Waiting for a decision on a refugee claim can take time, and during that wait, a claimant is not simply waiting idle. Work is available through a work permit, and health care is available through a federal program, both while the claim moves through the process.
This guide covers what a refugee claimant in Canada can apply for while their claim is pending. That includes a work permit, the immigration medical exam, and coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program. It does not cover the claim process itself, which is described in a separate guide.
It is written in general terms. What applies to a specific person depends on their own documents and situation.
Can I apply for a work permit while my claim is pending?
A claimant can ask for an open work permit as part of the online asylum application itself, by answering yes when the application asks. There is no separate form and no extra fee at that stage. A claimant who skipped that question can still apply separately later. That later application needs a copy of the refugee protection identity document and proof of the medical exam.
The permit is not issued straight away. It is issued only once two things happen: the claim has been found eligible to go to the IRB, and the claimant has passed the medical exam. The medical exam is what usually decides how soon work can start. The open work permit is free for as long as an eligible claim is waiting for a decision.
Once issued, the permit lets the holder work for most employers in Canada. A work permit carries its own expiry date. What happens to it after a decision on the claim depends on that expiry date and on what follows the decision. It is worth confirming rather than assuming.
How soon do I need to complete the immigration medical exam?
A refugee claimant is required to complete an immigration medical exam within 30 days. This exam checks for conditions that could affect public health or safety. It is a standard part of the process, not something specific to one claim.
The exam is carried out by a panel physician, meaning a doctor approved for this purpose rather than any family doctor. Booking an appointment early in the window helps avoid the exam becoming overdue while other steps in the claim are still moving.
The cost of one such exam is covered by the Interim Federal Health Program for eligible groups, including refugee claimants. So the exam itself does not carry a separate charge for a claimant who qualifies.
Health coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program
The Interim Federal Health Program, often shortened to IFHP, provides health coverage to refugee claimants, protected persons and resettled refugees. It applies while other coverage is not yet in place.
Coverage follows the claim through each of its stages, including after a rejection by the IRB, rather than depending on a separate approval. It begins once the claimant receives their Acknowledgement of Claim, Refugee Protection Identity Document or Refugee Protection Claimant Document. The IFHP portal lets a claimant check whether they are covered and what for.
IFHP is a federal program, distinct from a province's own health insurance plan. In Ontario, this matters because refugee claimants are not listed among those eligible for OHIP. So the federal program is the coverage that applies while a claim is pending.
Keeping documents in order
Both the work permit and IFHP coverage are tied to the documents issued at the start of the claim process. Keeping track of which document was issued, and when, matters because later applications and renewals refer back to them.
A change in address or contact details can affect whether notices are received in time. That includes notices about a work permit or about the claim itself. Keeping the IRB and IRCC informed of current contact information is part of managing a pending claim.
The work permit, the medical exam and IFHP coverage each depend on the claim staying active. So a change in the claim's status, such as a decision from the RPD, can affect all three at once. Understanding how these pieces connect is part of understanding a pending claim as a whole.
The short version
- An open work permit can be requested inside the online claim, at no fee. It is issued once the claim is found eligible and the medical exam is passed.
- The immigration medical exam has to be completed within 30 days, and its cost is covered by the Interim Federal Health Program for eligible claimants.
- IFHP coverage follows the claim through each stage, including after a rejection, and starts when the claim document is issued.
- IFHP coverage begins once the claimant receives their Acknowledgement of Claim or equivalent document.
- Keeping claim documents and contact details current affects both work permit and health coverage matters.
Every figure on this page is cited to the government source it was read from, and was checked on September 19, 2026. Rules change, and a source is the authority where this page and the source disagree. This guide is general information about how the process works, not immigration advice about your own situation, and reading it creates no consultant-client relationship.