Canada has introduced a single online process for asylum claims made inside the country or at entry points. The regulations also set review timelines and address withdrawn claims, support for vulnerable applicants and access to work permits. Ottawa says the changes are intended to reduce delays and give claimants clearer information about the steps they must complete.
Canada put a single online asylum application process into effect on 3 November, covering claims made within the country and at ports of entry. The immigration department says the change is intended to make applicants’ obligations clearer and reduce unnecessary delays as cases move through screening and referral. The transition requirements depend on whether an application has already been submitted and which route the claimant used.[1], [2]
The regulations set timelines for key government reviews and specify how withdrawn claims can be reinstated. They also address claims found not to have been abandoned, support for vulnerable claimants, access to work permits for people with eligible claims and exceptions to new ineligibility rules. Ottawa says the measures should help the independent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, which decides referred asylum claims, reach timely decisions while maintaining access to protection.[1]
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the changes were designed to give claimants greater certainty. Draft regulations were opened to public comment in June, and the department said the final version incorporated that feedback. Their legal basis is the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, enacted on 26 March. The final regulations are scheduled for publication in Part II of the Canada Gazette, the country’s official gazette, on 4 November.[1]
