Bill C-12 Canada Immigration: What the New Law Means for You
Last updated: April 06, 2026 | Written by Vahe Mirzoyan RCIC#R514223 | Reviewed by Narek Mirzoyan RCIC#R1005184 at Mirzoyan Immigration
Table of Contents
What Is Bill C-12?
What Are the Key Changes Under Bill C-12?
The One-Year Asylum Rule
The 14-Day Border Crossing Rule
New Powers to Cancel or Suspend Immigration Documents
Expanded Information Sharing
Who Is Most Affected?
What Happens If You Are Found Ineligible?
What Steps Should You Take Now?
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
Bill C-12 creates a one-year deadline for asylum seekers, which is retroactive to applicants that entered Canada after June 24, 2020.
Irregular border crossers who wait more than 14 days to file for refugee protection are now barred from an IRB hearing.
Cabinet now has authority to cancel, suspend, or vary work permits, study permits, and visas in the "public interest."
Applicants who are no longer eligible to have IRB hear their case can still access the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA), but this offers a lower standard of protection and has limited appeal rights.
Mirzoyan Immigration's can assess how Bill C-12 affects your specific situation and help navigate through this new change in law.
What Is Bill C-12?
Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, received the Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and is now law. It amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act(IRPA) to restrict certain asylum claims. It expands the government powers over immigration governance and broadens the information sharing between various government agencies at all levels. These new provisions apply retroactively to claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
What Are the Key Changes Under Bill C-12?
The law covers four major areas. Two (2) affect asylum claimants directly. Two (2) affect all applicants who hold a valid temporary status in Canada.
The One-Year Asylum Rule
If you entered Canada on or after June 24, 2020, and did not file a refugee claim within the one-year period of your first entry, your claim is now ineligible for referral to the IRB. This rule applies retroactively to all asylum claims filed on or after June 3, 2025. It does not matter if you left Canada and returned the clock starts from your first entry.
As per the Canadian Bar Association’s strong opinion, this new law conflicts with decades of jurisprudence requiring individualized assessments for all refugee cases. Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, acknowledged to the Senate committee that close to 37% of all asylum claims currently under review were specifically filed between June 3 and October 2025. That translates to roughly 19,000 applications which are now affected by the new Bill C-12.
The 14-Day Border Crossing Rule
If you crossed into Canada between official ports of entry along the Canada-U.S. land border and waited more than 14 days to seek asylum in Canada, you are now barred from an IRB hearing. This provision also applies retroactively to all asylum claims made on or after June 3, 2025. It closes a previous available pathway that allowed irregular border crossers from the U.S. to go around the Safe Third Country Agreement by waiting out the 14-day window.
New Powers to Cancel or Suspend Immigration Documents
This change affects far more people than asylum claimants alone. Bill C-12 gives the government, the authority to cancel, suspend, or modify entire categories of immigration programs and their requirements.
This specifically includes:
Work permits
Study permits
Visitor Visas
Electronic travel authorizations (eTAs)
Permanent residence
Defined grounds for using this power include fraud, administrative errors, public health, public safety, and national security. Each decision requires a formal Order in Council, which must be published in the Canada Gazette, and must be reported to the Parliament. No single minister can act alone.
The government cannot use these powers to block an individual from accessing the asylum system or directly changing their immigration status. However, the broad definition of "public interest" and the scope of documents covered has drawn significant criticism from legal experts and civil society groups. This could set an incredibly dangerous precedent.
Expanded Information Sharing
IRCC is now able to share personal immigration data including your identity, your status in Canada, and the details of any documents issued to you with other federal or provincial agencies, and Crown corporations. Subject to ministerial approval, this data can also be shared with foreign entities.
Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Council for Refugees raised concerns that the data shared with provincial agencies could affect access to social benefits and that the data reaching foreign authorities could put some claimants at risk in their home countries.
Who Is Most Affected?
Bill C-12 directly affects four groups of people in Canada:
· Immigrants who entered after June 24, 2020, and have not yet filed for asylum in Canada.
