If you are asked to complete your claim online

Claiming asylum isn’t a shortcut to help you stay in Canada longer.

If Canada decides you don’t need protection, you need to leave the country.

If lie on your claim, you could be banned from returning.

If you started your asylum claim at the border when you entered Canada and were told by a CBSA Border Services Officer to complete your claim online, you need to use the IRCC Portal.

1. Prepare your documents

   Get a scanner or camera ready to make copies of your documents.

   You and each family member claiming asylum must:

   • complete the Basis of Claim (BOC) form(opens in a new tab)  and send it directly to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
   • provide information from your acknowledgement of claim (AOC) or refugee protection identity document (RPID)

   If someone is helping you make your claim, you must complete and sign the Use of a Representative form.

   Optional documents

   You can provide other documents in support of your claim, including:

   • identity documents
   • proof of entry to Canada
   • Green Card
   • U.S. non-immigrant visa
   • proof of membership in political organizations, unions, or other groups
   • police certificate
   • certification of conviction
   • any other document that could support your claim
     • proof of ill treatment, desecration or looting you witnessed or took part in
     • news articles and human rights reports on country conditions
     • an explanation of any difficulties you had in submitting or providing information in the Portal

2. Create an IRCC Portal account

   You can use 1 account to complete a claim online for you and any family members who entered Canada with you.

   Get an IRCC portal account (opens in a new tab) 

3. Complete and submit your claim

   Once you sign in to your IRCC Portal account, choose “Make a new refugee claim or Continue a claim made to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).”

   You will be asked, “Did you already make a claim to an officer when you entered Canada (for example: land border, airport)?” Click “Yes”.

   You will be asked, “Were you given a refugee protection claimant document?” Answer “Yes” if you have a refugee protection claimant document or refugee protection identity document (brown paper).

   If you answer “No,” you will be asked if you were given an acknowledgement of claim document. Answer “Yes” if you have an acknowledgement of claim document.

   You will then be asked to provide the following information exactly as it is listed on your refugee protection claimant document, refugee protection identity document or acknowledgement of claim document:

   • your application number (starts with the letter “L”)
   • your UCI (unique client identifier)
   • your date of birth

   You will be asked to confirm your application and review the name(s) listed in the claim. If you have family members who entered Canada and made asylum claims at the same time as you, make sure they are also listed.

   If your receive an error that your application information is not in the system

   Review your entries to make sure they are entered exactly as they are on your document.

   If they are not listed, click “No” and contact the CBSA by email at CBSA.Asylum-Asile.ASFC@CBSA-ASFC.gc.ca and include:

   • Your application number (starts with the letter “L”)
   • The name(s) and application number(s) of your family member(s)

   You will need to review your information and answer all the questions you see truthfully for you and your family members. If you need help completing your claim online, you can use the application guide. When you’re done, you’ll get a list of documents to upload.

   You’ll also be able to upload copies of other documents to support your claim. This includes the option to submit your completed Basis of Claim (BOC) form.