Bill C-12 has become law: Canada's most comprehensive immigration reform in recent decades
The new law applies retroactively and already affects thousands of submitted applications.
On March 26, 2026, Canada changed. Bill C-12 received Royal Assent and became law. The Act to Strengthen Canada's Immigration System and Borders is the most comprehensive reform of immigration legislation in recent decades. If you're planning to immigrate, already in Canada, or have filed an asylum claim, it's critical that you understand what has changed. Some provisions of the law apply retroactively.
Background: Why Reform Was Needed
In recent years, Canada's asylum system has come under tremendous pressure. In 2022, over 92,000 asylum claims were filed. In 2023, over 144,000. And in 2024, over 173,000. That's nearly double in two years.
The number of cases waiting for a decision at the Immigration and Refugee Board grew from 70,223 at the end of 2022 to 272,440 at the end of 2024. By March 31, 2025, there were already 281,300 cases in the queue. At this rate, people can wait up to three and a half years for a decision. The system was drowning.
Against this backdrop, on June 3, 2025, the government introduced Bill C-2, the "Strong Borders Act." But it faced serious criticism and was reworked. On October 8, 2025, Bill C-12 was introduced in the House of Commons. The law moved through parliament at an accelerated pace: three readings in the House of Commons, two readings in the Senate, committee reviews. And on March 26, 2026, it became law.
The One-Year Rule for Asylum Claims
The first and most controversial change is the one-year rule. Here's how it works: if you entered Canada after June 24, 2020, and didn't file an asylum claim within one year of your first arrival, your claim will be deemed ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board. You won't get a full oral hearing.
It's critical to understand: the clock starts from your first entry. Even if you left Canada and came back, the year is counted from the very first date you crossed the border after June 24, 2020.
This provision applies retroactively from June 3, 2025. This means if you filed an asylum claim after June 3, 2025, but by that time had already been in Canada for more than a year, your claim falls under the new rules. Immigration Minister Lena Metleg Diab reported that 37% of claims filed between June 3 and October 2025 would be deemed ineligible. That's about 19,000 out of 50,000 claims.
The situation will only get worse. The proportion of claimants who waited twelve months or more before filing grew from 11% in 2024 to 38% in 2025.
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The second change affects those who cross the border from the U.S. If someone entered Canada between ports of entry along the land border and filed an asylum claim more than fourteen days later, it also won't be referred for a hearing.
New Government Powers
The third change expands government authority. Now, when it's in the so-called public interest, immigration authorities can cancel, suspend, or modify a large group of immigration documents. They can suspend the acceptance of applications. They can cancel or suspend their processing.
Imagine the government discovers systemic fraud in a certain category of work permits. Now it has legal authority to suspend all applications in that category with one decision. Something similar has already happened in practice, when Ontario returned all applications from one stream due to discovered fraud.
Important caveat: canceling, say, a temporary resident visa under such an order means that after leaving Canada, a person won't be able to return without a new visa. But the cancellation itself won't lead to an immediate loss of temporary resident status inside the country. In other words, they won't throw you out the door the next day, but they will take away your key to that door.
Expanded Information Sharing
The fourth change expands information-sharing powers. Now immigration authorities have clear legislative grounds to share applicants' personal data with other government agencies and provincial governments. This includes data about identity, status in Canada, and the status of any issued document.
What This Means for Russian-Speaking Applicants
Here's one example often discussed in legal circles. Suppose a Ukrainian citizen visited Canada ten years ago as a tourist. Then she returned home. And then the war started. She comes to Canada again, but under the new rules, the very fact of her previous stay may affect how the deadlines are counted. The connection between a visit to Canada many years ago and a real threat at home is zero. But the formal criteria of the law don't account for that. This applies to everyone who ever entered Canada after June 24, 2020, including those who came under temporary protection programs.
The one-year rule applies to all categories: students, work permit holders, tourists. If you're in Canada on a study or work permit and are thinking about filing for asylum, but more than a year has passed since your first entry, you fall under the new restrictions.
What Alternatives Exist
For those who find themselves in this situation, there are two alternative paths. The first is a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). This is a documentary review, without an oral hearing. It assesses whether the applicant faces danger upon returning home. However, historically, the PRRA approval rate is around 3–5%. By comparison, with a full hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board, the approval rate is about 60%. The difference is huge.
The second path is an application on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. It considers the applicant's establishment in Canada, family ties, and the best interests of children. But processing times for such applications range from twenty-four to forty-two months.
There is also a monitoring mechanism. According to an amendment introduced by the Senate, five years after the law comes into force, the department must report annually to parliament on the number and outcomes of cases of those who fell under the one-year rule.
Practical Steps: What to Do Right Now
If you're seeking asylum and have been in Canada for more than six months without filing a claim, seek professional help immediately. Every day of delay now works against you.
If you have a valid work or study permit and it's expiring within the next twelve months, start the renewal process well in advance. Don't wait until the last minute.
Check your account on the immigration department's website. Make sure all your documents are in order and you fully comply with your permit conditions.
Remember: despite broad powers, decisions under Bill C-12 must still comply with principles of administrative law. You retain the right to judicial review. But it's better not to let things get to court and act ahead of time.
Positive Trends
In 2025, the number of asylum applications dropped by one-third compared to 2024. And in January 2026, there was a 50% decrease in applications from temporary visa holders compared to January 2025. The system is starting to clear up. But the cost of this relief is stricter rules for everyone.
Summary
Bill C-12 became law on March 26, 2026. The one-year rule for asylum applications applies retroactively from June 3, 2025. About 19,000 applications already submitted will be deemed inadmissible. The government has been granted powers to mass cancel, suspend, and modify immigration documents. Sharing of personal data between agencies has been expanded. Alternatives exist for those who missed the deadline, but the chances of approval are significantly lower.
If you're unsure how exactly the new law affects your specific situation, book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant. A specialist will review your case individually and help you create an action plan that takes all the changes into account.
