Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications
Certificate hours for H&C applications and submissions are as follows:
- 16 hours for the initial application and submissions
- Additional 10 hours if the H&C application is given first stage approval (for certificates issued on or after October 16, 2023)
Lawyers must use the Immigration certificate authorizations request form to request the additional 10 hours.
Note: LAO does not cover the application fees required when making applications under Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds. Those in receipt of a certificate must pay the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada filing fees from their own private funds.
Legal eligibility
Certificates for H&C applications and submissions are available for a range of clients and circumstances including:
- experienced domestic violence in Canada
- has a serious medical condition for which adequate treatment is not available in the country of origin
- will experience serious human rights violations in their country of origin
- is experiencing significant mental health or cognitive issues
- has a serious health condition and cannot receive adequate treatment in the country of origin
- has important family connections in Canada and no or few family connections in the country of origin
- is a stateless person who is unable to return to a country of previous habitual residence
- is a minor with no parent or legal guardian in Canada
- is from a country on the Temporary Suspension of Removals list or the Administrative Deferral of Removals list
- has very significant establishment in Canada
- has a connection to a child such that the child will be directly affected by the outcome of the individual’s legal matter and it is in the best interests of child that the individual remain in Canada; or
- demonstrates any other factor considered relevant by LAO