What happens if I make a refugee claim when I arrive in Canada?
You can make a refugee claim when you arrive at an official (POE) in Canada. A POE could be an international airport, marine port, or a Canada-United States (U.S.) border crossing.
When you arrive at a POE, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer asks you for your passport and the reason you came to Canada. If you plan to make a refugee claim at the POE, you must tell the CBSA officer immediately.
The officer interviews you to decide if you're eligible to make a claim. The officer does not decide if your claim should be accepted.
If you made a refugee claim in Canada on or after June 3, 2025, or if you're planning to make one, a new law called Bill C-12 may affect you. Use this tool from the Migrant Rights Network to check if your claim could end. If your claim ends, you usually have the right to apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. It's important to get legal help.
Eligible for a refugee claim
If you're eligible, the officer sends your claim to the (RPD) of the . The RPD decides if you're a Convention Refugee or a , usually after a hearing.
If the officer does not decide your eligibility, you may be allowed to enter Canada and finish the interview another time.
Not eligible for a refugee claim
If you're not eligible, your refugee claim ends and you can never make another one in Canada.
Arriving from the United States
Many people coming to Canada from the U.S. are not eligible to make a refugee claim because of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). If you're not eligible because of the STCA, you're returned to the U.S. immediately and will probably be detained by U.S. authorities. Get legal advice before coming.
For more information, read Can I make a refugee claim in Canada if I’m coming from the U.S.
Not eligible for other reasons
You're usually allowed to enter Canada if:
- CBSA decides you meet an exception to the STCA, or
- you're arriving from a country other than the U.S. or where the STCA does not apply
In that case, if you're not eligible to make a refugee claim, you will get a . But you can usually apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) where you explain why you fear returning to your country.
Get legal help
Try to get legal help from a Canadian refugee lawyer or other licensed representativelicensed representative. They can tell you:
- if you're eligible to make a refugee claim and explain the process
- any other options you may have to delay your removal or apply to stay in Canada permanently if you're not eligible to make a refugee claim