The Government of Canada has unveiled sweeping changes to its immigration and asylum system, introducing stricter rules that will affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking entry or protection.
The reforms follow the passage of Bill C-12, formally known as the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which received royal assent on March 26, 2026. Details of the changes were outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
A major component of the new law is tighter eligibility criteria for asylum seekers. Under the revised framework, individuals who submit asylum claims more than one year after their first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020, will no longer have their cases referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Similarly, claims made by individuals who cross the Canada–U.S. land border irregularly and apply after 14 days will also be ineligible for referral.
Authorities say the measures are aimed at reducing strain on the asylum system and preventing abuse of refugee pathways. However, affected individuals may still apply for a pre-removal risk assessment to ensure they are not deported to countries where they could face serious harm. Vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, will receive special consideration.
Officials also confirmed that there are no changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, which governs asylum claims at the shared border.
In addition, Canada plans to modernize its asylum process by introducing a faster, fully digital application system. Only complete applications will be processed, while incomplete or inactive cases may be removed. Claims could also be deemed abandoned if applicants leave the country before a decision is reached.
The law further expands the government’s authority to share immigration data across federal, provincial, and territorial institutions, with safeguards in place to protect applicants’ privacy.
New powers have also been introduced to manage visas, work permits, and study permits. Authorities can now suspend or modify documents in response to issues such as fraud, public health risks, or national security concerns.
Officials say the reforms are designed to improve efficiency, enhance border control, and strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
