First: the 2026 legal update (Bill C-12)
This is legally significant and fast-moving
Canada passed Bill C-12(royal assent March 26, 2026), changing refugee-claim eligibility. It’s retroactive to anyone who arrived or was visiting after June 24, 2020, and applies to claims made on or after June 3, 2025. Roughly 30,000 people were sent letters saying they may now be ineligible for an IRB hearing. Talk to a lawyer or settlement worker before making any decisions— don’t rely on general information (including this guide) for your specific case.- Ineligible claimants may instead go through a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) — paper-based, fewer protections, historically lower success rates.
- A temporary public policy now lets people in this “ineligible” gap apply for or keep an open work permit while awaiting PRRA notification — so they aren't left with zero income.
- Further changes (applying for work permits earlier, right after a complete claim) were proposed in June 2026 but are not yet in force — don't assume they apply to your case.
- If this applies to you, start with FCJ Refugee Centre or Legal Aid Ontario — they see this daily and know the current playbook.
First stop: I just arrived, where do I start?
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One free, 24/7 call in 100+ languages — dial 2-1-1
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Languages served by the 211 helpline
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TDSB/TCDSB schools with settlement workers
Do this first
Call 211 before you Google
Free, live, 24/7, 100+ languages. It knows what's currently open and funded — websites go stale, 211 staff don't.
Dial 2-1-1Get a free Personalized Settlement Plan
The YMCA Newcomer Information Centre gives newly arrived immigrants/refugees a first-stop info & referral plan. Register online or in person.
Bookmark Settlement.org
The single best general-info site for Ontario newcomers — housing, health, work, school — in many languages.
| Service | What it does | How to reach |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Newcomer Office | Coordinates city-wide newcomer supports; runs Newcomer Services Kiosks at City Hall & civic centres | toronto.ca — search “Newcomer Services Kiosks” |
| YMCA Newcomer Information Centre | First-stop info & referral; free Personalized Settlement Plan | newcomersincanada.ca |
| Settlement.Org | Best general-info website — housing, health, work, school, many languages | settlement.org |
| 211 Ontario / 211 Toronto | 24/7 helpline to any social service — shelter, food, legal, mental health | Dial 2-1-1 (free, 100+ languages) |
| Red Cross First Contact Program | 24/7 line for newly arriving refugee claimants — shelter, IFHP, legal aid, work permits, ESL | Ask 211 for the current number |
| Toronto Public Library Settlement Workers | Settlement workers embedded in library branches | Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Parliament St, Victoria Village |
Toronto Newcomer Office
- What it does
- Coordinates city-wide newcomer supports; runs Newcomer Services Kiosks at City Hall & civic centres
- How to reach
- toronto.ca — search “Newcomer Services Kiosks”
YMCA Newcomer Information Centre
- What it does
- First-stop info & referral; free Personalized Settlement Plan
- How to reach
- newcomersincanada.ca
Settlement.Org
- What it does
- Best general-info website — housing, health, work, school, many languages
- How to reach
- settlement.org
211 Ontario / 211 Toronto
- What it does
- 24/7 helpline to any social service — shelter, food, legal, mental health
- How to reach
- Dial 2-1-1 (free, 100+ languages)
Red Cross First Contact Program
- What it does
- 24/7 line for newly arriving refugee claimants — shelter, IFHP, legal aid, work permits, ESL
- How to reach
- Ask 211 for the current number
Toronto Public Library Settlement Workers
- What it does
- Settlement workers embedded in library branches
- How to reach
- Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Parliament St, Victoria Village
Bring your documents
Bring your immigration documents (IRCC letter, Acknowledgement of Claim, or PR confirmation) to your first appointment — most services need to confirm eligibility.Legal help for refugee claims
| Service | What it does | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid Ontario | If eligible, pays for a lawyer for your Basis of Claim form, RPD hearing, appeals (RAD), Federal Court review & PRRA | 1-800-668-8258 (Mon–Fri 8–5) |
| Refugee Law Office, Toronto | LAO's own staff-lawyer office for legally-aided claimants; also detention reviews | 2 Dundas St W, Suite 201 |
