Key numbers on Canadian immigration - Asylum statistics, trends and data

Data as of January 31, 2026

Canada’s asylum system exists to protect people who are fleeing persecution or a risk to their life or safety in their home country. In recent years, Canada has seen a steady rise in the number of people who have submitted asylum claims. This increase is driven by multiple factors, including

Our obligation

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Canada has an obligation to assess the eligibility of asylum claims made by individuals who arrive in the country seeking refugee protection (asylum).

  1. An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) official or a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer first assesses each claim for eligibility to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
  2. All eligible claims are then determined by the IRB based on the evidence and arguments presented, and in line with Canadian laws. Asylum claimants must prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution or face a risk of serious harm—such as torture, cruel and unusual treatment, or punishment—in the country where they are a citizen or where they have nationality. If they are stateless, this applies to the country where they usually live.
  3. Those whose claims are accepted become protected persons and may apply for permanent residence under the protected persons in Canada category. Those whose claims are denied may be subject to removal from Canada.

Learn more about how Canada’s refugee protection system works.

Strengthening the integrity of Canada’s asylum system

We’ve introduced important reforms to strengthen migration integrity and modernize the asylum system. These measures are designed to make the asylum process faster so that claims are processed more effectively while Canada’s commitment to protecting those in need continues to be upheld.

Measures to address the overall number of temporary residents in Canada and to improve the integrity of our temporary programs have also supported the integrity of the asylum system by helping reduce the number of claims entering the system.

What we’ve done

We’ve taken concrete steps to minimize unnecessary border volumes, increase information sharing, and reduce non-genuine visitors and crossings between ports of entry.

Implemented a partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals

Asylum claims made by Mexican citizens at airports across the country immediately fell by 97% between February 2024 and March 2024.

Introduced the Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement

The number of asylum claims from people crossing between ports of entry has since dropped from an average of 165 claims a day in March 2023 to 13 claims a day.

Heightened scrutiny of temporary resident visa (TRV) applications

We saw a 50% drop in asylum claims from TRV holders in January 2026 (1,930) compared to January 2025 (3,885). This was also the lowest number of claims by TRV holders in any month since April 2023.

 36% fewer

people submitted an asylum claim in January 2026 compared to January 2025.

Total number of claimants by month of submitted claim

The summary below provides an overview of asylum claimants by month. Detailed breakdowns and historical data are available on the Open Government Portal. The data is updated monthly. It is considered preliminary and may be subject to change.

About the data

Key definitions

  • Asylum claimant data records the number of people who make a request for Canada’s protection and can help explain who is seeking protection—their background, where they come from and other demographics.
  • Asylum claim data records the number of requests for protection and can help track system workload, processing times and trends.

These numbers don’t always match because one person can make more than one claim or claims can be withdrawn, abandoned or merged. Both claim and claimant data are also subject to change, as claims are processed and data updated in the IRCC administrative system.

Other considerations

  • The number of people who submit asylum claims changes from month to month for a variety of reasons, so it’s difficult to predict future trends. We often see an increase in land border claims in late spring and early summer when the school year ends and travel increases.
  • This data may include people whose asylum claim has since been sent to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) or was determined to be ineligible to be sent to the IRB, people who have become protected persons (as defined by the IRB) or whose claim was rejected, or people who have since become a permanent resident in the year in which their claim was made.
  • Please note that in the tables, all values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--”. In the graphs, all values between 0 and 5 will be visualized as zero. This is done to prevent individuals from being identified when data is compiled and compared to other publicly available statistics. All other values are rounded to the closest multiple of 5 for the same reason; as a result of rounding, the data may not sum to the totals indicated.
Total claimants

Asylum claimants by province and territory of submitted claim

This graph shows the monthly number of people who submitted an asylum claim, both inside Canada and at the border since January 2023.

Select a province or territory to focus on those numbers.

