Proof of identity
To get permanent resident status, an applicant must have a valid passport, travel document, or some other identification that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept.
A refugee who does not have a valid passport should not apply for one. IRCC may conclude that someone who applies for a new passport from their country of origin is not really a refugee. If someone does not have any identity documents, they may still be able to prove their identity by making a ‘statutory declaration’ or sworn statement of fact. They will also need a statutory declaration from someone who knew them or a member of their family before they came to Canada, or from an official of an organization that represents people from their country.