Bill C-12 Explained: Canada's New Asylum Rules in Plain Language

Bill C-12 (Strengthening Canada's Immigration System Act) received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. It introduces major changes to Canada's asylum system, including a one-year deadline to file a refugee claim. This resource explains what changed, who is affected, and what the changes mean in practice.

This resource explains Bill C-12 — formally titled the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System Act — which received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. It covers the key legislative changes to Canada's asylum and refugee protection system, including the one-year filing deadline for refugee claims, the retroactive application of certain provisions, and the implications for individuals currently in Canada.

Bill C-12 represents one of the most significant changes to Canada's refugee protection system in years. The introduction of a one-year filing deadline fundamentally changes who can make a refugee claim and when. For individuals already in Canada who have not yet filed a claim, the implications may be severe and time-sensitive. For practitioners and advocates, understanding the precise scope of these changes — including which provisions are retroactive — is essential.

• Bill C-12 introduces a one-year filing deadline for refugee claims — individuals who have been in Canada for more than one year without filing may be barred from making a claim heard by the IRB
• Critically, Canada's one-year deadline begins from the very first date the person entered Canada — unlike the U.S. rule, which resets with each entry
• The legislation was introduced in October 2025 as a follow-on to Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act, introduced June 2025) and fast-tracked several of its key provisions
• Critics and refugee advocates have raised concerns that the one-year rule could expose individuals to deportation even where their place of origin has become dangerous after arrival
• Certain provisions of Bill C-12 may apply retroactively — meaning individuals already in Canada when the law passed could be affected