Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant change in policy aimed at supporting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the country. The new temporary policy, introduced on May 19, 2026, exempts minors under the age of 18 from the one-year ban on asylum claims established under Bill C-12. This means that children without a parent or legal guardian in Canada can now have their claims processed, even if they were filed late or after crossing the U.S.-Canada border irregularly.

Under this updated policy, delegated IRCC officers have the authority to exempt these minors from the previously strict ‘one-year’ and ’14-day’ rules. This adjustment allows their claims to undergo the standard eligibility review and, if deemed eligible, be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for further consideration.

The exemption provided by this new policy builds upon the protections already in place under Canada’s Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. It specifically applies to refugee claims submitted on or after May 19, 2026. However, it is essential to note that despite this exemption, minors are still required to meet all other criteria outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

It is crucial to highlight that this policy will remain in effect until the Minister of Immigration decides to revoke it. By implementing this change, the government aims to ensure that unaccompanied minors can effectively navigate the asylum process, even in the absence of legal guardianship.