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OnAsylum

North America

Canada

Accepts asylum claims made at the border or from inside the country, alongside a separate program that resettles refugees referred by the UNHCR — but a major 2026 law change added a strict new deadline that can shut a claim out entirely.

At a glance, for someone deciding whether to come here

Not tourist facts — the things that actually shape daily life while your case is pending and after it's decided.

Right to workWork permit eligibility is being moved earlier in the process under 2026 reforms (available once a claim is found eligible, rather than only after referral to a hearing) — still one of the faster right-to-work timelines here, once you've filed within the one-year window above.
Cost of living High High in Toronto/Vancouver; noticeably cheaper in most other provinces.
Healthcare while pendingInterim Federal Health Program covers most essential care from day one of a claim.
LanguageEnglish and French — free settlement-agency language classes widely available.
Family reunificationYes, once protected person status is granted — spouse and dependent children can be sponsored.
After you're granted statusPermanent residence is available fairly quickly after a positive decision, with citizenship possible a few years after that.
ClimateCold, long winters outside the west coast — a real practical adjustment, not a footnote.
Existing communityLarge, well-established immigrant and refugee communities in most major cities.
Starter content, pending expert review. This page describes general, publicly known information about how this country's asylum system works. It is not legal advice and may be out of date — policies change often. Last drafted 2026-09-04.

How you could qualify to enter this system

  • In-land or port-of-entry asylum claim (Refugee Protection Claim)
  • UNHCR-referred resettlement
  • Private and community sponsorship of refugees

How the process generally works

Claims are made to the Canada Border Services Agency or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, then referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a hearing. Important new rule: under Bill C-12 (in force since March 2026, applied retroactively to entries after June 24, 2020), if you first entered Canada more than one year before filing your claim, it can be found ineligible for a full hearing entirely — don't assume you have unlimited time to file after arriving.

Step by step

  1. Make your claim

    At a port of entry (border, airport, seaport) to a CBSA officer, or from inside Canada through the online Canadian Refugee Protection Portal to IRCC. Either way, biometrics and an eligibility interview follow.

  2. Send your Basis of Claim form

    The written account of why you're claiming protection — this becomes the foundation the rest of your case is built on.

  3. Gather and submit evidence

    Documents, records, and anything else supporting your account, sent to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) ahead of your hearing.

  4. Go to your hearing Varies

    Before the IRB's Refugee Protection Division — this is your opportunity to explain your case directly.

  5. Get your decision

    A written decision follows the hearing. If refused, limited appeal or review options exist depending on your case type.

What you'll typically need

  • Passport or any ID you have, even expired
  • Any evidence supporting your claim (documents, photos, records)
  • Basis of Claim form, completed after arrival

Support available while your case is decided

  • Legal aid clinics in most provinces
  • Settlement agencies for housing and orientation
  • Interim federal health coverage while a claim is pending

Processing times vary a great deal by region and case volume — treat any specific number you see elsewhere as a rough guide, not a promise. The one-year filing deadline above is the single most important recent change to understand — file as soon as you can after arriving, not once you feel settled. A second, separate deadline applies specifically at the Canada–US land border: if you cross between official ports of entry and don't file within 14 days of that entry, your claim is diverted to a more limited process (a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment) instead of a full Immigration and Refugee Board hearing.

Common pitfalls

  • Missing the one-year filing deadline (Bill C-12) — this can make a claim ineligible for a full IRB hearing entirely, not just delay it.
  • Crossing the Canada–US land border between official ports of entry and waiting more than 14 days to file — this diverts you to the more limited PRRA process instead of a full hearing.
  • Letting your contact information go stale with the IRB — missing a hearing because a notice didn't reach you can lead to your claim being closed as "abandoned."
Sources checked for this page