Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) in Canada - Options to Stop Removal.
Facing removal from Canada? A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment may allow you to stop deportation if returning to your home country would place you at risk. Ayodele Law provides legal guidance for time-sensitive PRRA applications.
Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) in Canada
A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is often the final opportunity for someone facing deportation from Canada to ask the government to stop their removal. If you believe returning to your home country would place you at risk of torture, persecution, or serious harm, a PRRA allows those risks to be assessed before removal proceeds.
At Ayodele Law, we represent individuals across Canada who have received a PRRA notification or are facing imminent removal. These cases are time-sensitive, document-driven, and legally complex. Acting quickly — and strategically — is critical.
What Is a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment?
A PRRA is a written application reviewed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that assesses whether a person would face:
Torture
Risk to life
Cruel or unusual treatment or punishment
if removed from Canada.
Unlike a refugee claim, a PRRA is usually decided without an oral hearing. Officers rely almost entirely on the written submissions and supporting evidence you provide. For many applicants, this is the last safeguard before removal.
Who Can Apply for a PRRA?
Not everyone facing removal is eligible. You may be eligible to apply for a PRRA if:
You have received a PRRA notification from CBSA
You are subject to a removal order
You are not barred due to recent refugee or PRRA decisions
You are not inadmissible on grounds such as serious criminality or security
The 12-Month PRRA Bar
If you previously made a refugee claim or PRRA application that was refused, abandoned, or withdrawn, you are generally barred from applying again for 12 months — unless there has been a significant change in country conditions or your personal circumstances.
What Happens After You Receive a PRRA Notification?
Once you receive a PRRA notification, deadlines apply immediately.
Most applicants must submit their PRRA within 15 or 30 days
Late applications may be rejected without assessment
Extensions are rarely granted
For first-time PRRA applicants, submitting a complete application on time usually triggers an automatic stay of removal, meaning deportation is paused while the PRRA is decided. This protection does not apply in every case.
PRRA vs Refugee Claims: What is the Difference?
This table helps users understand why PRRA cases are harder — and why precision matters.
| Refugee Claim | Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) |
|---|---|
| Decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) | Decided by an IRCC officer |
| Oral hearing with testimony | Usually paper-based, no hearing |
| Broader assessment of persecution | Focused on new or personalized risk |
| Higher overall approval rates | Historically low approval rates |
What Evidence Is Important for a PRRA Application?
Because PRRAs are decided almost entirely on written material, evidence quality is critical. Strong applications often include:
Detailed personal affidavits
Medical or psychological reports
Police reports or complaints
Country condition documentation
Expert opinions or witness statements
Proof of new or changed risks
Generic country reports alone are rarely sufficient. The risk must be personalized.
What Happens If a PRRA Is Approved or Refused?
If your PRRA is approved, you may be allowed to remain in Canada and may become eligible to apply for permanent residence as a protected person.
If your PRRA is refused, removal can proceed quickly. In limited circumstances, judicial review or an emergency stay of removal may still be possible — but timelines are extremely tight.
Why Legal Representation Matters in PRRA Cases
PRRA applications are among the most difficult in Canadian immigration law. Approval rates are low, deadlines are unforgiving, and most applicants receive only one opportunity.
We assist clients by:
Assessing eligibility before deadlines expire
Identifying new or overlooked risk factors
Preparing persuasive written submissions
Coordinating expert and medical evidence
Pursuing court remedies where necessary
If you have received a PRRA notification or are facing imminent removal, do not wait.
Why work with Ayodele Law on a PRRA application
Pre-Removal Risk Assessment applications are among the most time-sensitive and difficult matters in Canadian immigration law. Decisions are often made without a hearing, approval rates are low, and missing a deadline can result in immediate removal. At Ayodele Law, we focus on building clear, evidence-driven PRRA submissions that directly address the legal risk tests applied by IRCC officers. We help clients identify new or changed risk factors, prepare persuasive written arguments, and act quickly when removal is imminent—so that every available legal safeguard is fully and properly pursued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Facing removal from Canada and considering a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment can raise urgent and complex questions about eligibility, deadlines, evidence, and your right to remain in Canada while a decision is pending. Below are answers to some of the most common concerns we hear from individuals who have received a PRRA notification or are approaching removal. Because PRRA applications are time-sensitive and often represent a final opportunity for protection, obtaining legal advice early can be critical.
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A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is a written application that allows individuals facing removal from Canada to ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to assess whether returning to their home country would expose them to torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. It is often the final opportunity to seek protection before deportation.
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You may be eligible to apply for a PRRA if you have received a removal order and an official PRRA notification from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Eligibility depends on your immigration history, including whether you previously made a refugee claim or PRRA application, whether a 12-month bar applies, and whether you are inadmissible on grounds such as serious criminality or security concerns.
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Yes. PRRA applications are strictly time-limited. Most applicants must submit their PRRA within 15 or 30 days of receiving their notification, depending on their circumstances. Missing the deadline can result in the loss of your right to a PRRA and allow removal to proceed. Extensions are rare and not guaranteed.
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For first-time PRRA applicants, submitting a complete application on time generally triggers an automatic stay of removal while the PRRA is being decided. However, if you have applied for a PRRA before, submit late, or apply at a port of entry, there may be no automatic stay, and removal may continue unless other legal steps are taken.
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PRRA decisions are usually made without an interview, so written evidence is critical. Strong PRRA applications often include personal affidavits, medical or psychological reports, police records, country condition documentation, expert opinions, and evidence of new risks or changed circumstances that were not previously considered.
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If your PRRA is approved, you may be allowed to remain in Canada and may become eligible to apply for permanent residence as a protected person. If your PRRA is refused, removal proceedings can resume quickly. In some cases, judicial review or other legal remedies may still be available, but timing is critical.
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You do not need to work with a PRRA lawyer located in your immediate area to receive effective legal representation. PRRA applications are written submissions reviewed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and experienced immigration lawyers can represent clients remotely across Canada. That said, working with a Canada-based immigration lawyer who regularly handles PRRA applications ensures familiarity with CBSA procedures, strict deadlines, and the legal standards applied to removal risk assessments.
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