Canada has switched on a major overhaul of how it receives and decides asylum claims, a change that matters to the many Nigerians who have sought protection there in recent years. New regulations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) took effect on 3 November 2026, introducing a single online process for starting a claim, a 60-day deadline for submitting a complete application, and time limits on government security checks.
The government says the aim is faster, more predictable decisions. Immigration lawyers and claimants, however, will be watching closely to see how the tighter timelines work in practice.
What the new rules change
Under the new system, described in an official IRCC backgrounder dated 3 November, people already inside Canada who want to claim asylum first answer a set of questions through the IRCC online portal to signal their intention to claim. They are then invited to an in-person appointment with an officer, where the claim is formally made.
For claims that are found eligible to go to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), the body that decides whether someone qualifies as a refugee, claimants now have 60 days to submit their completed application and supporting documents. A single 30-day extension can be requested. The same process applies whether a claim is made inside Canada or at a port of entry.
Several reports, including Legit.ng, framed the 60-day deadline as applying to all claimants. The official text is narrower: it applies to claims that are eligible for referral to the IRB.
Security checks, withdrawals and vulnerable claimants
The regulations also set a time limit for the government’s security, criminality, admissibility and programme-integrity reviews before a claim is passed to the IRB, although the backgrounder does not state how long that limit is.
Other changes cover claims that are withdrawn or abandoned. A claim not yet referred to the IRB is treated as withdrawn once the claimant tells the minister in writing, and the rules set out when such a claim can be reinstated.
There are new provisions for vulnerable people, including the appointment of designated representatives for claimants under 18 and for those who cannot fully understand the proceedings. The rules also make permanent the current practice of allowing eligible claimants to apply for work permits once they have submitted a complete claim.
On the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, IRCC says there are no changes in practice, though the 14-day period under its Additional Protocol will now begin when the online intention-to-claim application is submitted.
Background: Bill C-12 and falling claims
The regulations flow from Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which became law in March 2026. Among other measures, that law allows claims made more than a year after a person first entered Canada to be ruled ineligible for referral to the IRB. The new regulations carve out exceptions, including for unaccompanied minors and for people who register through the portal within their first year in Canada.
The draft regulations were published for public consultation in June. According to Nairametrics and Legit.ng, IRCC says asylum claims between January and August 2026 were down 52% on the same period in 2025, and 68% lower than in 2024. Those figures do not appear in the backgrounder itself.
The changes come as Canada, like the UK and the United States, tightens its immigration system. Ottawa has already cut targets for temporary residents and international students over the past two years amid pressure on housing and public services.
Why it matters to Nigerians
Nigerians have been among the largest groups of asylum seekers in Canada. Nairametrics, citing its own earlier analysis, reported that Nigerians submitted 6,765 claims in 2025, with 3,463 approved, 1,377 rejected and more than 21,000 cases pending at the time.
For anyone in Canada considering a claim, or already in the system, the practical message is to act early and keep documents ready. Missing the 60-day window could put a claim at risk, and the one-year rule means that people who delay may find themselves shut out. Community groups and lawyers generally advise seeking qualified legal help rather than relying on unlicensed consultants. Canada has recently introduced tougher penalties for fraudulent immigration representation, according to Legit.ng.
What happens next
IRCC says the new framework will help claims move through the system more quickly. The real test will be whether processing times at the IRB, which has faced a large backlog of cases, actually fall, and whether the shorter deadlines leave enough time for claimants to gather evidence from home countries such as Nigeria. Flashinfong will follow how the rules are applied in the coming months.
Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (canada.ca), Nairametrics, Legit.ng, Immigration 2 Canada.