· Those who crossed the Canada-U.S. land border irregularly and waited more than 14 days.
· International students and temporary foreign workers who are now subject to government cancellation powers; and
· Asylum seekers whose claim is currently in the backlog where their application may fall under the retroactive ineligibility rules.
If you are an [INTERNAL LINK NEEDED: international student or temporary foreign worker TFW on a work or study permit], your permit itself is not immediately at risk, but you should understand that this power now exists and can be exercised quickly, which may not be in your favor.
What Happens If You Are Found Ineligible?
If your refugee claim is found ineligible under Bill C-12, you will not receive an oral hearing before the IRB. Instead, your case is now referred for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). A PRRA is a paper-based review conducted by an IRCC officer. The officer evaluates whether removing you from Canada would put your life or safety at risk. It is a lower standard of protection than a full IRB hearing. A refusal in a PRRA have limited grounds for judicial review and are a major source of litigation in the Federal Court.
You are not automatically deported if found ineligible. However, your path to protection becomes significantly narrower. If you are in this situation, consult a licensed immigration professional before making any decisions. Learn more about [INTERNAL LINK NEEDED: refugee claim options in Canada].
What Steps Should You Take Now?
If you read the above and you believe Bill C-12 may affect your status, the most important thing you can do is not to panic and act quickly. The retroactive provisions mean eligibility decisions are already being made on claims that are currently in the system.
Step 1: Determine when you first entered Canada. If it was after June 24, 2020, the one-year rule applies to you.
Step 2: Check whether you have filed a refugee claim and when. If you have not yet filed, time is critical, and you may not be eligible to do so anymore.
Step 3: Get professional advice. A licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer can assess your options before it is too late. Book a consultation with an RCIC who understands the new rules.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Bill C-12 in Canadian immigration?
Bill C-12, officially the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, received its Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. It restricts certain asylum claims, gives Cabinet new powers to cancel or suspend immigration documents, and expands the information sharing capabilities between government agencies at all levels. It is now in effect from March 26, 2026, in Canada.
Does Bill C-12 affect my work permit or study permit?
Yes, bill C-12 gives the federal government the authority to cancel, suspend, or modify work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas, and electronic travel authorizations on the grounds of “public interest”. This power applies to visa categories, and not to specific individuals. Each use of this new power requires a formal Cabinet order and public notice in the Canada Gazette.
What is the one-year asylum rule in Bill C-12?
If you entered Canada on or after June 24, 2020, and did not file a refugee claim within one-year of your first entry, your claim is now ineligible for referral to the IRB. This rule applies retroactively to claims filed on or after June 3, 2025, regardless of your travel history after the first entry.
What happens if I missed the one-year refugee claim deadline?
You will not have the opportunity to present your case at an oral IRB hearing. Your case now will be referred to a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) a paper-based application reviewed by an IRCC officer. This is a lower standard of protection and offers limited appeal rights. You should consult with a licensed professional as soon as possible.
When did Bill C-12 become law in Canada?
Bill C-12 received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. It is now in force as the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, Statutes of Canada 2026, c. 4.
Can the government cancel my visa under Bill C-12?
Yes, bill C-12 authorizes the Governor in Council to cancel, suspend various categories of immigration authorizations including visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and eTAs on defined “public interest” grounds. Each use of this law requires a Cabinet-level Order in Council and must be published in the Canada Gazette.
How Mirzoyan Immigration Can Help
Bill C-12 is complex, confusing, and moving fast. Whether you hold a temporary visa, have a pending asylum claim, or are uncertain how the new rules apply to your situation, you need professional guidance.
Mirzoyan Immigration is an RCIC-led immigration consulting firm serving clients across Canada. Our consultants are licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Canada's regulatory body for immigration consultants, and work directly with IRCC processes every day.
Book a consultation today. During your session, a licensed RCIC will review your status, assess your exposure under Bill C-12, and outline your options.
