CIMM – Asylum – October 21, 2025

Key Messages

• The Government is committed to rebuilding Canadians’ trust in the immigration system.
• We’re making our borders stronger and making sure the system is more resilient and responsive to emerging pressures.
• These efforts are working—asylum claims are down 32% compared to last year.
• Our actions and message are clear and effective: the asylum system should not be seen as a shortcut to immigrate to Canada.

Asylum Claim Volumes

• Canada is not alone is seeing an increasing number of asylum claims. The number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision doubled globally over the past five years from 4.2 million in 2019 to 8.4 million in 2024.
• Asylum volumes are difficult to predict and are driven by a number of factors.
• To address the rising number of claims, Canada has increased its processing capacity while at the same time implementing other changes to the immigration system to improve the integrity of our immigration programs.
• Our most recent Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan and new integrity measures  will serve to better screen foreign nationals who apply to come to Canada and limit the overall number of temporary residents admitted into the country.
• We are seeing results from our integrity measures. Between January and August 31st, 2025, total asylum claims across Canada fell by about 32% compared to the same period last year. In particular, we saw a 76% reduction in airport claims and a 26% reduction in inland claims.
• Further reforms included in the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act will continue to improve the asylum system by enabling faster and more efficient decision making.

Asylum Claims Made by Students

• The number of asylum claims made by international students has been decreasing after program reforms were implemented.
• The number of claims from 2024 and 2025 study permit applicants (post-reform) are lower than 2022 and 2023 applicants (pre-reform). As of August 31st, 2025: 11,400 claims from 2022 applicants, 24,100 claims from 2023 applicants, 8,700 claims from 2024 applicants, and 400 claims from 2025 applicants.

If pressed on top nationalities:

• In 2024, the top nationalities for asylum claims with a study permit or a study permit extension were India (4,256), Nigeria (2,630) and the Republic of Guinea (1,959). In 2025, the top nationalities have been India (3,815), the Republic of Guinea (1,254) and Nigeria (1,059).
• In 2024, the top nationalities for asylum claims with a post-graduation work permit have been  India (142), Iran (66) and Nigeria (61),  while the remaining claims were made by other nationalities. In 2025, the top nationalities have been India (246), Nigeria (128), and Iran (33), while the remaining claims we made by other nationalities.

Land Border Claims

• While overall claims are down significantly, we continue to closely monitor asylum claims at the land border in Quebec.
  • In spring and summer 2025, Quebec saw a spike in asylum claims at the Lacolle port of entry.
  • The vast majority of people claiming at the land border are Haitian nationals whose claims are eligible under the family exception of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) because they have a family “anchor” who has legal Canadian status or who has a pending asylum claim.
  • Since the summer spike, land border claims have fallen significantly, particularly in Quebec. Volumes are now within the average range seen in recent years.
• Despite the seasonal spike in land border claims over the summer months, total volumes for Quebec are 29% lower than this period last year.
• The number of irregular arrivals into Canada at land borders decreased significantly following the negotiation of the STCA Additional Protocol, dropping from 165/day in early March 2023, to 8/day in late spring the same year.
  • Since early summer 2025, Canada has experienced a slight increase of foreign nationals apprehended crossing between ports of entry, with an average of 12/day by the end of August 31st 2025.

Temporary Residents (TR)

• IRCC is taking important steps to improve integrity in the temporary resident program. This has resulted in a 76% drop in asylum claims made at airports and a 26% drop in inland claims (Jan–Aug 2025 compared to the same period in 2024).
• Overall, asylum claims linked to temporary residents declined by 33% year-to-date (Jan-Aug 2025).This overall decline is largely driven by a 67% reduction in asylum claims from Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) holders.
• In 2025, 59% of all inland claimants submitted an asylum claim within 12 months of entering Canada compared to 86% of inland claimants in 2024.
  • The share of claimants who waited 12 months or more after arrival to file their claim increased from 11% in 2024 to 38% in 2025.
  • This means that a growing number would fall under the new ineligibility provisions if and when they come into force, as proposed under Bill C-12.

Processing Data and Timelines

• As of August 31st, the overall processing time for eligibility decisions on asylum claims received was 21 days.
• As of June 30th, the IRB had an inventory of 190,300 claims that are ready to be heard. In addition, a further 98,000 claims were incomplete due to pending security screening and/or other outstanding requirement.
• Average wait time for a decision at the Refugee and Protection Division of the IRAB at the end of June 2025 was 17 months from the time a claim is ready for adjudication.

