Refugee is a permeant resident class.

Refugee refers to both Convention refugees and people in similar circumstances. Convention refugee is a person who is outside their home country or habitual residence, unable, or unwilling to seek the protection of their home country or habitual residence due to the fear of persecution on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

If they are outside Canada, they must have refugee status to seek protection from Canada. They must either be referred by the UNHCR or sponsored by eligible private sponsors. These are resettled refugees and once they are admitted to Canada, they get their permanent resident status.

If they are in Canada or claim refugee protection at the port-of-entry, their claims will be decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) through the refugee hearing or appeal, or by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). To be conferred protection from Canada, they must either be a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection. A person in need of protection is a person who is in Canada. If removed from Canada, they would face a danger of torture, or to a risk to their life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. If these claimants’ claims are accepted by the IRB, they are eligible to apply for permanent residence. A positive PRRA also may allow them to apply for permanent residence unless they are inadmissible on the most serious inadmissibility grounds.