Bill C-12, formally known as the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026 and is now law in Canada. The federal government says the law strengthens Canada’s immigration and asylum system in four main areas: new asylum eligibility rules, a modernized asylum process, domestic information sharing, and new authorities relating to immigration documents and applications. Read the IRCC backgrounder for the government summary.
For many people, these changes are not just technical. They may affect when a refugee claim can move forward, how quickly an immigration matter is processed, how information may be shared between government bodies, and how certain immigration documents or application streams may be managed in the public interest.
This update is especially important for people who are already in Canada, those considering a refugee claim, those with temporary status, and others trying to understand a possible path toward permanent residence.
This article is general legal information only. It is not legal advice. Immigration rules can affect people differently depending on their history, status, documents, deadlines, and prior applications.
What is Bill C-12?
Bill C-12 is a federal law dealing with Canada’s border security and immigration system. The Parliament of Canada describes the legislation as concerning the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system.
Although public discussion around Bill C-12 has focused heavily on refugee and asylum claims, the law also includes broader immigration-system changes. These include information-sharing rules and government powers to manage certain immigration documents and application processing in public-interest situations.
Does Bill C-12 directly change permanent resident status?
One of the most important points is this: Bill C-12 should not be described as a simple permanent residence rule change. According to IRCC, the new document and application authorities do not grant, change, or revoke permanent or temporary resident status.
However, Bill C-12 may still matter for people pursuing permanent residence because many PR pathways are connected to immigration history, refugee protection, temporary documents, admissibility, information-sharing, processing rules, and prior applications. A person’s path to PR may depend on whether a refugee claim proceeds, whether a temporary document remains valid, whether an application stream is paused, or how IRCC uses information across programs.
1. New asylum eligibility rules
The most immediate changes under Bill C-12 involve refugee and asylum claim eligibility. IRCC states that new eligibility requirements apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
First, an asylum claim made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, even if the person left Canada and later returned.
Second, government materials state that if a person enters Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-US land border and makes a claim after 14 days, the claim will not be referred to the IRB.
These rules are significant because being referred to the IRB is often a key step in having a refugee protection claim heard. If a claim is not referred, the person may need to understand whether other protection or immigration options are available, including possible next steps with a refugee claims lawyer.
2. Access to a pre-removal risk assessment may still matter
IRCC says people affected by the new asylum eligibility rules will still have access to a pre-removal risk assessment, often called a PRRA, to help prevent removal to a country where they may face risks such as persecution, torture, or other serious harm. The process depends heavily on evidence, timing, and the facts of the person’s situation.
3. A modernized asylum process
Bill C-12 also introduces changes intended to modernize the asylum process. IRCC says these changes will be rolled out through updates to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
The planned changes include simplifying the online application process, reducing duplicate questions and forms, referring only complete and schedule-ready claims to the IRB, deciding claims only while the claimant is physically present in Canada, removing inactive cases, speeding up voluntary departures, and appointing representatives for certain vulnerable people.
For claimants, this means preparation may become even more important. Incomplete materials, missing evidence, or confusion about the process may create serious consequences. Clients with refugee matters can also review the firm’s article on Canada’s refugee law.
4. Domestic information sharing
Bill C-12 gives IRCC clearer authority to share certain personal information within IRCC and with domestic government partners. IRCC says this can include identity, status, and IRCC-issued document information shared with federal, provincial, and territorial partners through written information-sharing agreements.
IRCC also says information from one program may be used to help process another program, such as using permanent residence application data to process citizenship applications. For applicants, this is a reminder that consistency matters. Information submitted in one immigration application may be compared against information in another application.
5. New authorities over immigration documents and applications
Bill C-12 gives the federal government new tools to manage immigration documents and related applications in public-interest situations. These tools may allow the government to cancel, suspend, or change groups of immigration documents, pause application intake, or cancel or suspend application processing when public-interest grounds are met.
Examples of public-interest concerns include fraud, administrative errors, public health, safety, or national security. IRCC says these decisions require approval through the Governor in Council, must be published in the Canada Gazette, and must be reported to Parliament.
This part of the law does not mean every visa, permit, or application is suddenly at risk. It means the government now has broader tools to respond to specific situations affecting groups of documents or applications.
Why Bill C-12 matters for permanent residence pathways
For refugee claimants, the new asylum eligibility rules may affect whether a claim can proceed to the IRB. That can affect the person’s longer-term immigration options and whether they may eventually pursue refugee pathways to permanent residence.
For people with temporary status, the document and application authorities may matter if a future public-interest decision affects certain documents, application intake, or processing.
For people applying for permanent residence or citizenship, the information-sharing provisions make consistency across applications even more important.
For people who do not fit clearly into a standard PR program, options such as humanitarian and compassionate applications may need to be assessed carefully based on establishment in Canada, family ties, hardship, best interests of children, and immigration history.
What should you do if you may be affected by Bill C-12?
Start by gathering your key immigration information:
- The date you first entered Canada.
- Every date you left and returned to Canada.
- How you entered Canada.
- Your current immigration status.
- Copies of visas, permits, removal documents, or previous decisions.
- Any refugee claim documents.
- Any permanent residence or sponsorship applications.
- Any previous refusals or appeals.
- Do not assume that general online information applies to your exact situation. Small details can change the available options.
When to speak with an immigration lawyer
You should consider speaking with an immigration lawyer if:
- You are thinking about making a refugee claim.
- You entered Canada more than one year ago and are now considering asylum.
- You entered between ports of entry at the Canada-US border.
- You received a notice about ineligibility or removal.
- You are unsure whether you may still have a PR pathway.
- You have a refused application or previous immigration history concerns.
- You want to apply for permanent residence but do not know which pathway fits.
Jasmin Sandhu Law helps clients in Toronto and the GTA understand their immigration options, including permanent residence, refugee claims, appeals, judicial review, and related immigration matters.
FAQs
Is Bill C-12 now law in Canada?
Yes. Bill C-12 received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026 and is now law in Canada.
Does Bill C-12 cancel permanent resident status?
IRCC says the new document and application authorities do not give the government power to grant, change, or revoke permanent resident status or temporary resident status.
Does Bill C-12 affect refugee claims?
Yes. Bill C-12 introduces new asylum eligibility rules and changes to the asylum process. Some claims made after certain timing thresholds may not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
What is the one-year asylum eligibility rule under Bill C-12?
IRCC says asylum claims made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 will not be referred to the IRB, regardless of whether the person left and returned.
What is the 14-day Canada-US border rule?
Government materials state that if a person enters Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-US land border and makes a claim after 14 days, the claim will not be referred to the IRB.
Can someone still access a PRRA if affected by the new asylum rules?
IRCC says people affected by the new rules will still have access to a pre-removal risk assessment to help prevent removal to a country where they may face risks such as persecution, torture, or other harm.
Why does information sharing matter for immigration applications?
Information submitted to IRCC in one application may be used in another program or shared with domestic government partners under written agreements. This makes accuracy and consistency across immigration forms very important.
Speak With Jasmin Sandhu Law
If you are concerned about Bill C-12, a refugee claim, a refusal, or your path to permanent residence in Canada, contact Jasmin Sandhu Law to discuss your immigration matter.