Canada has introduced new rules to its asylum system, including a single online application process and a 60-day deadline for claimants to submit completed applications and supporting documents.
The changes, published on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website on Tuesday, take effect immediately, with IRCC saying it aims to improve the processing of refugee claims and reduce delays in decisions.
The rules are explained below:
Under the new process, people seeking asylum from within Canada will first answer questions on the department’s online portal to indicate their intention to make a claim.
They will subsequently be invited to an in-person appointment with an immigration officer, where they will formally submit their claims.
“For claims eligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), claimants will have 60 days to submit their completed application and required documents, with a one-time extension of 30 days on request,” IRCC said.
The department said the new process would reduce duplication and administrative work while allowing the immigration minister to review claimants’ information and documents before their cases are referred to the board.
Timelines for reviews
The reforms also establish time limits for government reviews relating to security, criminality, admissibility and programme integrity before claims are referred for hearings.
The department said completing the reviews beforehand would help ensure that only cases ready for hearings are sent to the board, reducing delays caused by incomplete or inactive files.
New rules on withdrawn claims
The new regulations also clarify the procedures for withdrawn claims and cases that the board determines have not been abandoned.
They specify what claimants must do to continue pursuing their cases and the circumstances under which the minister may reinstate a withdrawn claim.
The changes further provide additional safeguards for vulnerable claimants, including minors and people who may not fully understand asylum proceedings.
They clarify when designated representatives must be appointed, their responsibilities and the conditions under which their appointments end.
Work permit support
On work permits, the department said eligible asylum seekers would continue to have access to permits after submitting complete claims, making permanent the existing approach.
This would allow eligible claimants to work and support themselves while awaiting decisions on their applications.
The regulations also provide exceptions to the new ineligibility rules for unaccompanied minors and people who register their intention to seek asylum through the online portal within their first year in Canada.
The department said the changes would not alter how the Canada–United States Safe Third Country Agreement is applied but would clarify how its provisions operate under the new application process.
Under the clarification, the 14-day period in the agreement’s Additional Protocol will begin when an individual submits an online application indicating an intention to seek asylum.
The department also changed the requirement for claimants relying on an eligible family member in Canada. Rather than requiring that the family member’s claim has already been referred to the board, it will be sufficient for the claim to have been found eligible for referral.
The reforms form part of Canada’s broader efforts to tighten and modernise its immigration and asylum systems.
In March 2026, the country passed the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, also known as Bill C-12, introducing changes to asylum eligibility, information-sharing and immigration procedures.
Among the eligibility restrictions, claims made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada may be ruled ineligible for referral to the refugee board. The rule applies to people who first entered the country after June 24, 2020.
Announcing the changes on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the reforms would provide greater certainty for claimants while helping the country maintain an orderly asylum system.
The department said asylum claims submitted in Canada fell by 52 per cent between January and August 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, and by 68 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
(Punch)
