On March 26, 2026, Bill C-12 received royal assent and became law. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”), the legislation introduces changes in four main areas: new asylum eligibility rules, updates to the asylum process, expanded domestic information-sharing authority, and new powers relating to immigration documents and application processing.

REfugee Claimants

For refugee claimants, the most significant development is the introduction of two new eligibility rules that apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025. The first of these rules is that a claim will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (“IRB”) if it is made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020.

A second rule affects individuals who entered Canada between ports of entry along the Canada–U.S. land border and made a claim more than 14 days later. IRCC states that affected individuals may still seek a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (“PRRA”), and that the Safe Third Country Agreement remains unchanged.

IRCC has also introduced a temporary public policy intended to facilitate access to open work permits for certain individuals whose refugee claims are found ineligible to be referred to the IRB. As a transitional measure, the policy is designed to allow eligible individuals to apply for a work permit after their claim has been found ineligible but before they are notified that they may apply for a PRRA. It also permits certain individuals who already hold work permits to avoid having those permits cancelled when their removal orders become enforceable.

The government has also announced further regulatory changes to modernize the asylum system, including measures aimed at streamlining online applications, advancing only complete claims, removing inactive files, and accelerating certain withdrawals and departures.

In addition, Bill C-12 gives IRCC legal authority to share certain personal information within the department and with federal, provincial, and territorial partners through written information-sharing arrangements.

Finally, Bill C-12 gives the federal government new tools to suspend, cancel, or modify groups of immigration documents or related applications in the public interest, subject to approval and reporting requirements.

To schedule a consultation, contact:

Vayeghan Litigation Law Corporation
Phone: 778-653-3995
Email: law@mvlitigation.com

Our firm is committed to helping couples navigate the Canadian immigration system and reunite their families in Canada.