| FCJ Refugee Centre | Free settlement + legal-adjacent support incl. Bill C-12 guidance — no paid agents, everything free | fcjrefugeecentre.org |
| Community Legal Clinics | Free legal help on immigration/refugee matters in some neighbourhoods | Find yours via legalaid.on.ca |
| Steps to Justice | Plain-language legal info on refugee/immigration law | stepstojustice.ca |
Legal Aid Ontario
- What it does
- If eligible, pays for a lawyer for your Basis of Claim form, RPD hearing, appeals (RAD), Federal Court review & PRRA
- Contact
- 1-800-668-8258 (Mon–Fri 8–5)
Refugee Law Office, Toronto
- What it does
- LAO's own staff-lawyer office for legally-aided claimants; also detention reviews
- Contact
- 2 Dundas St W, Suite 201
FCJ Refugee Centre
- What it does
- Free settlement + legal-adjacent support incl. Bill C-12 guidance — no paid agents, everything free
- Contact
- fcjrefugeecentre.org
Community Legal Clinics
- What it does
- Free legal help on immigration/refugee matters in some neighbourhoods
- Contact
- Find yours via legalaid.on.ca
Steps to Justice
- What it does
- Plain-language legal info on refugee/immigration law
- Contact
- stepstojustice.ca
Don't pay an 'immigration agent'
Legitimate refugee-claim help is free for claimants — FCJ Refugee Centre and Legal Aid Ontario explicitly warn about people charging for it. Even with a Legal Aid certificate you may still owe IRCC filing fees (often waived for claimants — ask).Health care — depends on your status
| Your status | What you're eligible for |
|---|---|
| Refugee claimant (awaiting decision) | Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) — basic medical, some dental/vision, prescriptions with a co-pay |
| Protected person / Convention refugee | Apply for OHIP right away — IFHP continues for supplemental/prescription coverage up to 90 days, then ends |
| No status / uninsured | You can still access certain clinics — see below |
Refugee claimant (awaiting decision)
- What you're eligible for
- Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) — basic medical, some dental/vision, prescriptions with a co-pay
Protected person / Convention refugee
- What you're eligible for
- Apply for OHIP right away — IFHP continues for supplemental/prescription coverage up to 90 days, then ends
No status / uninsured
- What you're eligible for
- You can still access certain clinics — see below
Applying for OHIP: go to a bigger office
Use a larger ServiceOntario (777 Bay Street is recommended) — staff there know refugee/COPR documents; smaller branches sometimes wrongly deny valid applications. As of May 1, 2026, IFHP added small co-payments (e.g., 70% of therapy covered; $4 per prescription).FCJ Refugee Centre — Primary Health Clinic
Primary care + psychiatry for people without OHIP/IFHP (run with Inner City Health Associates).
- Address
- 208 Oakwood Ave, Toronto
FreeAppointment needed
Free phone health advice
Health811 — call 8-1-1 (7-1-1 TTY), 24/7, free nurse advice + referrals, no OHIP/IFHP needed. The Refugee HealthLine is refugee-specific and multilingual, 24/7.
24/7FreeConfidential
Housing & emergency shelter
Central Intake (City of Toronto)
The single number for emergency shelter placement (families, singles, youth 16+). The intake point most refugee claimants go through first.
24/7Call first to confirm
Sojourn House
Dedicated refugee shelter (76 beds) for newly arrived single men, women, families & separated youth seeking asylum. Call first to be assessed — don't just show up.
FreeCall first to confirm
COSTI Hostel Services
Refugee shelter services — by referral through Central Intake only.
Referral pathwayFree
Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)
Rent support for refugee claimants transitioning out of shelters. Funding was cut back in 2026 — ask your caseworker about current availability.
Referral pathway
The system is under strain — be persistent
Federal/provincial cuts to refugee-specific housing support mean waitlists can be long. Persistence with Central Intake and refugee agencies (Sojourn House, COSTI) matters — keep calling back.Work permits & employment
- Refugee claimants can apply for an open work permit — no job offer needed, normally fee-waived while your claim is undecided.
- If you didn't request one on your original claim forms, apply separately using the work permit application.
- Work permits are valid 2 years — apply to renew 2–3 months before expiry. You can keep working past expiry if you applied before it lapsed.
- Found ineligible under Bill C-12? Ask about the temporary policy that lets you get/keep a work permit while awaiting PRRA notification.
