Date: October 6, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Canada is preparing to introduce changes to the way asylum claims are submitted through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online portal, with the new application process scheduled to take effect on November 3, 2026.
The changes will affect people who have started an asylum claim in the IRCC Portal but have not submitted it by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2. According to IRCC, applicants whose claims remain unfinished after that deadline will have to answer additional questions and review information they previously entered. Their personal information will remain saved in the system.
The changes are part of Canada's broader effort to modernize the asylum system following the passage of the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, commonly known as Bill C-12. The legislation received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and introduced changes affecting asylum eligibility and the administration of refugee claims.
For people who have already completed and submitted their asylum claims, the November 3 portal transition does not by itself require them to provide additional information. IRCC says applicants who submit their claims through the portal by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 2 will not need to provide new information solely because of the change, unless immigration officials specifically request it. Claims that have already been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada are also not required to be resubmitted.
For applicants with unfinished claims, however, the transition will require additional attention. IRCC says information already entered into an unfinished application will be saved, but applicants will have to review their previous answers and respond to new questions when the updated system takes effect.
People who began their refugee claim with the Canada Border Services Agency and were instructed to complete the process online face an additional consideration. If their claim has been linked to an IRCC Portal account but remains unfinished after the November 2 deadline, their information will remain saved and they will have to complete the updated application.
However, if a person was instructed by CBSA to complete the claim online but has not linked the claim to an IRCC Portal account by the deadline, information previously collected by CBSA will not be saved in the portal. The claimant will have to link the claim and enter personal and family information again.
The November 3 changes should not be confused with separate asylum eligibility restrictions that are already in force.
Under rules introduced through Bill C-12, asylum claims made more than one year after a person's first entry into Canada can be found ineligible if that first entry occurred after June 24, 2020. The rule applies even if the person subsequently left Canada and returned.
There is also a separate restriction affecting people who enter Canada from the United States between official ports of entry along the Canada-U.S. land border. In general, a claim made more than 14 days after such an entry can be found ineligible, subject to applicable exceptions. Unaccompanied minors are exempt from both of these new restrictions.
The federal government has described the broader reforms as an effort to make Canada's asylum system more efficient while maintaining protection for people who genuinely qualify for refugee protection.
In June, the government also proposed regulations that would establish clearer timelines for different stages of the asylum process, strengthen procedures for incomplete or withdrawn claims, provide additional support for vulnerable claimants and potentially allow eligible asylum seekers to access work permits sooner. Those measures are separate from the confirmed November 3 portal changes and should not be treated as if all of them automatically take effect on that date.
The government says the reforms are being introduced against the backdrop of declining asylum claim volumes. According to IRCC, 42 per cent fewer people submitted asylum claims in Canada during the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, while the number was 63 per cent lower than during the same period in 2024.
For people preparing to make a refugee claim, the basic documentation requirements remain important. Applicants generally need to complete a Basis of Claim form explaining why they require protection, provide identity and travel documents where available, and submit other evidence supporting their claim. Applicants who use a representative must also provide the appropriate representative form. IRCC says additional evidence can include proof of entry to Canada, political or organizational membership records, police documents, evidence of persecution or mistreatment, and credible country-condition reports.
Applicants should also ensure that information provided to Canadian authorities is complete and accurate. A refugee claim involves an assessment of whether the applicant meets the legal definition of a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection. If a claim is eligible, it can be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which makes the decision on whether the person qualifies for refugee protection.
IRCC is advising people with unfinished applications to review their portal accounts rather than waiting until the final hours before the November 2 deadline. Applicants who intend to submit under the current system should ensure that their forms and supporting documents are ready and that the application is actually submitted before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2.
For those who miss the deadline, the change does not mean that they are automatically barred from making an asylum claim. Instead, their unfinished application will transition to the new process, where they will have to answer the additional questions and review their previous information.
IRCC also maintains a limited paper-filing option for people who cannot submit an asylum claim online because of accessibility-related reasons. Such applicants are required to contact IRCC and obtain authorization to use the paper process.
The November 3 changes therefore represent an important adjustment to the way refugee claims enter Canada's immigration system, but they are only one part of a much broader overhaul introduced during 2026.
For asylum seekers, the distinction between the new portal requirements, the existing eligibility restrictions and the proposed future regulations is particularly important. A person who is unsure whether their claim is affected should consider obtaining advice from a qualified immigration lawyer or authorized immigration professional before submitting information to Canadian authorities.
The federal government says its objective is to create a more organized and timely asylum system. For applicants, the immediate priority is to understand which rules apply to their individual circumstances and, where they have already started an online claim, to ensure that their application is properly completed and submitted within the applicable timeframe.