Program Summary:

COA provides information and orientation to refugees to help them prepare and have realistic expectations about their resettlement. The program aims to ease their adjustment to life in Canada through pre-departure preparation.

COA is funded by IRCC and implemented worldwide by IOM. 

Eligibility:

  • COA provides pre-departure orientation only to refugees who are selected by the Government of Canada under the resettlement program.

  • If you are an applicant for Canada’s resettlement program and are above 13 years of age, a COA facilitator will contact you directly prior to your travel to Canada to schedule you for a COA session, you will not need to register.

You want:

                Pre-arrival information and orientation about Canada. 

They offer you:

  • Specialized in-person or remote group orientation in local languages to refugees selected to resettle to Canada.

Language of Service:

  • English
  • French
  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Burmese
  • Chittagonian Bengali
  • Dari
  • Farsi
  • Kinyarwanda
  • Kirundi
  • Kiswahili
  • Oromo
  • Pashto
  • Somali
  • Spanish
  • Tigrinya 

Interpretation is offered in additional languages to accommodate the preferred language of service of clients.  

Language of Service:
  • COA Facilitators speak over 30 languages and interpretation is offered in additional languages to accommodate the preferred language of service of clients.


Download the O-Canada App

A free learning tool for refugees selected for resettlement to Canada that provides relevant and accurate information. Refugees can learn anytime, anywhere about Canada, supports and services available there and much more!

CANADIAN ORIENTATION ABROAD

Providing information and orientation sessions to refugees
  • COA is conducted in over 100 countries worldwide. .
  • Support services available (childminding, interpretation,
    transportation, and lodging grant)
  • Over 365,653 individuals have benefited from the
    programme since 1998
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