Canada enacts new immigration and asylum measures under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (B

Current rules

Bill C-12, also known as the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, has officially become law. This legislation brings in several changes to Canada’s immigration and asylum systems, which include: new requirements for asylum claims; a modernised asylum process; clarified authorities for sharing information within the department and with government partners; and new tools for the Government of Canada to manage immigration documents and applications when it is in the public interest.

Overview

On 26 March 2026, Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received royal assent and became law. This legislation introduces new eligibility rules for asylum claims, including time limits for claims made after entry and for those entering irregularly via the Canada-US land border. It also streamlines the asylum process and provides new authorities for IRCC to share information domestically and manage groups of immigration documents in specific public interest scenarios.

What changed in the latest version

The new rules for who can claim asylum aim to reduce the burden on the asylum system, close legal gaps, and stop people from using asylum claims as a quick way to get immigration status. This may make it harder for some people to have their claims heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). The updated asylum process aims to work better by making applications simpler, deciding claims faster, and removing claims that are not active. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has more power to share information. This is meant to improve services and teamwork with other government bodies. New powers to manage immigration documents give the government tools to act on public interest matters, such as fraud or emergencies. However, these decisions need approval from the Governor in Council (Cabinet) and a report to Parliament. The available information does not say if these changes will cost or benefit individual applicants financially. It also does not give details about how they will affect specific jobs, studies, or types of residency, other than the general management of related documents.

Explained simply

Canada has passed a new law, Bill C-12, that changes how people can ask for asylum (a safe place to live) and how the government handles immigration paperwork. If you come to Canada and want to ask for asylum, you now have to do it within a year of arriving, or within 14 days if you entered secretly from the US by land. If you leave Canada before your asylum claim is decided, your claim might be cancelled. The government also has new powers to share your immigration information with other parts of the government to make things run smoother, and in special cases like lots of fraud, they can even cancel or pause many visas or permits at once. But don't worry, they still protect kids who are alone and won't send people back to dangerous places without checking first.

Frequently asked

Version history

1. v1Effective 26 Mar 2025EffectiveCritical impact
   Canada enacts new immigration and asylum measures under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12)

   Canada's Bill C-12, called the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, became law on 26 March 2026. New rules for who can claim asylum started on 3 June 2025. These rules say that the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) will not hear asylum claims made: 1) more than one year after a person first entered Canada, if they entered after 24 June 2020; or 2) more than 14 days after a person entered Canada between official entry points along the Canada-United States (US) land border. The law also updates the asylum process. It gives Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) more power to share information inside Canada. And it gives new powers to manage immigration documents and applications when it is in the public interest. These changes affect people who claim asylum and how IRCC does its work.

Timeline

1. Announced

   27 Mar 2026

   On 26 March 2026, Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received royal assent and became law. This legislation introduces new eligibility rules for asylum claims, including time limits for claims made after entry and for those entering irregularly via the Canada-US land border. It also streamlines the asylum process and provides new authorities for IRCC to shar

2. Takes effect

   3 Jun 2025

   Bill C-12 has become law, introducing new eligibility requirements for asylum claims, modernising the asylum process, clarifying domestic information sharing authorities for IRCC, and providing the Government of Canada with new tools to manage immigration documents and applications in the public interest.