On March 26, 2026, Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received royal assent and became law. The legislation introduced sweeping changes to Canada’s immigration and asylum systems, affecting foreign nationals including Nigerians and other groups seeking entry or protection in the country.
The new law addressed four key areas: new eligibility requirements for asylum claims, a modernized asylum process, expanded domestic information sharing, and new authorities over immigration documents and applications.
Stricter Asylum Eligibility Rules
The legislation introduced two new eligibility requirements that applied to all asylum claims made on or after June 3, 2025. First, asylum claims made more than one year after someone’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020, would no longer be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
Second, asylum claims from people who entered Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-United States land border and who made a claim after 14 days would also not be referred to the IRB. Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, stated that the changes were designed in part to tackle increasing misuse of Canada’s asylum system.
She said, “With the passage of Bill C-12, we’re strengthening the practical tools that keep our immigration and asylum systems fair, efficient and working as intended. These changes maintain access to protection and due process, while improving our ability to function effectively under sustained pressure.”
Furthermore, people affected by these new rules retained access to a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) to prevent removal to countries where they faced risks like persecution, torture, or other harm.
Modernized Processing and New Government Powers
The law streamlined the asylum application process to reduce duplicate questions and ensure only complete claims reached the IRB. It also allowed removal orders to take effect on the same day a claimant withdrew their asylum claim, speeding up voluntary departures.
Additionally, the legislation granted the federal government new authority to cancel, suspend, or change large groups of immigration documents, or pause application intake when determined to be in the public interest. These grounds included fraud, administrative errors, or concerns for public health, safety, or national security. Each such decision required approval by the Governor in Council through an order in council recommended by Cabinet, and decisions were published in the Canada Gazette and reported to Parliament.
Expanded Information Sharing
IRCC gained clear legal authority to share certain personal information within the department and with domestic government partners. This allowed IRCC to share identity, status, and IRCC-issued documents with federal, provincial, and territorial partners through written information-sharing agreements.
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, emphasized the security aspects of the legislation. He stated, “This crucial piece of legislation will provide our law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to keep our Canadian border secure and communities across the country safe.” He added, “Our borders are well protected, but we need to continually evolve to keep them that way and to address emerging threats.”
