Introduction
Welcome to AURA’s Resources for Sponsors, home to all our refugee sponsorship materials. These resources have been carefully created to help AURA sponsors undertake successful sponsorships. We strongly encourage all AURA sponsor group members to spend some time here.
Disclaimer: We are happy to share our resources with refugee sponsors who are not working with AURA as their Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). However, please be aware that each SAH may have different requirements and processes, so the information and steps in our materials may not apply to all sponsors.
Sponsorship Handbook
Our Refugee Sponsorship Handbook is your resource to plan and carry out a successful refugee sponsorship. Each AURA sponsor will receive a copy in advance of their sponsorship’s arrival day.
Click Here to download the handbook as a PDF.
NOTE: For best results in Adobe Acrobat, go to “View” > “Page Display” > Select “Two Page Scrolling”, and “Show cover page in two page view”.
Would you like us to mail you a hard copy?
Please email info@auraforrefugees.org with your full name and mailing address, and HANDBOOK in the subject line.
Training Videos
Training Videos
These Mini Training Videos help sponsors prepare for the arrival and one year support requirements. They are meant for sponsors to watch pre-arrival and reference throughout the year as needed.
YouTube lets you adjust the playback speed and add subtitles (using the CC option).
The Sponsorship Year
Permanent Resident Status and Card
Arrival Day
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Immigration Loans
Ontario Photo Card
Scams and Fraud
Settlement Plan
This comprehensive settlement plan helps sponsors plan and track their support. AURA must receive a draft version from sponsors before we submit their application to IRCC, and a finalized, updated version before their sponsored newcomers’ arrival date.
Budget Template
This document helps sponsors determine how much money they need to support the refugee newcomers for one year.
Checklists
These checklists cover pre-arrival, arrival and ‘first-few-weeks’ tasks. They are included in the Sponsorship Handbook, and available here as full-page documents.
Pre-Submission Requirements
These documents show the steps involved in submitting an application with AURA. The Pre-Submission Checklist shows the same steps in checklist format, for our groups working with AURA for the first time.
Download them here:
For Anglican Parishes and Parish Partnerships, click here:
Pre-Submission Process – Anglican Parishes and Community Groups.pdf
For AURA sponsorships without an Anglican Parish, click here:
Pre-Submission Process – AURA.pdf
For Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) sponsorships, click here:
Pre-Submission Process – BVOR.pdf
Settlement Training Sessions
AURA provides Settlement Training Sessions for groups actively involved in refugee sponsorship who need guidance on their responsibilities. We arrange a session for each of our groups before the refugee’s arrival.
Sessions can be conducted in person, virtually, or through a combination of mini training videos followed by a Q&A meeting with AURA.
To request a session, email info@auraforrefugees.org with TRAINING SESSION in the subject line.
Post-Submission Process
The diagram below outlines what happens after AURA submits a ‘Named Case’ to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
Lease Support
One of the major responsibilities of a sponsor group is to secure suitable housing for/with the sponsored refugee newcomers. This can be challenging due to uncertain timelines, low vacancy rates, high cost of rent, and the need to have someone act as guarantor or co-signer.
Refugee newcomers often face barriers in accessing housing, and acting as a guarantor/co-signer is one way in which sponsors can help. However, this comes with risks.
Ideally, sponsors secure housing through personal networks, community connections, or find an accommodating landlord—avoiding the need for a co-signer or guarantor. We encourage sponsors to explain the unique situation of Privately Sponsored Refugees to landlords, but in Ontario, landlords have the right to request a guarantor or co-signer and may reject applicants who cannot provide one. Without this, securing housing may be impossible, creating a difficult situation for both sponsors and newcomers.
Support Letters
Upon request, AURA can provide a letter for potential landlords to accompany rental applications. If applicable, we also offer a template letter for churches to complete. Sponsor experiences vary widely. While some landlords accept support letters, most require a guarantor or co-signer. Some sponsors have encountered rental companies demanding commitments beyond what they are comfortable signing. Given the high demand for rentals, landlords often refuse to negotiate. While we recommend avoiding co-signing if possible—and AURA cannot sign on your behalf—we acknowledge that it may sometimes be necessary.
Considerations Before Signing
If you or a member of your group act as a guarantor or co-signer, consider:
- Lease Terms: Does the commitment extend beyond a one-year lease? Many leases include clauses that automatically extend guarantor obligations unless amended.
- Group Agreement: Discuss as a group to ensure the individual signing has full support and that any financial risks are collectively addressed. While not legally binding, a group agreement may be helpful.
- Newcomer Understanding: Ensure the refugee newcomers understand the role and responsibility of a guarantor or co-signer.
- Lease End Follow-Up: After the 12-month lease, check with the landlord and newcomers to confirm the guarantor’s name is removed.
This is a challenge we wish to flag for all sponsor groups well in advance of the search for housing so that you can be prepared. Sponsor group members make a serious commitment when they agree to be a guarantor or co-signer.
For Anglican church sponsor groups: The Anglican Diocese of Toronto does not allow a parish representative or Churchwarden to act as a guarantor. Any church member who agrees to act as a guarantor is doing so in their capacity as an individual, not a representative of the parish.
Welcome Agreement Letters
Some groups use a written welcome agreement to clarify roles, responsibilities, timelines and so on. Contact AURA if you’d like to see an example.
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) created a Code of Ethics for Private Sponsor Groups. Available here.