For people living in Canada with precarious, uncertain, or no immigration status, everyday interactions with public institutions can raise a difficult question: Could this cause immigration problems for me?
Across Canada, “Access Without Fear” (AWF) policies seek to address this concern by reducing the risk of immigration enforcement for people accessing basic public services for which they are eligible.
This brief explains what AWF policies do, what they mean in practice for people living in Canada, and how they differ from sanctuary policies in the United States (U.S.).
Why does this matter?
- Barriers to accessing essential services can leave people vulnerable to unmet needs, exploitation, and other harms.
- Many observers expect the number of people with precarious, uncertain, or no immigration status in Canada to grow, making equitable access to essential services an increasingly important policy issue.
- As “sanctuary” policies in the U.S. become increasingly politicized, there is growing confusion about how AWF policies in Canada differ.
About the authors
Lisa Ruth Brunner, PhD, is a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies. She studies immigration, citizenship, and education, with expertise in international student mobility, multi-step migration, and refugee resettlement. She has over fifteen years of professional experience in newcomer settlement in Canada and the U.S. and has been a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant since 2014.
Sriya Srivastava, BA, is a recent graduate of UBC’s undergraduate International Relations program with a minor in Economics. She is also a past Policy Research Assistant at the UBC Centre for Migration Studies. Sriya has experience in policy research and analysis across provincial government, academic, and community settings, including work on climate resilience, regulatory policy, and global economic and diplomatic policy.
Suggested citation
Brunner, Lisa Ruth and Sriya Srivastava. 2026. “How do ‘Access Without Fear’ policies work in Canada?” Immigration Policy Decoded (No. 2026-02). Vancouver: University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies.
Copyright: UBC Centre for Migration Studies
Availability: Web & Print
Publication date: October 14, 2026 (No. 2)
Pages: 14