Canada Wants to Speed Up Its Asylum System: Here’s What the Reform Proposes

If you’ve applied for asylum in Canada or are about to you know that waiting can be the hardest part of the whole process. Not just because of the timelines, but because of the uncertainty of not knowing how much longer it will take or what comes next.

The Canadian government introduced a proposal to modernize the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, with the stated goal of building a system that is “fair, transparent, and sustainable in the long term.” Here’s a clear breakdown of what would change and what it means for people seeking protection in Canada.

Important: as of this article, these changes are a regulatory proposal. We’ll keep updating this space as IRCC confirms effective dates.

1. Clearer Deadlines Through Digitalization

One of the central changes is making the online application portal mandatory. Under this proposal, applicants would have:

• 60 days to submit a complete application.
• A one-time 30-day extension, available only in exceptional cases.

By eliminating physical paperwork and mail delays, IRCC aims to reduce administrative errors and offer predictable timelines one of the biggest sources of anxiety for people awaiting a decision.

2. Faster Access to a Work Permit

The proposal seeks to allow applicants to access a work permit shortly after submitting a complete application.

Why does this matter? Because it allows you to:

• Support yourself financially while your case moves forward.
• Integrate into Canadian working life more quickly.
• Rely less on social assistance during the waiting period.

3. Security Checks Before the Hearing, Not During It

Currently, many hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) are delayed because security, criminality, or identity checks are still pending.

The reform proposes setting a ministerial deadline to complete these checks before a case reaches a hearing. In other words, only cases that have already been verified would move forward to the hearing stage, reducing last-minute postponements.

4. Stronger Protection for Minors and Vulnerable Individuals

The regulation would more clearly define the role of the designated representative, who supports minors or individuals who cannot fully understand the immigration process on their own.

Three key points would be clarified:

• When this representative must be appointed.
• What their legal responsibilities are.
• When their role ends.

This would help avoid unnecessary delays in cases that already require priority attention.

5. Changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)

For cases involving the United States, there are two relevant adjustments:

• The 14-day period under the Additional Protocol would begin counting from the moment information is submitted through the online portal, rather than at another point in the process.
• It would be enough for a family member in Canada to be declared eligible for referral to the IRB (it would no longer be necessary for the referral to have already been formally made).

Exceptions would also be included for unaccompanied minors and for those subject to the one year eligibility requirement, so the digital portal doesn’t become an unfair barrier.

What Should You Do in the Meantime?

If confirmed, these changes would represent an important shift in how Canada manages asylum claims. But while the proposal moves forward:

• Don’t make decisions based on changes that aren’t yet in effect.
• Always verify information through official IRCC sources or an authorized representative.
• If you have an ongoing asylum case, proper legal guidance remains the best way to avoid costly mistakes.

At Angelica Gonzalez Blanco Legal Offices, we’ve spent over 26 years supporting the families through their immigration processes in Canada, with verified information and no false promises. If you have questions about your asylum process, book a legal consultation at www.angelicagonzalezblanco.com