The Government uses a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) to assess if you are being removed to a place where you would be in danger of persecution or torture or where there would be a risk to you of cruel or unusual treatment or punishment.

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer tells you if you’re eligible. They only check to see if you’re eligible after they start the removal process. They also check to see if the 12-month waiting period applies to you.

In most cases, a 12-month waiting period applies if

• you abandon or withdraw your refugee claim, or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) rejects it

• you abandon or withdraw another PRRA application, or we refuse it

• the Federal Court refuses your attempt to have your refugee claim or PRRA decision reviewed

If the 12-month waiting period applies, you won’t be eligible to submit a PRRA application until the waiting period is over.

You can’t apply for a PRRA if you

• made a refugee claim that was ineligible because of the Safe Third Country Agreement

• were found to be a Convention refugee in another country that you can go back to

• are a protected person and already have refugee protection in Canada

• are subject to extradition