Claiming refugee protection (asylum) in Canada

A Convention refugee must be in Canada and unable to return to their home country, or the country where they normally live, because of a well-founded fear of persecution for race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a social group, such as women or people of a particular sexual orientation. A person in need of protection faces a danger of torture, a risk to life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. IRCC warns that claiming asylum is not a shortcut to immigrate and that false claims can lead to a ban on returning.

A claim is ineligible if you are recognized as a Convention refugee by another country you can return to, already have protected person status in Canada, are subject to a removal order, have made an asylum claim in another country, are inadmissible on security, criminality or human rights grounds, made a previous claim in Canada that was ineligible, rejected, abandoned or withdrawn, or entered from the United States at a land border. For claims made on or after 3 June 2025, claims made more than 1 year after first entering Canada (if you entered after 24 June 2020) or more than 14 days after entering between ports of entry from the US are also ineligible; unaccompanied minors are exempt. Under the Canada–US Safe Third Country Agreement, people entering from the US are generally returned there unless an exception applies.

At a port of entry (airport, seaport or land border) you tell the CBSA officer you want to claim asylum; inside Canada you start the claim online in the IRCC Portal. From 3 November 2026 the online application changes: unfinished claims not submitted by 11:59 pm ET on 2 November 2026 will need to answer new questions. After submission you get an Acknowledgment of Claim letter, medical exam instructions and an in-person appointment where an officer checks eligibility, takes biometrics (fingerprints for those over 14) and holds your passports until the final decision. Eligible claimants receive a confirmation of referral letter and a refugee protection identity document (RPID).

Eligible claimants can request an open work permit in the online application at no fee; it is issued once the claim is referred to the IRB and the medical exam is passed, and family members in the claim can get one too. Claimants and family members can apply for study permits, and minor children can attend school with their RPID. The Interim Federal Health Program provides health coverage. If a claim is found ineligible, you can keep a valid work permit until it expires or apply for one for CAD 155.

The IRB’s Refugee Protection Division holds a hearing, often virtual, where you must show you meet the refugee or protection definition. The Refugee Appeal Division hears appeals against many Refugee Protection Division decisions; the decision letter explains whether and how you can appeal. People found ineligible are referred to the CBSA for removal, which may first assess eligibility for a pre-removal risk assessment.

People outside Canada cannot claim asylum at a Canadian embassy or apply directly for resettlement. Refugee resettlement is only for people referred by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a designated referral organization or a private sponsor.