - Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Find information about citizenship and immigration in Ontario.
Settling in Ontario
- Settlement.org
Information and answers on settling in Ontario - In My Language
Information in 11 languages for newcomers to Ontario. Find out about immigration, housing, work, healthcare, educations, legal matters and more. - Government of Ontario - newcomers
Provides information and resources needed to settle into life in Ontario.
Career development
- Building your career in Ontario
Outlines what newly arrived immigrants need to know about working in Ontario.
