If you are already a sponsor with AURA and are looking for resources, click here.
AURA is one of 142 Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) in Canada, working through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program. We receive thousands of sponsorship requests each year. Because of this volume, we are unable to respond to many inquiries.
AURA holds a sponsorship agreement with the Government of Canada through a partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. Our work primarily involves supporting sponsor groups from Anglican and United churches. If a local Anglican or United church is interested in supporting your case, please ask them to contact us directly.
On a very limited basis, AURA may support community or family groups in the Greater Toronto Area that have the commitment and capacity to be sponsors. These groups must also have sufficient funds available up front to support the refugee(s) for one year. A list of sponsor responsibilities appears below.
Please note that AURA is not accepting any new refugee sponsorship requests for 2026.
While demand for the PSR program has remained exceptionally high, the reduction in quotas by IRCC has meant our capacity to support named cases through the program has been significantly reduced.
If you are interested in sponsoring an LGBTQ+ individual or the refugees referred to Canada through the BVOR program, please contact us.
We cannot support requests directly from refugees seeking sponsors in Canada. Each SAH receives an annual quota from the government, and AURA’s quota is fewer than 100 people per year. Unfortunately, the demand for this program is far greater than the number of people it can serve, and it is not accessible to most people who require it.
Download our Factsheet: Refugee Sponsorship: An Overview
Sponsors are responsible for supporting sponsored newcomers for one year from the day they arrive in Canada. This includes:
- Providing the cost of food, rent and household utilities and other day-to-day living expenses,
- Providing clothing, furniture and household goods,
- Locating interpreters,
- Identifying and helping access a family physician and dentist,
- Assisting with registration for identification documents, benefits, programs, etc.,
- Enrolling children in school and adults in English classes,
- Introducing newcomers to the community and helping them feel at home,
- Providing orientation to daily activities like banking, transportation, shopping, etc.,
- Troubleshooting problems and identifying opportunities and relevant supports,
- Helping in the search for employment,
- Generally accompanying newcomers through the challenges and joys of settling in Canada.
Resources: Click here to access resources for current sponsors
Contact AURA to learn more