Asylum claimants by province and territory of submitted claim - Table
Asylum claimants by province and territory of submitted claim
Month Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut Province/Territory of claim not stated Total claimants
Jan-23--0----6,9452,9653510195555000010,705
Feb-23----20106,4352,60515--22047000009,785
Mar-2300----6,2403,045405245500000010,085
Apr-23--05--2,9653,26020--23535500006,850
May-235--10153,6054,340251027050500----8,785
Jun-235--15104,4454,9554515420595000010,505
Jul-23----2554,8955,510705495555000011,565
Aug-23--015154,9056,000552069571000--012,410
Sep-23--015206,4506,8156520755755--------14,900
Oct-2310--20256,6657,74013030880815--00--16,310
Nov-2310--20255,7858,13514525885885000--15,905
Dec-235--10155,8707,69512030755985000--15,495
Jan-24--515155,1907,505150557709650--0--14,685
Feb-245--20256,4607,79013530635845000015,950
Mar-24----25305,5757,97514555800865000015,470
Apr-24----25105,3758,19511530705820--00015,290
May-245--25205,3308,660155358308600--0015,920
Jun-2410--25154,9357,4851705072081000--014,220
Jul-2410045304,6557,77018055830805000--14,385
Aug-2410525253,6907,1401904583090000--012,860
Sep-24----35554,3157,09521065915970--------13,670
Oct-24101025353,8707,610200509451,105------013,860
Nov-24----30403,6606,420195558651,160--00012,435
Dec-245--20304,1756,445215608351,290500013,085
Jan-255--25253,0405,200180506851,080--00010,295
Feb-25--1035352,8704,3451455054591000--08,940
Mar-2510--35253,2154,3859530480920----009,205
Apr-2510--25304,5004,34010550565865--00010,495
May-2515--25252,3804,14010555535855000--8,135
Jun-2510535303,4004,615145506351,065----0--9,985
Jul-25----45255,6904,685160706959750--0--12,345
Aug-25151030603,6004,21514065640835----009,610
Sep-2510535452,8454,765125657151,050--0009,670
Oct-2515550352,4954,445185757001,0750--009,080
Nov-255--45352,1603,775125555758850--007,665
Dec-2515--35252,3203,61519530615850--0007,705
Jan-2610--35351,9953,0909545500780----006,595
Claimants at a port of entry

Asylum claimants at official ports of entry

When someone submits an asylum claim at an official port of entry, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will decide if their claim meets the eligibility requirements to be sent to the IRB.

The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)

The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States (US) is an important tool for both governments to work together on the orderly management of asylum claims along our shared land border. All individuals crossing the Canada-US land border to seek asylum in Canada are subject to the STCA and are returned to the US to pursue an asylum claim there unless they qualify for an exception or exemption to the STCA.

Asylum claimants at official ports of entry by province and territory of submitted claim

This graph shows the number of people who submitted an asylum claim at different ports of entry since January 2023.

The data does not show how many asylum claimants are currently living in a province or territory, only where claims were originally submitted.

Select a province or territory to focus on those numbers.

Asylum claimants at official ports of entry by province and territory of submitted claim - Table
Asylum claimants at official ports of entry by province and territory of submitted claim
Month Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut Total claimants
Jan-202300--05,890875200201600006,970
Feb-202300--105,520825100451350006,540
Mar-202300----5,3451,11025--951400006,715
Apr-202300----2,1101,60010--75950003,890
May-2023--0----2,3751,845----651300004,420
Jun-2023005--3,2252,130----601300005,560
Jul-202300--03,1952,07510065850005,430
Aug-202300--102,9551,460----751350004,640
Sep-202300----4,4302,540--01501450007,275
Oct-202300----4,2052,59010--1501650007,125
Nov-202300--53,4852,490----852050006,280
Dec-202300----3,5452,47010--1152700006,415
Jan-202400--02,8002,04520--652250005,155
Feb-202400----4,1002,425--0652500006,845
Mar-202400--03,3452,34510--1151600005,975
Apr-2024005--3,2952,670----901400006,210
May-202400----3,1302,7801001151200006,165
Jun-2024--05--3,0352,430100551200005,665
Jul-202400----2,5851,995--5901300004,820
Aug-2024505--1,6001,36515--551200003,165
Sep-202400--102,1551,5151010601100003,880
Oct-2024000--1,5601,56515--65950003,295
Nov-2024000--1,6451,18515--651050003,020
Dec-202400552,1851,44520--601250003,850
Jan-202500----1,29587515535120--002,350
Feb-202500--51,28574520045850002,185
Mar-202500--51,90080010040105--002,865
Apr-2025000153,33092510--651050004,450
May-202500----1,10073010540500001,935
Jun-2025005--2,07583010--4565--003,040
Jul-2025--05--4,0051,050251535800005,220
Aug-2025--0--102,045765102050950003,000
Sep-2025005--1,24579510--501050002,215
Oct-2025--0----1,03565510030600001,795
Nov-202500----91057510--35750001,610
Dec-202500--01,13571020--70700002,010
Jan-20260051099043510525600001,540

Where people submit claims

This table shows the number of claimants at each type of port of entry.

Period Airports Land ports Marine ports All ports
January 2024 3,600 1,550 - 5,155
January 2025 1,265 1,085 0 2,350
January 2026 435 1,105 0 1,540

See breakdown by month

Claimants inside Canada

Asylum claimants inside Canada

When someone submits an asylum claim from inside Canada (online or at an inland office), an IRCC official or a CBSA officer will decide if their claim meets the eligibility requirements to be sent to the IRB.

By province and territory of submitted claim

People can submit claims for asylum from within any province or territory. This graph shows the number of people who submitted claims since January 2023.

The data doesn’t show how many asylum claimants are currently living in a province or territory, only where their claims were originally submitted.

Select a province or territory to focus on those numbers.

