The One-Year Window of Opportunity (OYW) is a special rule in Canada’s immigration system that helps reunite families. It allows resettled refugees in Canada to apply for certain family members who could not travel with them at the time of their arrival. This application must be made within one year of the refugee becoming a permanent resident.
OYW process overview
- The refugee in Canada submits the application online through the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal for their family member(s).
- The Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) reviews the application for eligibility.
- The visa office overseas verifies:
- Family relationship
- Medical exam
- Criminal and security checks (biometrics for applicants over 14 years old)
- If approved, the visa office issues a visa or a Single Journey Travel Document if necessary.
Which family members may be eligible?
This provision applies to both Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs). Eligible family members include:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children (under 22 and unmarried or older if they have a medical condition requiring full-time care)
- Dependent children of dependent children
Important: A child over 22 may still qualify if they were under 22 when the refugee’s permanent residence application was submitted (lock-in date).
To qualify, family members must be listed on the original refugee’s application for permanent residence or added before the refugee leaves for Canada. They can be processed while still in their home country. They must continue to qualify as a family member throughout the processing of the OYW application.
Changes that affect eligibility
- A dependent child who gets married or enters a common-law relationship typically no longer qualifies.
- A spouse is no longer eligible if the couple divorces before the application is processed.
What are the requirements?
Family members applying under OYW do not need to prove their own refugee status but must meet Canada’s immigration requirements. A visa officer will check for reasons that may make them inadmissible, including:
- Criminal history
- National security concerns
- Human rights violations
- Public health risks
- False information on Canadian immigration applications
Sponsors must also confirm they can support all family members (sponsorship undertaking), including those arriving later through OYW.
How to apply
Refugees in Canada must submit an OYW application online to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within one year of their arrival. You can consult the IRCC Guide (IMM 5578) for more details on how to prepare your application.
Tips for submitting the application
- Try to apply early: getting close to the one-year deadline increases the risk of missing it.
- Ensure the application is complete, including all required documents: if IRCC returns it as incomplete, it may be too late to resubmit before the deadline.
- Be aware of the e-mail address used for communications: applicants must have access to it and check it regularly to avoid missing important updates.
