New Immigration Measures Affecting Asylum Claims In Canada

As of March 25, 2026, Bill C-12 has received royal assent and become law in Canada. This bill will change how Asylum claims are processed in Canada including the eligibility requirements for those seeking protection.

The key takeaways from the new Bill are the following:

1. Asylum claims made more than one year after someone’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 will no longer be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) regardless of whether a person has left and returned to Canada in that period of time.
2. Asylum claims from people who enter Canada through ports of entry along the USA/Canada border and who attempt to make a claim after 14 days of entry into Canada will no longer be referred to the IRB.