Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan

Ottawa, March 14, 2024—We remain deeply concerned about the situation in the Nagorno-­Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which could put individuals from the region at risk if they were to return.

People from the region who received a negative final decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada or the Federal Court between March 15, 2023, and March 14, 2024, may now be eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). People who received a final PRRA decision from IRCC during that period may also be eligible to apply. Under normal circumstances, people are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months following a negative decision.

The Canada Border Services Agency will advise eligible people from the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan that they can apply for a PRRA if they are currently subject to an enforceable removal order.

People are responsible for keeping their PRRA application up to date and for informing IRCC of any changes to their application. Being eligible to apply for a PRRA does not guarantee its outcome. IRCC officers will continue to decide on each case individually, based on the information provided.

People from the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan who receive a final negative decision after March 14, 2024, are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months. That is because any recent changes in country conditions would have been considered when the refugee claim was decided or during the PRRA process.