(Ottawa, Canada) – New federal asylum regulations took effect November 3, introducing a single online application process, document deadlines and earlier screening before eligible claims reach Canada’s independent refugee tribunal.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the changes Tuesday under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act. The development moves the regulations beyond the proposal stage: they were published for public comment in June and are now in force. Publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II, is scheduled for November 4.

For people seeking asylum from inside Canada, the process begins with questions in the IRCC Portal indicating their intention to claim protection. An officer then formally receives the claim at an in-person appointment, according to the department’s accompanying backgrounder.

For claims eligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board, claimants have 60 days to provide a completed application and required documents. A single 30-day extension is available on request.

The regulations also establish a time limit for government reviews before referral to the board. Those checks cover security, criminality, admissibility and program integrity. Ottawa says completing them earlier should reduce hearing disruptions; that is an intended outcome, not a demonstrated improvement following Tuesday’s implementation.

Other provisions clarify how withdrawn claims can be reinstated and how cases proceed when they have not been found abandoned. The package also defines requirements for designated representatives supporting vulnerable claimants, including minors and people unable to fully understand proceedings.

The existing approach allowing eligible claimants to obtain work permits after submitting a complete claim becomes permanent. The regulations include exceptions to additional eligibility restrictions for unaccompanied minors and protect the one-year eligibility position of people who register their intention through the portal within their first year in Canada.

The legislation underpinning the changes became law March 26. Tuesday’s announcement concerns implementation of the regulatory package, rather than passage of a new bill.

IRCC also reported that asylum claims from January through August 2026 were 52 per cent below the same period in 2025 and 68 per cent below 2024. Those declines preceded the new regulations and cannot establish their effectiveness.

Accompanying image: editorial illustration.

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