Hello everyone, my name is Rodrigue KASERERE a Refugee Congolese I'm living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, how can I migrant to Canada
Canada offers several immigration and resettlement pathways specifically for refugees. Here's how you can potentially migrate to Canada from Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda:
Canada resettles refugees through
three main programs:
- You must be referred by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) or another referral organization.
- The Canadian government selects refugees based on vulnerability and need.
- Canada provides support (housing, basic needs) for up to one year.
What you can do:
- Ensure you are registered with UNHCR in Uganda.
- Update your case file and express your interest in resettlement if you haven’t already.
- Be honest and clear about your protection concerns and vulnerabilities
- A group of Canadians (called a Sponsorship Agreement Holder or SAH) agrees to support you financially and emotionally for one year in Canada.
- They choose who they want to sponsor. It could be someone they know or someone introduced to them through refugee networks.
What you can do:
- If you have any family, friends, or church groups in Canada, ask them to look into becoming private sponsors.
- Some NGOs and Canadian churches sponsor refugees they don’t know personally, especially if you are vulnerable (e.g., a survivor of violence, single parent, etc.).
You can check groups like:
- The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP)
- Operation Refugee - by Canadian Foodgrains Bank and others
Similar to PSR, but support is shared between the Canadian government and private sponsors.
- Refugees must be referred by UNHCR, and are matched with Canadian sponsors.
What you can do:
- Again, registration with UNHCR is critical.
- The UNHCR decides who is eligible, based on vulnerability and resettlement criteria.
Register with UNHCR Uganda
Make sure your refugee case is registered and up to date.
Ask About Resettlement Possibility
At the UNHCR or refugee legal aid office in Nakivale, ask:
“Can I be considered for resettlement to Canada or another country through the UNHCR resettlement program?”
Gather Documentation
Keep copies of all your refugee documentation, UNHCR registration, identity papers, and any other relevant records (e.g., certificates, proof of family separation, etc.).
Improve Your English or French
These are Canada’s two official languages. Knowing one or both will help with integration and may support some immigration paths in the future.