What are humanitarian and compassionate applications?

Humanitarian and compassionate applications are requests made to immigrate to Canada based on humanitarian grounds. This type of application allows individuals who may not meet the regular immigration criteria to apply for permanent residency due to unique circumstances that warrant consideration, such as personal hardship, emotional distress, or the possibility of otherwise returning to dangerous situations in their home country.

These applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual’s situation and the broader implications of their potential relocation. The focus is on the compassionate aspects, including the need for protection or reunification with family members in Canada, which goes beyond standard immigration pathways.

The other options do not fully capture the essence of humanitarian and compassionate applications. For example, applications for tourist visas pertain to temporary travel rather than permanent immigration considerations. Similarly, work permits, while also important, do not connect to the humanitarian or compassionate premise under which these specific applications are made. Lastly, applications made by families of Canadian citizens could be part of various immigration categories but do not specifically refer to the unique and compassionate considerations represented in humanitarian and compassionate applications.