Claiming asylum in Canada
Canada offers asylum (legally known as refugee protection) to people within Canada who can prove they meet the definition of a Convention refugee or person in need of protection.
If you don’t need protection but want to stay in or move to Canada, learn what options are available.
We’ve made changes to the Canadian asylum system Nov 3, 2026
If you already submitted a claim, we’ll process it as usual.
If you started a claim in the IRCC Portal before November 3 but didn’t submit it:
- you’ll need to answer new questions and review old ones
- your personal information has been saved
Who works in the asylum system
3 groups work together in the Canadian asylum system:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
IRCC officers interview inland claimants to determine if their asylum claim is eligible to go to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) for a hearing.
IRCC also makes decisions on pre-removal risk assessments.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
CBSA officers interview claimants at ports of entry or CBSA inland offices to determine whether their asylum claim is eligible to go to the IRB for a hearing.
They also enforce removal orders for people required to leave Canada, including those with ineligible or rejected claims.
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
The IRB is an independent organization. Within the IRB, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) receives eligible claims from IRCC and the CBSA. It schedules hearings and reviews evidence to decide if someone needs Canada’s protection.