Settlement

Settlement organizations provide you with information and assistance while you adjust to a new life in Canada. They provide culturally sensitive services in several languages, including assistance in finding a place to live, learning English or French, finding employment, assessing educational and professional qualifications, referrals to other services such as legal help, connecting with the community, filling out forms and applications, and answering other general concerns related to immigration or settlement. 

Services offered to newcomers in Canada may have eligibility requirements that vary by  immigration status: 

• Refugee Claimant: Individuals who live in Canada, but are waiting for a decision by the government to become protected persons or convention refugees.
• Protected Person: Individuals who applied for refugee protection status while in Canada and were determined by Immigration and Refugees Board to have a well-founded refugee claim. 
• Government-Assisted Refugee: Refugees who were resettled by the Government of Canada from abroad. These refugees have permanent resident status upon arrival in Canada. They are eligible for the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) as well as other services available for permanent residents. 
• Privately Sponsored Refugee: Refugees who were resettled from abroad through private sponsorship. These individuals are financially supported by their private sponsors for one year. They become permanent residents upon arrival and are eligible for services available to permanent residents.
• Permanent Resident: Individuals who have immigrated to Canada as economic class immigrants, sponsored family members or refugees who are not Canadian citizens yet, but hold permanent resident status. These immigrants are eligible for all settlement services funded by the Federal Government.  
• Canadian Citizen: Individuals who were born in Canada, or permanent residents who have met all eligibility requirements and granted citizenship. Once a Canadian citizen, you may not be eligible for certain settlement services, so make sure you check eligibility requirements. 
• Temporary resident: They include temporary foreign workers and international students, who are not eligible for federally-funded settlement services, but you may be able to access some services offered by organizations. Always make sure you check eligibility requirements for the service you need.