A Group of Five (G5) is five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee recognized by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state to come to Canada. The five individuals act as guarantors that the necessary support will be provided for the full duration of the sponsorship. They provide additional opportunities for refugees living abroad to find protection and build a new life in Canada through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program.

G5s may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state. The principal applicant MUST already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body has found that an individual meets its refugee definition. This authorized body can either be the UNHCR or the government of the country (i.e., foreign state) where the refugee is now living.