Canada’s Immigration Department has begun mailing notices to roughly 30,000 refugee claimants warning that their files may be deemed ineligible for a full hearing before the Refugee Protection Division. The letters, first reported by CBC on 10 April 2026, stem from Bill C-12—sweeping border-security legislation that tightened asylum eligibility when it received royal assent on 26 March. Under the amended rules, claims can be refused at intake if applicants transited through a “safe” third country, made a prior claim in another jurisdiction, or entered Canada irregularly more than 14 days before filing. Claimants who receive the letters are advised that they may be subject to an expedited Pre-Removal Risk Assessment rather than an in-person tribunal hearing, and that they should “make plans to depart Canada” if no new evidence emerges. Immigration lawyers criticise the blanket notifications, arguing that complex credibility issues cannot be fairly assessed on paper. They also point out that affected claimants will lose automatic eligibility for open work permits, leaving many unable to support themselves while their risk assessments are pending.
![IRCC tells 30,000 asylum seekers they may not get a refugee hearing under new rules]()
For businesses and individuals trying to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s Canada desk can provide up-to-date guidance on visa categories, work-permit renewals and travel documentation, helping clients avoid costly compliance mistakes. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets HR teams check eligibility in minutes, order required filings and track status in real time—services that can be invaluable when refugee claimants or their employers need clarity on lawful status.
Ottawa counters that the measure is needed to reduce a record 196,000-case backlog and to align Canada with its Safe Third Country Agreement obligations. For employers, the policy raises compliance red flags: hiring or continuing to employ a foreign national who has been found ineligible could breach IRCC rules and attract fines of up to CAD 50,000 per worker. Companies should therefore request updated immigration documents from workers who have pending refugee claims and consider offering legal-aid referrals.
For businesses and individuals trying to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s Canada desk can provide up-to-date guidance on visa categories, work-permit renewals and travel documentation, helping clients avoid costly compliance mistakes. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets HR teams check eligibility in minutes, order required filings and track status in real time—services that can be invaluable when refugee claimants or their employers need clarity on lawful status.
Ottawa counters that the measure is needed to reduce a record 196,000-case backlog and to align Canada with its Safe Third Country Agreement obligations. For employers, the policy raises compliance red flags: hiring or continuing to employ a foreign national who has been found ineligible could breach IRCC rules and attract fines of up to CAD 50,000 per worker. Companies should therefore request updated immigration documents from workers who have pending refugee claims and consider offering legal-aid referrals.
