{"id":85,"date":"2014-02-25T22:10:43","date_gmt":"2014-02-25T22:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/rstp\/?page_id=85"},"modified":"2025-11-23T04:26:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T09:26:54","slug":"sponsorship-agreement-holders","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rstptemp.turnbull.co\/en\/refugee-sponsorship\/sponsorship-agreement-holders\/","title":{"rendered":"Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Read on to learn what exactly a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is, what they do and the steps one would have to take to become a SAH.<\/p>\n\n

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What is a SAH, what do they do and how do you become one?<\/p>\n\t\t\t

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What is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)?<\/h2>\n

A Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is an incorporated organization that has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.<\/p>\n

The sponsorship agreement<\/a> allows SAHs to sponsor a certain number of refugees each year for resettlement to Canada through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A SAH may be a local, regional or national organization. SAHs differ in their activities, size, composition and geographical mandate.<\/p>\n

SAHs may partner with groups or individuals to sponsor refugees under their agreements. These groups are referred to as Constituent Groups (CGs); any individuals that partner with SAHs are known as co-sponsors.<\/p>\n

Currently, there are more than 120 SAHs throughout Canada (excluding Quebec).<\/p>\n

The list of SAHs is available on IRCC’s website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Does an Organization Become a SAH?<\/h2>\n
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NOTE: THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR 2023 IS NOW CLOSED<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you intend to apply to become a SAH in 2024,
please complete the organization pre-assessment form<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

To become a SAH, an incorporated organization must submit an application package with the required supporting documents to IRCC during the annual three-month application window.<\/p>\n

Organizations that would like to become SAHs must meet all of the following requirements:<\/p>\n

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  • They must have been incorporated for at least two years;<\/li>\n
  • They must be physically located in Canada;<\/li>\n
  • They must have the necessary financial capacity and the ability to provide copies of audited financial statements for the most recent two-year period with the application package;<\/li>\n
  • Individuals at the organization must have completed the mandatory RSTP Becoming a SAH e-training course<\/a>;<\/li>\n
  • They must understand and uphold the objectives of the PSR program;<\/li>\n
  • They must have a volunteer base and the capacity to sponsor more than five cases per year; and,<\/li>\n
  • Individuals at the organization must pass a criminality check.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Further, detailed information about the requirements can be found in the becoming a SAH brochure that is available to download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Information on the application process, how to request a copy of the application package and the annual application window, can be found on the IRCC website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Watch this recorded video to learn about the application requirements:<\/p>\n