By province and territory of submitted claim - Table
By province and territory of submitted claim
Month Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut Province/Territory of claim not stated Total claimants
Jan-2023--0----1,0552,090101017539000003,740
Feb-2023----20--9151,78010--17534000003,245
Mar-202300----8951,94015515036000003,370
Apr-2023--05--8551,66010--16026000002,960
May-20235--5151,2302,495251020537500----4,365
Jun-20235--1051,2202,825451036046000004,945
Jul-2023----2551,7003,43560543047000006,135
Aug-2023--010--1,9504,540501562057500--07,765
Sep-2023--015152,0204,2756520605605--------7,625
Oct-202310--15202,4605,15012025730650--00--9,185
Nov-202310--20152,3005,64514020795680000--9,630
Dec-20235--10152,3305,22511025645715000--9,080
Jan-2024--515152,3905,460130557057400--0--9,530
Feb-20245--15202,3555,3651353057059500009,105
Mar-2024----25302,2305,6351355068570500009,495
Apr-2024----20102,0805,52511530615680--0009,080
May-20245--20152,1955,880145357207400--009,755
Jun-20245--15101,9005,0551555066568500--08,555
Jul-202410045302,0705,77517545745670000--9,565
Aug-2024--515202,0905,7751754578078000--09,695
Sep-2024----30452,1555,58019555855865--------9,790
Oct-2024101025352,3106,045185458801,010------010,565
Nov-2024----30402,0155,235180558001,055--0009,415
Dec-20245--15251,9905,000195557751,16550009,235
Jan-20255--20251,7504,3251704065096000007,945
Feb-2025--1035301,5853,6001255050082500--06,755
Mar-202510--35201,3153,58585304408150--006,340
Apr-202510--25151,1703,4209050500760--0006,045
May-202515--20251,2853,4159550495800000--6,205
Jun-202510525301,3253,780135455851,0000--0--6,950
Jul-2025----40201,6853,630135506608950--0--7,120
Aug-2025151025501,5503,45013045590740----006,610
Sep-202510530401,6003,97012060670945--0007,455
Oct-202515545351,4603,790180756701,0150--007,290
Nov-20255--40351,2553,195115555358100--006,055
Dec-202515--35251,1852,90517030545780--0005,695
Jan-202610--30251,0102,6559040480720----005,055

Asylum claimants apprehended between ports of entry

This graph shows the number of people apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) since January 2023 while crossing the border at locations other than official ports of entry and stating their intent to claim asylum. The RCMP then brings them to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) location for processing.

The data is updated monthly. It is considered preliminary and may be subject to change.

Select a province or territory to focus on those numbers.

About the data

These numbers may be included in the total count of claimants shown in the “Claimants at a port of entry” or “Claimants inside Canada” graphs on this page, because claimants are counted based on the CBSA location to which the RCMP brings them for processing.

The numbers are unrounded.

Asylum claimants apprehended between ports of entry - Table
Asylum claimants apprehended between ports of entry
Month New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Total - RCMP
Jan-202304,875019001044,994
Feb-202304,5170500614,581
Mar-202304,08701500734,173
Apr-2023069090026104
May-202304603003079
Jun-202303021002760
Jul-202304208003383
Aug-202315303004097
Sep-202305922002588
Oct-202303607302975
Nov-202305800003795
Dec-20230900500131226
Jan-20245790160091191
Feb-2024075081094178
Mar-2024390080048149
Apr-202425501002785
May-20246600160023105
Jun-202412803003567
Jul-202415120014398
Aug-2024040013012579
Sep-2024037010014290
Oct-2024026015002162
Nov-2024033013042979
Dec-20240742110032119
Jan-20250730130036122
Feb-202509941401140168
Mar-2025063160038108
Apr-2025894221033140
May-202505408101275
Jun-202505806202288
Jul-2025023901716020292
Aug-202502390416032291
Sep-2025079080036123
Oct-20250100000213115
Nov-20250111030020134
Dec-20250930190610128
Jan-20260590800370

More statistics about asylum claimants

If a claim is determined eligible, it’s sent to the IRB. The IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that assesses each case individually to determine if the claimant qualifies as a Convention refugee or a person in need of Canada’s protection.

Find out what happens to these asylum claims, including by country of origin.

Additional resources

Get detailed data

Download detailed monthly reports on asylum claimants on the Open Government Portal.

Immigration and Refugee Board data

Get access to the IRB’s data on asylum claims, including claim data by country of origin.

Asylum claimants processed by year (archived)

Access the archived pages for data posted on our site between 2016 and 2025.

Additional resources

Students and temporary workers

Information on the total population of students and workers in Canada

Additional resources

IRCC’s application inventory

Information on how many applications are within or exceeding our service standards, as well as how many we’ve processed

Additional resources

Immigration Levels Plan

Each year, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tables the Immigration Levels Plan, a forward-looking snapshot of immigration targets for the next three years

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2026-03-17