March 21, 2025
What’s Changing for Refugee Claimants in Canada? The New RPID Explained
Commencing on 25 March 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will begin issuing refugee claimants a new Canadian photo identification called a Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID). This document will replace the previously issued Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD). The RPCDs will be phased out as they expire.
Similarly to the RPCD, Claimants can use their RPID to access the Interim Federal Health Program and other services available to refugee claimants. The new RPID is bilingual and has some personal information removed such as a claimant’s eligibility decision and their sex or gender identifier. The removal of the sex or gender identifier from the RPID is a positive change for those claiming protection in Canada on the basis of their gender identity.
Claimants who already have a valid RPCD should continue to use them until their expiry date. Claimants can apply to renew an expired RPCD or replace a lost, destroyed or stolen. As of 1 April 2025, expired RPCDs will no longer be valid.
Bellissimo Immigration Lawyers
BLGPC’s multicultural team encompasses many specialties and our staff members are among the most highly trained and most experienced immigration lawyers, consultants and clerks in the country. The standards for practice at BLGPC are rigorous and only those persons with key core competencies and extensive knowledge in the industry form part of the team