What Is an H&C Application?

An H&C application is a request to the Government of Canada to make an exception to the usual immigration rules based on compassionate or humanitarian factors. This process is designed for people who would not normally qualify for permanent residence but have strong reasons to remain in Canada due to personal hardship, family ties, or vulnerability in their country of origin.

You can only apply for H&C from inside Canada, and it is generally used by people who do not have a valid immigration status or who are at risk of removal but have deeply established lives in Canada.

Who Can Apply for H&C?

You may qualify to apply for permanent residence under H&C grounds if you can demonstrate that:

• You are established in Canada and have built a life here.

• You would experience undue hardship if forced to leave.

• Returning to your country of origin would expose you to danger, lack of medical care, or other serious risks.

• You have Canadian-born children or children who would suffer negative consequences if you were removed.

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Key Evidence to Support Your Application

There is no fixed list of required documents, but the stronger and more diverse your evidence, the higher your chances of success. Each H&C case is unique and must be built on detailed, personalized documentation. Here are the most important types of supporting evidence:
 

1. Medical Evidence

• Letters or reports from physicians, specialists, or psychologists confirming critical health conditions (physical or mental).

• Documentation showing you require ongoing treatment that is unavailable or inaccessible in your country of origin.

• Prescriptions, diagnostic reports, and hospital records.
   

2. Proof of Establishment in Canada

• Employment records, job contracts, or pay stubs.

• Proof of residence: lease agreements, utility bills, or letters from landlords.

• Financial documents: tax returns, bank statements, proof of self-sufficiency.

• Letters of support from employers, colleagues, neighbours, or community leaders.
   

3. Community and Social Integration

• Evidence of your volunteer work, community service, or participation in local organizations.

• Memberships in cultural, religious, or social groups.

• Letters from community members vouching for your positive contributions and integration.
   

4. Family Ties in Canada

• Proof of close relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (e.g., spouse, child, sibling, or parent).

• Letters of support from family members, highlighting emotional and practical dependency.

• Immigration status documents of relatives.
   

5. Best Interests of Children

If you have children in Canada—especially if they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents—the law requires Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to consider their best interests as a primary factor.

Documents to include:

• Birth certificates of Canadian-born children.

• School enrollment letters, report cards, and attendance records.

• Letters from teachers, principals, or counselors.

• Records of participation in sports, music, arts, or community programs.

• Documentation showing emotional and developmental attachment to Canada.
   

6. Risk in Country of Origin

Although H&C is not a substitute for a refugee claim, you can still submit evidence that returning to your country would cause:

• Threats to your safety or dignity;

• Lack of access to healthcare or basic services;

• Reports from human rights organizations, news articles, or country condition assessments confirming instability, repression, or violence in your country of origin.