Protected Persons in Canada (PPiCs)

• A Protected Person in Canada (PPiC) is someone that the government has determined is at risk of persecution or harm if returned to their country of origin, following a successful asylum claim or pre-removal risk assessment.
• Protected Persons are permitted to live and work in Canada indefinitely, but do not enjoy the same benefits and privileges as a Permanent Resident—such as sponsoring dependent relatives abroad for immigration to Canada.
• The Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan sets targets for enabling Protected Persons and their dependent relatives to apply for permanent residence. For the 2025-2027 Plan these targets are set at 20,000 in 2025 and 18,000 in both 2026 and 2027.
• As of August 31, 2025, the overall processing time for PPiC applications for permanent residence was 44 months, with a total inventory of more than 131,000 applications from protected persons, not including the additional applications from dependent relatives.

Employment Support for Asylum Claimants

• Asylum claimants can apply for an open work permit, which allows them to work for any employer in Canada, with no limitations on the type of occupation or work location. This allows claimants to support themselves and their families and to contribute to the economy while they wait for their claim to be processed.
• In 2022, IRCC implemented measures to accelerate the processing of work permits for asylum claimants.
• To be issued a work permit, asylum claimants must have made an asylum claim in Canada, which was found eligible to be referred to the IRB, as well as having met a few other conditions, such as submitting biometrics and a medical examination.
• Following the eligibility decision to refer the claim to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and completion of the Immigration Medical Examination, work permits are now being issued in about 13 days. This marks a significant improvement from the 40-day processing time at the end of April 2025.
• In addition,  aligning with our commitment to reduce intake of Temporary Residents while fostering a stronger Canadian economy,  the Government of Canada has been working with other levels of government, community organizations, and private sector employers to facilitate employment connections for asylum claimants in areas where there are labour shortages.
• So far, we have provided opportunities to hundreds of claimants through 8 targeted, in-person employment events.

Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)

• The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States (U.S.) continues to be in effect. This agreement is mutually beneficial and supports the integrity of the Canada‒U.S. border and the effective management of asylum claims.
• Under the STCA, people must seek refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in, either in Canada or in the U.S., unless they qualify for an exception or an exemption to the Agreement.
• Individuals who do not meet an exception or exemption are returned to the U.S. to pursue their asylum claim, or vice versa to Canada.
• Since March 2023, the STCA also applies to individuals who make an asylum claim within 14 days after entering Canada between ports of entry from the U.S.
• The Government of Canada uses a robust framework to monitor developments in the U.S., and the impact that changes in policies and practices may have with respect to the integrity of the U.S.’ refugee protection system.
• The review is done on an ongoing basis. At this time, the U.S. is designated as a safe third country. We do not comment on internal U.S. government measures.
• We are in regular contact with U.S. counterparts on issues related to our shared border, and expect this to continue. It is in the national interest of both countries to manage migration and trade effectively across the border.
• Canada continues to do its part to reinforce the integrity of our shared border and our country’s immigration system.

Irregular crossings

• Irregular crossings dropped dramatically after the STCA Additional Protocol came into effect, in March 2023.
• IRCC continues to work closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to monitor changes in asylum volumes at the Canada‒U.S. land border, including trends related to irregular crossers.
• Crossing between ports of entry presents very real dangers. Individuals should claim asylum in the first safe third country that they enter, and do so legally at a port of entry.
• Entering between ports of entry does not provide greater access to Canada’s asylum system. Individuals who make a claim within 14 days of crossing irregularly will be turned back to the U.S., unless they meet an exemption or exception to the STCA.
• Through Canada’s recent border actions, the RCMP has increased its presence and interceptions along the border. The RCMP will continue to work with law enforcement partners in Canada and the U.S. to monitor the shared border, as well as disrupt and investigate illicit cross-border movements in both directions.

Quebec

• In spring and summer 2025, Quebec saw a spike in asylum claims at the land border, with the vast majority of arrivals entering at the Lacolle port of entry.
• Since the summer spike, Lacolle land border claims have dropped significantly to volumes typically seen in recent years.
• The current situation is not a repeat of Roxham Road. The majority of individuals are entering at the port of entry in a well-managed, orderly fashion—they are not entering irregularly.
• Thus far, the vast majority have been Haitian nationals and are eligible for an STCA family exception.
• We understand that many individuals have been able to rely on friends and family for support, given the significant Haitian diaspora in Montreal. Thus far, we have not seen an impact on temporary accommodation needs.
• Since 2017, Quebec has received $1.1 billion, including $543M from Interim Housing Assistance Program, in response to increasing numbers of  asylum claimants in the province.
• IRCC continues to work closely with our federal partners (CBSA and RCMP) to ensure alignment and coordination of the federal response.
• Contingency plans are in place, should volumes rise further. We are prepared to respond to any scenario.