OTTAWA | July 4, 2025 — In response to a sharp escalation in violence and human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Canadian government has announced temporary changes to its immigration policy, allowing certain Congolese nationals facing deportation another opportunity to remain in the country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that individuals from the DRC who received a final negative asylum decision between July 5, 2024, and July 4, 2025, are now eligible to reapply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)—a move that circumvents the usual 12-month waiting period for such applications.
This adjustment follows alarming developments in the DRC, including reports of child executions, forced recruitment of minors, systemic sexual violence, and ethnic persecution. IRCC cited these deteriorating conditions as grounds for waiving the standard procedural delay.
Those whose previous PRRA applications were refused within the same timeframe are also now eligible to reapply. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will inform those under active removal orders of their eligibility to file a new PRRA.
While this measure opens a crucial window for at-risk individuals, IRCC emphasized that eligibility does not guarantee protection. Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and individuals must ensure their submissions are updated and complete.
This special provision applies only to decisions issued between July 2024 and July 2025. Those receiving a final asylum refusal after July 4, 2025, will be subject to the regular 12-month waiting period, as any recent developments in the DRC will have been accounted for during their claim.
The PRRA process is Canada’s safeguard against refoulement—the return of individuals to countries where they may face torture, persecution, or serious harm. The current change reflects Canada’s ongoing commitment to human rights and international refugee protection standards in the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
