By Jatinder Kumar Kataria, Barrister & Solicitor · Last reviewed October 2026 · 6 min read
A refusal letter is stressful, but it is often not the end. What you can do next depends on the type of application and why it was refused. Some options have deadlines of only 15 or 30 days, so read this soon after you receive the decision.
1. Read the reasons carefully
The refusal letter gives a short reason. The officer's full notes are often more useful. You can usually request them through an access to information or privacy request. For a Federal Court judicial review, the officer's reasons are produced as part of the case.
2. Reapply with a stronger application
For many temporary applications, such as visitor visas and study permits, you can simply apply again. This works best when the refusal was caused by missing or unclear evidence that you can now fix. Reapplying with the same documents usually leads to the same result.
3. Appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (some sponsorships)
If your family sponsorship was refused, the sponsor (the person in Canada) may be able to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division. The notice of appeal must be received within 30 days after the sponsor receives the decision and reasons. Some refusals cannot be appealed, including most refusals for serious criminality and some misrepresentation findings.
4. Judicial review in the Federal Court
If there is no appeal, you can ask the Federal Court to review whether the decision was reasonable and fair. The application for leave must be filed and served within 15 days for decisions made in Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada, from the day you were notified or became aware of the decision.
5. Other routes
- Reconsideration request. You can ask the office to reconsider, but there is no formal process and the officer does not have to respond. It does not stop the judicial review deadline.
- Humanitarian and compassionate application. For people in Canada with strong ties or hardship.
- A different program. Sometimes another stream is a better fit.
Sources
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, ss. 63, 64, 72
- Immigration Appeal Division Rules, 2022 (SOR/2022-277)
- Federal Courts Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Rules
This guide is general information about the law in Ontario and Canada as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Your situation may differ; please get advice before acting.