Free employment help
- YMCA Newcomer Information Centre — job-search workshops & info sessions.
- Newcomer Women's Services (NEW) — women-only & general employment programs, Better Jobs Ontario, sector-specific (e.g. construction).
- COSTI Immigrant Services — employment counselling.
- Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF) — career counselling, certifications, credential recognition via WES Gateway.
- TNO (The Neighbourhood Organization) — employment & settlement services.
Free English classes — LINC vs. ESL
This trips a lot of people up. The difference comes down to your status:
| Program | Who's eligible | Funded by | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINC | PRs, landed immigrants, Convention refugees — NOT refugee claimants or citizens | Federal (IRCC) | Free |
| ESL | PRs, Convention refugees, refugee claimants, live-in caregivers, citizens | Provincial | Free |
LINC
- Who's eligible
- PRs, landed immigrants, Convention refugees — NOT refugee claimants or citizens
- Funded by
- Federal (IRCC)
- Cost
- Free
ESL
- Who's eligible
- PRs, Convention refugees, refugee claimants, live-in caregivers, citizens
- Funded by
- Provincial
- Cost
- Free
Bottom line
If you’re still an active refugee claimant (not yet decided), you generally want ESL, not LINC. Once recognized as a Convention refugee or PR, LINC opens up. Start with a YMCA Language Assessment (416-925-5462) — you need an assessment before joining either. Free childcare (Care for Newcomer Children) is offered at many locations.Food security & children in school
Food
- Call 211 for the nearest food bank and eligibility info.
- FCJ Refugee Centre delivers ~300 hampers/month to claimants & precarious-status people (208 Oakwood Ave).
- Daily Bread Food Bank — main network, 200+ programs; site has a “find a food bank” tool.
- The Green Line's Food Access Map marks banks that accept people without full status (thegreenline.to).
Schools
- Children of refugee claimants can attend Ontario public school regardless of status or claim outcome — no OHIP or decided claim required.
- SWIS (Settlement Workers in Schools) — in 150+ TDSB/TCDSB schools; help with registration & the Ontario system.
- Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) — for newcomer secondary students, before school starts.
- WIN — for newcomer middle-schoolers and parents, one week before class.
Community-specific support
- 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers — Access Alliance (416-324-8677) and TNO offer identity-affirming settlement, health & advocacy support. See the 2SLGBTQ+ guide.
- Women — Newcomer Women’s Services (NEW): settlement, employment, ESL/LINC, women-only spaces, food security. See the women’s guide.
- Youth — TNO mentorship, homework clubs, conversation circles; Roma-specific outreach (647-709-2990). See the youth guide.
- Francophone newcomers — Access Alliance and others offer interpretation & services in French.
Practical tips for the first few months
Acknowledgement of Claim, Basis of Claim confirmation, IRCC letters, work permit — keep them in one folder and photograph/scan them right away in case of loss.
Missed mail can mean a missed work permit or hearing notice.
You need a Social Insurance Number to work, even with an open work permit.
Most major agencies (Access Alliance, TNO, COSTI) provide free interpreters. You don’t need to bring your own or rely on your children to translate.
There are real, current options (PRRA, the work-permit policy, a Federal Court constitutional challenge is underway), but deadlines matter.
Quick-reference phone list
| Need | Number |
|---|---|
| Emergency (police / fire / ambulance) | 911 |
| General social service info / referral | 2-1-1 |
| Free non-emergency health advice | 8-1-1 |
| Emergency shelter placement | 416-338-4766 (Central Intake) |
| Legal Aid Ontario | 1-800-668-8258 |
| YMCA Language Assessment | 416-925-5462 |
| Sojourn House shelter intake | 416-864-0515 x221/222 |
Sources
All sources accessed July 2, 2026. Service details change often — call first to confirm hours, intake, and availability before travelling.
- Settlement.Org — Ontario newcomer information
- FCJ Refugee Centre — FCJ Refugee Centre
- Refugee & immigration legal help — Legal Aid Ontario
- Interim Federal Health Program — Government of Canada
- Newcomer Services — City of Toronto
Current as of July 2026. Immigration and refugee law is changing quickly this year (Bill C-12 and related policies) — for anything affecting your specific legal status, confirm with a lawyer, Legal Aid Ontario, or a settlement worker rather than relying solely on this document.