Legal Aid Saskatchewan Launches Immigration & Refugee Law Office, Expanding Access to Justice
Legal Aid Saskatchewan (LAS) is expanding its services to include immigration and refugee law, significantly increasing access to legal assistance across the province.
For more than 50 years, Legal Aid Saskatchewan has provided criminal and family law services to Saskatchewan residents whose legal matters meet the organization's eligibility and merit criteria. Beginning in September 2026, the new Legal Aid Saskatchewan Immigration & Refugee Law Office will launch in two phases, providing legal assistance in a range of immigration and refugee matters.
Phase One: September 14, 2026
Beginning September 14, 2026, the Immigration & Refugee Law Office will assist eligible refugee claimants with:
- Basis of Claim (BOC) forms
- refugee hearings
- humanitarian and compassionate applications
- pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) applications
Phase Two: January 2027
Beginning in January 2027, services will expand to include:
- refugee appeals
- judicial reviews
- detention review hearings
- removal order appeals
- stay of removal applications
The Immigration & Refugee Law Office will not provide assistance with:
- family sponsorship
- permanent residence applications
- work, study or visitor permit renewals
- checking the status of immigration applications
- housing or health issues
“The launch of Legal Aid Saskatchewan’s Immigration & Refugee Law Office is a significant step toward improving access to justice across the province by addressing the growing demand for immigration and refugee legal services. This expansion will help individuals and families access critical legal guidance and support as they navigate complex, high-stakes processes during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” – Jayne Mallin, Legal Aid Saskatchewan CEO
We are appreciative of the collaboration and input from various community organizations during the research and planning phases of this development. LAS would like to thank, in particular, the I&R Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from CLASSIC, Veeman Law, Pro Bono Law, Saskatoon Immigration & Employment Consulting Services Inc., Saskatoon Open Door Society, and Legal Aid Ontario. Legal Aid Saskatchewan also gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada for its full funding of Immigration and Refugee Law Services.
For more information, visit the Legal Aid Saskatchewan Immigration and Refugee Services webpage.
