It’s official! On March 26, 2026, Canada’s biggest immigration reform bill in a long time received Royal Assent and officially became Canadian law.
Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, gives Canadian authorities the power to cancel or suspend visas, as well as work or study permits, or stop accepting new applications when such action is determined to be in the public interest. It also makes some changes to eligibility for asylum claims in Canada.
These are 5 Key changes to note in this new Canadian immigration law:
1) New limits on eligibility for Asylum Claims
Some asylum seekers are now ineligible for a full refugee hearing. Two new eligibility requirements are now in effect and will apply to all claims made on or after June 3, 2025:
- ✅ Asylum claims made more than one year after someone’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020, won’t be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), regardless of whether the person has since left and returned.
In simple terms, if you’ve ever entered Canada after the date above, you only have 1-year from the date of your first entry to make an asylum claim (even if you left Canada after the first entry and returned).
- ✅ Additionally, Asylum claims from people who enter Canada between ports of entry along the Canada–US land border and who make a claim after 14 days won’t be referred to the IRB.
The government noted that this will reduce pressure on the asylum system, protect it against sudden increases in claims, close loopholes, and deter people from claiming asylum as a shortcut to regular immigration pathways.
2) Government power to cancel or change immigration documents
The Government of Canada now has broader powers through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to cancel, suspend, or change a large group of immigration documents when it is in the public interest.
3) Power to stop or pause immigration applications
The Government of Canada now has broader powers to pause application intake, or cancel or suspend application processing, refuse to accept new applications, or suspend existing ones when it is in the public interest.
The new law defines public interest as grounds such as fraud, administrative errors, or concerns for public health, safety, or national security. The decision can’t be made by a single minister; each decision requires approval by the Governor in Council through an order in council recommended by Cabinet.
This also allows the Government of Canada to make regulations that prescribe scenarios when officers can take similar actions, case-by-case, for example, by reviewing document holders outside Canada to confirm that they remain admissible or eligible.
4) Expanded Information-Sharing Powers
With the new law, the Government of Canada can now share personal immigration data across federal and provincial agencies in Canada.
The government stated that these changes will strengthen the security and consistency of information sharing, enhancing service delivery and fostering better collaboration across federal and provincial programs and partners.
The new law will:
- ✅ enable IRCC to share identity, status, and IRCC-issued documents with federal, provincial, and territorial partners through formal information-sharing agreements
- ✅ simplify the sharing of client information across IRCC programs (for example, using permanent residence application data to support citizenship processing)
- ✅ provide a framework for developing regulations that allow client information to be shared across federal departments and agencies to support coordination and cooperation
5) Faster Processing with Stricter Compliance Rules
With the new law, the Government of Canada will work towards improving how asylum claims are received, processed, and decided by modernizing the system. The new changes aim to:
- ✅streamline the online application process by eliminating duplicate questions and reducing the need for multiple forms.
- ✅accelerate decision-making by referring only complete, “schedule-ready” claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
- ✅ensure fair and efficient hearings by requiring claimants to be physically present in Canada for IRB decisions; claims will be considered abandoned if a claimant voluntarily returns to their country before a decision is made.
- ✅improve system efficiency by removing inactive or stalled cases from the processing queue.
- ✅enable faster voluntary departures by making removal orders take effect immediately once a claim is withdrawn.
- ✅strengthen support for vulnerable individuals (including minors and those with limited understanding of the process), by appointing representatives to assist them during proceedings with IRCC and CBSA.
In summary, Bill C-12 introduces stricter asylum rules, faster processing, and significantly expanded government powers, especially in controlling applications, documents, and border enforcement. It is designed to reduce backlogs in immigration applications (or asylum claims) and strengthen border security, but also limits access to full refugee hearings for some applicants.
For detailed information on these changes, please read the full details on the IRCC website here
You can also read the entire Bill C-12 here
I wish you the best in Canada!
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DISCLAIMER: The posts and information on this website are not legal advice. We are not Canadian Immigration Consultants and do NOT provide Canadian Immigration Services. For any authorized Canadian Immigration information, services, or support, please check the Government of Canada website at www.canada.ca/immigration
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