On March 26, 2026, Bill C-12 received royal assent, introducing significant reforms to Canada's immigration and asylum framework. The legislation aims to improve eligibility criteria for asylum claims, modernize the asylum process, enhance domestic information sharing, and update authorities over immigration documents and applications.
Under the new asylum eligibility rules effective June 3, 2025, claims filed more than one year after initial entry into Canada (post-June 24, 2020) or delayed claims at certain border points will no longer be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). These steps seek to reduce system backlogs and address misuse of asylum pathways, though affected individuals can still access pre-removal risk assessments.
The asylum process will be streamlined by simplifying online applications, referring only complete cases to the IRB, and ensuring claims are decided while applicants remain physically in Canada. Additional protections include appointed representatives for vulnerable claimants and faster processing of voluntary removals in withdrawn cases.
Bill C-12 also grants Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clearer authority to securely share personal information with federal and provincial partners, improving collaboration and service delivery. Furthermore, the government can now pause or modify immigration document issuance in the public interest under strict approval and transparency requirements. These measures do not impact asylum claims or status changes such as permanent residency.
Original Source
canada.ca