Can You Become a Refugee in Canada in 2026 0 16

Canada has tightened its asylum rules by passing Bill C-12 to strengthen the immigration system and borders, reports Firstpost. The document has already come into effect and has become one of the largest reforms in this area in recent years. Authorities explain this step by stating that the number of applications is increasing, queues are growing, and the rules are increasingly being misused.

The law changes several key aspects – from who can apply for asylum to the powers of the state. One of the main innovations is stricter deadlines. If a person applies later than one year after their first entry into the country (for those who arrived after June 24, 2020), their case is generally not referred for full consideration by an independent body. The countdown starts from the first entry: even if a person leaves and returns, the period does not restart.

For example, if a person arrived in Canada in 2021, lived there, then left and returned in 2023, and only applied for asylum in 2024, for the authorities, it will still be considered that they have been in the country for more than a year since their first entry. In this case, their application is likely to be disqualified from full consideration.

Instead, it is checked in a simplified manner: immigration services assess whether the person faces persecution, torture, or other serious harm upon return. If such risks are confirmed, the migrant may be allowed to stay in the country. If not, the decision is made more quickly, and the case may end in deportation. The key difference in this procedure is that it is no longer a full hearing involving an independent tribunal, but a narrower and more formal review.

Specific restrictions are imposed on those who enter Canada illegally from the U.S. If such applicants submit their request later than 14 days, they also generally lose the right to full consideration of their case.

At the same time, the law significantly expands the powers of federal authorities. The government can now make decisions not only on individual applications but also on entire categories – suspending their consideration, changing conditions, or revoking already issued documents. This applies to almost all types of immigration permits, including visas, as well as work and study permits.

Additionally, authorities can impose additional requirements for temporary residents and limit the acceptance of new applications if deemed to be in the "public interest" – for example, in cases of fraud, security threats, or system failures.

The law also strengthens control and expands information sharing. Federal and regional authorities will be able to exchange data about immigrants more quickly and easily – for example, checking what documents a person has, whether they have violated rules, and whether they have submitted conflicting information to different agencies. In certain cases, this data may also be shared with foreign organizations to verify identity, check documents, or obtain additional information about a person.

At the same time, the fight against transnational crime is being intensified. This concerns not only drugs but also financial schemes – for example, when money passes through different countries to conceal its origin. The law provides more opportunities to track such operations and respond to them more quickly.

The powers of law enforcement agencies are also expanding. The Coast Guard is granted more rights for patrolling and gathering information, especially in remote and border areas. The police have more opportunities to share data, including about individuals who may pose a threat.

The reform particularly affects citizens of India – in recent years, they have been the most frequent applicants for asylum in Canada. In the first half of 2025 alone, about 9,700 such applications were submitted, and since 2012, more than 45,000. A significant portion of applicants are from Punjab.

At the same time, India remains the main source of foreign students. In 2024, over 500,000 Indians studied in Canada – about 40% of all foreign students. Authorities note that some of them subsequently apply for asylum. According to data from the past year, about 17% of all applications came from students. This often happens when a visa expires or immigration rules change, and people try to stay in the country through legal loopholes.

Authorities claim that the reform is intended to maintain protection for those who truly need it while simultaneously relieving the system. However, human rights organizations have already expressed concern. In their opinion, if people are less frequently allowed full hearings, the risk of errors, including deportation decisions, increases. Additionally, the expanded powers of the state raise questions about how transparently such decisions will be made and how personal data will be protected. Critics also point out that the new measures could be applied not only in exceptional cases but also to entire groups of applicants.