Changes to Canada’s asylum process in 2026
On March 26, 2026, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act became law. This Act, coupled with updates to our Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations made on November 3, 2026, have:
- added additional eligibility rules Affects claims started after June 2, 2025
- modernized the application process and streamlined the processing of claims to support faster decisions As of Nov 3, 2026
On this page
- Additional eligibility rules
- Our modernized asylum process
- Appointing designated representatives for support
Additional eligibility rules
When someone claims asylum, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency check to make sure the claim is eligible. Only eligible claims get sent to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to decide if the asylum seeker needs Canada’s protection.
We update our eligibility rules when needed to keep the system orderly and well-managed.
When the Act became law, we added 2 rules to address the sudden increase in asylum claims and attempts to bypass regular immigration pathways.
These additional rules mean claims are ineligible if they’re made:
- more than 1 year after someone first enters Canada (after June 24, 2020)
- more than 14 days after someone enters Canada in between ports of entry along the Canada–US border
Exceptions
Unaccompanied minors and those who start a claim within 1 year of their first entry are exempt from these eligibility rules.
Our modernized asylum process
Implemented Nov 3, 2026
The updated regulations modernize Canada’s asylum process to support timely decisions in the following ways:
- Simplified applications: removing duplicate questions, reducing forms, and making the application official only once it’s presented in person to an officer
- Earlier checks and balances: detecting fraud and other issues through full screening and due diligence before referring claims for a hearing
- Reduced hearing delays and cancellations: setting firmer deadlines to send evidence or update their story, and referring unresponsive or incomplete claims for abandonment
- Exceptions for those adversely affected: exempting unaccompanied minors and those who start their claim within 1 year of entry from additional eligibility rules
- Support for vulnerable claimants: appointing representatives to support them earlier in the asylum process
Appointing designated representatives for support
To help vulnerable people like unaccompanied minors or those who don’t understand the process, we now designate a representative to provide support to each claimant during some parts of the process before a claim gets to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Related links
- Backgrounder: Canada modernizes the asylum system to support timely decisions
- News release: Canada modernizes the asylum system to support timely decisions
- News release: New immigration and asylum measures from Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act) have become law
- Understanding the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act
- Refugee protection (asylum) in Canada
- Key numbers on Canadian immigration