Proposed regulations published June 19, 2026, would set binding intake deadlines, collapse multiple paper forms into one online application, and issue work permits automatically once a claim is eligible for IRB referral [1]. The 30‑day public comment period is now open. This package operationalizes the asylum reform provisions of Bill C‑12, which received royal assent in March [3].
“A well-managed asylum system benefits everyone. These reforms help people who need protection receive it sooner, provide greater certainty, and give them the opportunity to build their lives and contribute to communities across Canada.”
— The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
What the proposed regulations change
After a claim is made, the claimant will have a set number of days to submit a complete application. The exact window will appear in the final regulation, but the forward regulatory plan confirms a uniform time limit across all modes of entry. Claimants can request an extension. Claims missing mandatory documents or information will not be referred to the IRB; only schedule‑ready files move forward.
The single online application replaces duplicate questions, conditional forms, and paper submissions that currently vary by port of entry. Claimants file once, upload supporting evidence, and the system routes the record to both IRCC and the IRB [2]. The form to watch for will be published by IRCC once the regulations are final.
Designated representatives for minors and adults who cannot appreciate the proceedings become mandatory in prescribed circumstances. The regulation sets out their responsibilities, formalizing a safeguard that was unevenly applied, particularly for unaccompanied minors.
The proposed rules remove the wait for an open work permit after eligibility is confirmed. If the regulation passes as drafted, the work permit will be issued automatically — in most electronic cases — when the claim is determined eligible to be referred to the IRB. There is no separate application or fee.
The regulations also spell out when a withdrawn or non‑abandoned claim can be reinstated by the Minister. They define exceptions to the new ineligibility rules that took effect on June 3, 2025 — a set of criteria that has remained opaque since Bill C‑12 passed.
What the regulations do not change
The eligibility rules themselves — the one‑year deadline from first entry after June 24, 2020, and the 14‑day irregular entry rule at the US land border — stay unchanged under existing legislation [3]. The Safe Third Country Agreement remains untouched. Land‑border claimants must still qualify for an exception or exemption to avoid return to the United States.
Pre‑removal risk assessment access is preserved for claimants found ineligible for referral to the IRB under the new rules. The regulation does not strip any pathway that existed for persons facing real risk of persecution, torture, or cruel treatment [3].
Next steps
The comment period closes 30 days after publication. IRCC then reviews feedback and finalizes the text for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II. Implementation is expected later in 2026. There is no transition date; claims submitted now follow the current process. The intake timeline — whether 30 days, 45 days, or another figure — will be clear only after the final regulation is published.
If you are preparing an asylum claim, watch for the final regulation text. Be ready to file through the single online portal as soon as it opens. IRCC publishes operational bulletins within days of a regulation taking effect.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
