Canada flags 30,000 refugee claims as ineligible under new law

Canada’s immigration department has begun informing around 30,000 refugee applicants that they may not qualify for asylum hearings under a new law that tightens application rules. According to a CBC News report, some letters also ask individuals to leave the country, following recent changes introduced through Bill C-12, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

IRCC confirmed that “procedural fairness letters” have been sent to applicants, giving them a chance to provide additional information before a final decision is made. “These are not deportation letters,” the department said, adding, “Procedural fairness letters are routinely used across many programs to give applicants an opportunity to provide additional information before a decision is made.”

The development marks the first public indication of the scale of the law’s impact. Bill C-12 bars individuals from pursuing refugee claims if they applied more than a year after entering Canada. The rule applies retroactively to those who entered the country after June 24, 2020, and filed claims on or after June 3, 2025.

21 days to submit further evidence

Letters reviewed show that applicants have 21 days to submit further evidence to support their case, as reported by CBC News. Authorities said this information “may be relevant when assessing their eligibility” for referral to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Applicants whose claims are not referred may still apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), which allows officials to review risks before removal.

Some applicants have received a second type of letter stating their claim is not eligible and directing them to leave Canada. “You must leave Canada as soon as possible and confirm your departure with the Canada Border Services Agency,” the letter says, warning that failure to comply may lead to a deportation order, as quoted by CBC News report.