Asylum Claims
Given the number of border interceptions currently being processed, there is a delay in asylum claims application information appearing in our system. As determinations are made that persons crossing the border are eligible to make an asylum claim, that information is entered into our system and is reflected in the asylum claims data that is published monthly to our website. Applications information is backdated, as appropriate, as it is entered into the system.
Therefore, the data posted to the IRCC website is considered preliminary and subject to change. Updated data for previous months is published to our website on a monthly basis as it becomes available and according to the monthly data release schedule.
Key figures on asylum claims made in Canada
Individuals can make an asylum claim in Canada at a port of entry, at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) inland office or an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) inland office. CBSA or IRCC officials will then determine if an individual is eligible to make an asylum claim.
If the claim is determined to be eligible, it will be referred to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) for a hearing. In making its decisions, the IRB considers whether the claimant meets the United Nations (UN) definition of a Convention refugee, which has been adopted into Canadian law, or is a person in need of protection. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, every person who wants to enter Canada must appear for an examination at a port of entry in order for government officials to determine whether that person has a right to enter Canada, or if the individual may become authorized to enter and remain in Canada.
The CBSA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) play a key role in protecting Canada’s border. They deter and intercept illegal entry to Canada and keep Canadians safe. CBSA, the RCMP and their domestic and international partners work together to intercept individuals who enter Canada illegally. No enforcement actions are taken against people seeking asylum as per section 133 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The RCMP is responsible for border security in between ports of entry. The CBSA is responsible for border security at ports of entry and inland.
IRCC’s role in this process is to develop and implement policies, programs and services that facilitate the legitimate arrival of people and their integration into Canada in a way that maximizes their contribution to the country, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians.
Backgrounder: Claiming asylum in Canada – what happens?
Refugee protection claims statistics (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada)
*All data provided below is preliminary and subject to change. Updates will be provided on a monthly basis.
Asylum Claims and Interceptions
Monthly Report - Calendar Year 2017
| Provinces | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Quebec | 245 | 452 | 654 | 672 | 576 | 781 | 2,996 | 5,530 | 1,720 | 13,626 |
| Ontario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manitoba | 19 | 142 | 170 | 146 | 106 | 63 | 87 | 80 | 78 | 891 |
| Saskatchewan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Alberta | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| British Columbia | 46Footnote * | 84 | 71 | 32 | 60 | 39 | 51 | 102 | 79 | 564 |
| Total - RCMP | 315 | 678 | 897 | 859 | 742 | 884 | 3,134 | 5,712 | 1,881 | 15,102 |
The number of “RCMP interceptions” refers to asylum seekers apprehended between the ports of entry and does not reflect other illegal border crossings. These numbers may be included in either CBSA or IRCC processing results as the asylum seekers are turned over by the RCMP to these agencies if a claim of refugee status is made.
Asylum Claimants processed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), January - September 2017
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- |
| New Brunswick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quebec | 40 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 75 | 70 | 85 | 105 | 125 | 640 |
| Ontario | 215 | 185 | 145 | 165 | 180 | 135 | 175 | 150 | 250 | 1,605 |
| Manitoba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saskatchewan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alberta | 5 | -- | -- | 15 | -- | -- | 10 | -- | 10 | 50 |
| British Columbia | 20 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 160 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total - Air Ports of Entry | 285 | 245 | 220 | 235 | 280 | 235 | 290 | 265 | 405 | 2,460 |
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Brunswick | -- | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Quebec | 445 | 615 | 785 | 530 | 270 | 270 | 310 | 295 | 205 | 3,720 |
| Ontario | 425 | 445 | 555 | 505 | 505 | 445 | 405 | 510 | 490 | 4,290 |
| Manitoba | -- | 15 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 185 |
| Saskatchewan | -- | 0 | -- | 10 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Alberta | 15 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 20 | 25 | 35 | 195 |
| British Columbia | 10 | 20 | 40 | 35 | 20 | 5 | 30 | 40 | 55 | 260 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total - Land Ports of Entry | 900 | 1,120 | 1,430 | 1,135 | 840 | 775 | 785 | 880 | 800 | 8,670 |
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 5 |
| New Brunswick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quebec | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | 10 |
| Ontario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manitoba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saskatchewan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alberta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| British Columbia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total - Marine Ports of Entry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | 15 |
