Canada is taking steps to make significant changes to its asylum system, with a focus on providing early access to work permits for asylum claimants. The draft changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations were recently published in the Canada Gazette, signaling a move towards granting open work permits to eligible asylum seekers before their claims are referred to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD).

This initiative builds on a temporary public policy that was introduced in 2022 to allow refugee claimants to work in Canada while awaiting their hearings. By making these changes permanent, Canada aims to streamline the asylum process and provide additional support to those seeking refuge in the country.

Alongside the early work permit access, the proposed reforms include measures such as exempting unaccompanied minors from the one-year asylum ban, simplifying the asylum claim process, extending deadlines for document submissions, and outlining the responsibilities of designated representatives. These changes are designed to enhance the efficiency and fairness of Canada’s asylum system.

The draft regulations are currently open for a 30-day consultation period, during which stakeholders and the public can provide feedback on the proposed amendments. Following the consultation, the government will review the feedback and make any necessary revisions before finalizing the changes.