Canada Plans Four Big Immigration Reforms for Temporary Residents

On June 17, 2025, Canada shared full details of its proposed immigration law—the Strong Borders Act. First introduced on June 3, this new bill aims to fix problems in Canada’s immigration and asylum systems. The government wants to stop abuse, speed up decisions, and improve fairness for both Canadians and newcomers.

Let’s break down the most important parts of this new bill.

Tighter control on immigration documents

The government wants the power to cancel, pause, or change immigration documents like visas, study permits, or work permits when needed. This would help them act quickly during emergencies or if they spot fraud. These changes won’t affect asylum claims.

This power will help stop misuse of public programs and services. It will also give the government more control during sudden events, like natural disasters or public safety threats.

Better information sharing across Canada

Right now, different levels of government struggle to share immigration-related data. The Strong Borders Act will fix that. Immigration offices will be able to share information with provinces and territories directly, as long as those partners are legally allowed to receive it.

This will make service delivery faster and more efficient. Privacy rules will still apply. Only approved partners will receive the information, and no one can share this data outside Canada without permission.

Faster processing of asylum claims

Canada’s asylum system has faced big delays. People wait months, sometimes years, for a decision. The new reforms will change that.

Here’s what will improve:

• One simple application process for all claimants
  
• Faster referral of complete applications to the refugee board
  
• Claims will only be processed if the person is inside Canada
  
• Cases that are inactive or abandoned will be removed from the system
  
• Those who withdraw their claims will get faster removal orders
  
• Vulnerable claimants, like minors, will get extra help
  

These changes will reduce delays and give real refugees answers sooner.

New limits on asylum eligibility

The bill will also make some people ineligible to claim asylum. Two new rules will apply:

1. One-Year Rule – If someone files an asylum claim more than one year after arriving in Canada (post-June 24, 2020), they won’t be referred to the refugee board.
   
2. 14-Day Rule – People entering Canada irregularly (for example, across the U.S. border without using a proper checkpoint) must file their claim within 14 days.
   

These rules only apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025.

But even if someone’s claim is ineligible, they can still apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. This checks if they would face harm if sent back to their home country.

What’s next for the Strong Borders Act?

The bill still needs to be passed by Parliament. If approved, the changes will take effect soon after. The government will watch how these reforms work and make changes if needed.

Canada also plans to work with provinces and advocacy groups to make sure the system stays fair. These changes may even inspire similar reforms in other countries.