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 10 |
| New Brunswick | -- | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Quebec | 485 | 660 | 835 | 575 | 345 | 340 | 395 | 400 | 335 | 4,370 |
| Ontario | 645 | 635 | 700 | 670 | 685 | 580 | 580 | 655 | 740 | 5,895 |
| Manitoba | -- | 15 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 185 |
| Saskatchewan | -- | 0 | -- | 10 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Alberta | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 45 | 245 |
| British Columbia | 35 | 35 | 55 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 75 | 420 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total - All Ports of Entry (Air, Land and Marine) | 1,185 | 1,365 | 1,650 | 1,375 | 1,120 | 1,010 | 1,080 | 1,155 | 1,210 | 11,150 |
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Brunswick | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Quebec | 10 | 20 | 45 | 65 | 90 | 115 | 1,000 | 665 | 365 | 2,370 |
| Ontario | 20 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 10 | 205 |
| Manitoba | 20 | 135 | 55 | 120 | 95 | 50 | 55 | 20 | 20 | 565 |
| Saskatchewan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alberta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | -- |
| British Columbia | 45 | 80 | 75 | 55 | 80 | 50 | 80 | 130 | 75 | 670 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total - Inland Offices | 100 | 255 | 205 | 265 | 275 | 230 | 1,155 | 865 | 465 | 3,815 |
| CBSA designated ports of entry/inland offices | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Ports of Entry | 285 | 245 | 220 | 235 | 280 | 235 | 290 | 265 | 405 | 2,460 |
| Land Ports of Entry | 900 | 1,120 | 1,430 | 1,135 | 840 | 775 | 785 | 880 | 800 | 8,670 |
| Marine Ports of Entry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | 15 |
| All Ports of Entry (Air, Land and Marine) | 1,185 | 1,365 | 1,650 | 1,375 | 1,120 | 1,010 | 1,080 | 1,155 | 1,210 | 11,150 |
| Inland Offices | 100 | 255 | 205 | 265 | 275 | 230 | 1,155 | 865 | 465 | 3,815 |
| Total - CBSA Land, Air and Marine port of entry and Inland Offices | 1,285 | 1,620 | 1,855 | 1,640 | 1,390 | 1,240 | 2,235 | 2,020 | 1,680 | 14,960 |
These statistics include asylum claimants intercepted by the RCMP and brought to a CBSA designated port of entry or inland office, and do not include asylum claims made at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offices. Figures may vary slightly depending on the date when the claim was received.
Please note that all values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--”. This is done to prevent individuals from being identified when data is compiled and compared to other publicly available statistics. All other values are rounded to the closest multiple of 5 for the same reason; as a result of rounding, data may not sum to the totals indicated.
Asylum Claimants processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), January - September 2017
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 10 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | 5 | 5 | -- | -- | 25 |
| New Brunswick | -- | 0 | -- | 5 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | 20 |
| Quebec | 270 | 260 | 465 | 505 | 635 | 870 | 1,520 | 4,260 | 1,680 | 10,460 |
| Ontario | 885 | 905 | 875 | 780 | 960 | 965 | 870 | 1,305 | 935 | 8,480 |
| Manitoba | 15 | 15 | 115 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 40 | 80 | 50 | 375 |
| Saskatchewan | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 10 |
| Alberta | 110 | 55 | 85 | 60 | 75 | 90 | 75 | 125 | 95 | 770 |
| British Columbia | 50 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 90 | 80 | 105 | 110 | 640 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outside Canada | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
| Total - IRCC | 1,340 | 1,280 | 1,600 | 1,435 | 1,760 | 2,040 | 2,590 | 5,875 | 2,880 | 20,795 |
Please note that all values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--”. This is done to prevent individuals from being identified when data is compiled and compared to other publicly available statistics. All other values are rounded to the closest multiple of 5 for the same reason; as a result of rounding, data may not sum to the totals indicated.
Total Asylum Claimants processed by the CBSA and IRCC, January - September 2017
| Provinces/Territories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | 5 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | 15 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | -- | -- | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -- | 35 |
| New Brunswick | -- | 0 | -- | 10 | 0 | -- | 10 | -- | -- | 30 |
| Quebec | 765 | 940 | 1,345 | 1,145 | 1,070 | 1,320 | 2,915 | 5,325 | 2,375 | 17,205 |
| Ontario | 1,550 | 1,560 | 1,605 | 1,480 | 1,660 | 1,565 | 1,465 | 2,010 | 1,685 | 14,580 |
| Manitoba | 35 | 160 | 195 | 185 | 150 | 100 | 110 | 110 | 80 | 1,125 |
| Saskatchewan | -- | 0 | -- | 10 | 5 | -- | 0 | 0 | -- | 25 |
| Alberta | 130 | 80 | 115 | 85 | 90 | 120 | 105 | 155 | 140 | 1,015 |
| British Columbia | 130 | 155 | 190 | 160 | 170 | 170 | 210 | 285 | 260 | 1,725 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- |
| Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outside Canada | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
| Total - CBSA & IRCC | 2,620 | 2,900 | 3,455 | 3,075 | 3,150 | 3,280 | 4,820 | 7,895 | 4,555 | 35,755 |
Please note that all values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--”. This is done to prevent individuals from being identified when data is compiled and compared to other publicly available statistics. All other values are rounded to the closest multiple of 5 for the same reason; as a result of rounding, data may not sum to the totals indicated.