Canada | Bill with several new immigration measures now law

Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received royal assent and became law as of March 26, 2026.

Key takeaways:

The new law includes tighter eligibility requirements for asylum claims and updates to the asylum claim process, intending to reduce pressure on the asylum system and make it more efficient and sustainable.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can now share certain personal information within the department and with domestic government partners to improve service delivery and collaboration between programs.

Using new immigration document management tools, IRCC has the authority to cancel, suspend or change a large group of immigration documents, pause application intake or cancel or suspend application processing on grounds of “public interest” — meaning fraud, administrative errors or concerns for public health, safety or national security.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. 

Copyright © 2026 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.