Bill C-12 is officially titled the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act. It is a government bill introduced on October 8, 2025, that amends regulations governing immigration, asylum, border control, and data sharing. The official text of the bill has been published by the Parliament of Canada.
The Senate completed its third reading on March 12, 2026, but the bill was returned to the House of Commons with Senate amendments.
What exactly does Bill C-12 change
1. The government will gain broader powers regarding immigration documents and applications
The text of Bill C-12 provides that the Governor in Council may, if deemed to be in the public interest, issue an order to suspend the acceptance of certain applications or change the procedure for their consideration. This applies, in particular, to applications for permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, work permits, study permits, and other documents. Separately, the bill allows for the cancellation or modification of documents, including permanent resident visas, permanent resident cards, temporary resident visas, eTAs, temporary resident permits, work permits, and study permits.
At the same time, the government emphasizes two important limitations in its official explanation. First, these powers apply to immigration documents and applications for documents, not asylum claims. Second, even if an order to suspend, modify, or revoke documents is issued, this does not mean an immediate automatic loss of permanent or temporary resident status.
2. New grounds for inadmissibility of applications are introduced for refugees
Bill C-12 adds two new grounds under which a refugee claim will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). First: if a person entered Canada after June 24, 2020, and filed a refugee claim more than one year after the date of entry. Second: if a person entered from the United States outside an official port of entry along the Canada–U.S. land border and filed a claim more than 14 days later. These provisions are included in both the official text of Bill C-12 and the government’s explanatory notes.
For people affected by these new rules, the government notes that the option to apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) will remain available. The PRRA is designed to assess individual risks and may also result in the granting of protection.
3. Expansion of immigration information sharing within Canada
A separate section of Bill C-12 concerns information sharing. According to the government’s explanation, the new provisions are intended to establish a clear legal basis for IRCC to share information regarding identity, status, and immigration documentation with Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial partners. At the same time, such agreements must be in writing and include restrictions on what exactly is shared, how it can be used, and what limits apply.
Important detail: In its official explanation, the government specifically notes that these new provisions concern internal sharing within Canada and within IRCC, not a new mechanism for transferring data to other countries. Canada.ca also states that provinces and territories will not be able to transfer IRCC information to foreign entities without IRCC’s written consent and without complying with Canada’s international obligations.
What this means for migrants in practice
For temporary residents, students, workers, and visa applicants, the main takeaway is this: the government wants broader tools to intervene quickly in crisis situations if it deems it necessary in the public interest. But it is important not to overstate the case: the government’s official explanation indicates that Bill C-12 does not introduce automatic mass revocation of status and does not make asylum claims part of the new powers regarding documents.
For asylum seekers, the consequences are potentially more serious. If the bill comes into force without significant changes in this area, some people will no longer be able to receive a full hearing of their claim at the IRB due to new inadmissibility criteria, and their protection will shift toward the PRRA. It is precisely this part of the bill that has become one of the most controversial.
Why Bill C-12 Has Faced Criticism
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) states in its brief on Bill C-12 that the bill weakens protections for refugees, particularly due to two new grounds for inadmissibility, which, according to the organization, cut people off from an oral hearing at the IRB. The CCR also criticizes the government’s broad powers to revoke or amend documents and expand the sharing of personal data.
What’s Next
Until the House of Commons decides on the Senate’s amendments and the bill receives Royal Assent, it has not yet come into force. As a result, the final wording of certain provisions could theoretically still change. This is already evident from its current parliamentary status.
Primary Sources
- Official page of the bill on LEGISinfo
- Official text of Bill C-12 on the Parliament of Canada website
- Government explanation on Canada.ca