SUMMARY
Bill C-12: Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, became law on March 26, 2026.
It introduces reforms and updates to Canada’s immigration system in 4 areas:
- Modernization of Canada’s asylum process
- New Eligibility Requirements for Asylum Claims
- New Immigration Document and Application Authorities
- Data Sharing Between Domestic Government Partners
MODERNIZATION OF CANADA’S ASYLUM PROCESS
Bill C-12 makes updates to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) which will make Canada’s immigration system more efficient and sustainable by:
- simplifying the asylum application process
- referring only eligible claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
- ensuring that the asylum claimant is physically present in Canada when the IRB makes a decision
- removing inactive claims from the system
- issuing removal orders on the same day an asylum claim is withdrawn
- appointing representatives to vulnerable people during certain IRCC and CBSA proceedings
NEW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ASYLUM CLAIMS
Under the new law, you won’t be able to apply for asylum if:
- You make an asylum claim more than one year after your first entry to Canada. This is effective for all claims made after June 24, 2020.
- You try to make an asylum claim more than 14 days after entering Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-US border.
Your asylum claim won’t be referred to the IRB if you make an asylum claim either 1) more than one year after your first entry to Canada or 2) more than 14 days after entering Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-US border.
If you make an asylum claim at a port of entry along the Canada-US border, or if you make an asylum claims within 14 days of irregular entry, you’ll be returned to the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement, unless you qualify for an exemption.
You will still have access to Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) if you face risk of harm if your asylum claim is refused and you’re removed from Canada.
NEW IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT AND APPLICATION AUTHORITIES
The new law gives IRCC new document and application authorities to cancel, suspend or change large groups of immigration documents (including Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs), electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs), Study Permits and Work Permits).
It also allows IRCC to pause, cancel or suspend application intake and processing if found to be in the public interest.
This includes fraud, administrative errors or concerns for public health, safety or national security.
IRCC needs the approval from the Governor in Council through an order in council recommended by Cabinet, which are then made public in the Canada Gazette and reported to Parliament.
The new law will also provide new regulations that immigration officers can refer to when processing applications on a case-by-case basis.
The new immigration document and application authorities won’t apply to asylum claims, nor will it give IRCC the power to grant, change or revoke temporary resident or permanent resident status.
DATA SHARING BETWEEN DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
The new law grants IRCC legal authority to share information with domestic government partners.
Domestic government partners (federal, provincial and territorial governments) with written information-sharing agreements will be able to receive identity, status and documents from IRCC.
The new law will also allow IRCC to share information between its different programs and allow new regulations to improve sharing information between different federal government departments and agencies.
Read the news releases from Public Safety Canada and IRCC.
