Canada Introduces Major Immigration Reforms for Temporary Residents Under Proposed Strong Borders Act
On June 17, 2025, the Canadian federal government released comprehensive details on a new immigration reform package under the Strong Borders Act, introduced earlier this month. The legislation aims to tackle abuse of temporary resident programs, streamline the asylum system, and strengthen oversight across immigration processes.
If passed, the Strong Borders Act will empower immigration authorities with enhanced tools to cancel or suspend immigration documents, set new eligibility limits for asylum seekers, and improve coordination between government departments.
Here’s a full breakdown of the four key changes that could reshape Canada’s immigration landscape.
1. Enhanced Authority Over Immigration Documents
Under the new legislation, the government will have expanded powers to cancel, suspend, or amend immigration documents—including visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, and study permits—when deemed in the public interest.
What qualifies as public interest?
The term is broadly defined to include:
- Emergencies such as natural disasters or political instability
- Security, health, or safety concerns
- Widespread fraud or misuse of government services
- Systemic issues affecting fairness in immigration programs
These powers will not apply to asylum claims and will be exercised by the Governor in Council—the Governor General acting on Cabinet advice.
What this means:
- Temporary residents and applicants may face document suspensions during emergency periods or investigations.
- No automatic loss of status will occur—separate legal processes will still govern status revocations.
- Public trust is expected to grow as fraudulent and unsafe immigration practices are curbed.
2. Streamlined Information Sharing Within Canada
The legislation proposes to strengthen data sharing between federal, provincial, and territorial agencies involved in immigration and settlement services. This aims to close information gaps that often delay service delivery or enable system misuse.
Highlights:
- Direct data transfer between IRCC and domestic partners will become more efficient.
- Privacy safeguards remain a priority, with all data exchanges subject to the Privacy Act and detailed agreements outlining use and scope.
- Foreign entities will not receive data unless specifically authorized, protecting Canadian data from misuse abroad.
Expected benefits:
- Immigrants will experience faster service access with less duplication.
- Governments will better coordinate settlement support and policy decisions.
- Taxpayers will benefit from reduced fraud and misuse of public resources.
3. Overhaul of Asylum Processing
Canada’s asylum system will undergo a significant transformation to reduce backlogs, process claims faster, and support vulnerable claimants.
Key changes include:
- A simplified application system, both online and at border or inland offices
- Faster referral of complete claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
- New rules requiring physical presence in Canada for claim assessment
- Removal of inactive or abandoned claims
- Immediate effect of removal orders for withdrawn claims
- Support personnel for minors and vulnerable claimants
This modernization aims to restore confidence in Canada’s refugee protection while preventing exploitation of the asylum process.
4. New Ineligibility Rules for Asylum Claims
Two new eligibility restrictions are proposed to discourage system misuse by temporary residents and irregular border crossers:
- One-Year Deadline: Anyone making an asylum claim more than one year after entering Canada (after June 24, 2020) will not have their case referred to the IRB.
- 14-Day Rule for Irregular Entrants: Individuals crossing the Canada–U.S. border irregularly will only be eligible for referral if they file a claim within 14 days of entry.
These provisions will apply to all claims submitted on or after June 3, 2025 once the legislation is enacted.
Important notes:
- The rules do not ban asylum claims but restrict eligibility for IRB referrals.
- Affected individuals may still apply for Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) for protection from harm or persecution.
- These measures also reinforce the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States.
What Lies Ahead?
The Strong Borders Act is currently pending parliamentary approval. If passed, it will take effect immediately for asylum claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
Next steps include:
- Government preparation for implementation across departments
- Public engagement with advocacy groups and provinces
- Monitoring and adjustment of the system to ensure fairness and transparency
Canada’s commitment to humanitarian protection remains intact, but these reforms are designed to restore balance and integrity to a system under growing pressure.
As global migration evolves, the Strong Borders Act may set the tone for future immigration policy both in Canada and abroad.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
