Bill C-12: what changes in immigration in Jul/2026 | ImmigraCan

The decade's biggest regulatory package comes into force

July 2026 marks the start of a series of deep reforms to Canada's immigration system, stemming from Bill C-12 — Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, which received Royal Assent in March 2026. The package affects asylum, work permits, mass applications, criminality, and consultant oversight, and is the largest set of legislative changes in the field since the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of 2002.

This guide summarizes the most relevant changes that are already in force or take effect this month, with a focus on practical impact for those living in or planning to immigrate to Canada.

1. Asylum system reform — 60-day window

The regulation proposes to speed up the intake and decision of asylum claims. The main changes:

• A 60-day window for the claimant to submit a complete application (including the Basis of Claim, identity documents, and all required statements)
• 1-year rule: asylum claims made more than 1 year after first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), even if the person left and came back
• 14-day rule: people who enter through the US-Canada land border outside official ports of entry and claim asylum after 14 days will not have their claim referred to the IRB

These rules already apply to claims made from June 3, 2025 onward and have now gained full regulatory implementation.

2. Earlier work permit for asylum seekers

One of the best-received changes: asylum seekers will be able to receive an open work permit as soon as the claim is deemed eligible for referral — instead of having to wait for formal referral to the IRB.

This means months less waiting before starting to work legally, a point activists have been pushing for years. Eligible claimants will be able to support themselves sooner and rely less on provincial social assistance.

3. IRCC's power to suspend applications en masse

One of the most controversial changes: when in the public interest, IRCC gains the authority to:

• Cancel, suspend, or change a large group of immigration documents
• Pause intake of new applications in a given category
• Cancel or suspend processing of applications already in the queue

Public interest includes: fraud, administrative errors, public health, public safety, or national security.

In practice, IRCC can temporarily freeze a PNP category, a study program, or an entire work stream if it identifies systemic problems — something that previously required a case-by-case process.

4. Impact of the reformed Criminal Code

Convictions under the reformed Criminal Code now trigger criminal inadmissibility under the IRPA more quickly:

• Permanent residents convicted of serious indictable offences face a higher likelihood of a removal order
• Temporary residents risk immediate cancellation of their visa and deportation following a conviction under the new sentencing framework

This means that offences that used to result only in a criminal conviction can now have direct immigration consequences, even for long-standing PRs.

5. Consultant reform (CICC) — July 15

We already covered this in our post about the CICC, but in summary:

• Higher fines for licensed consultants
• Compensation fund for fraud victims starting July 15, 2026
• Expanded public registry

6. End of the study-without-a-study-permit policy — June 27

We covered this in another post this week: the temporary 2023 policy expired on June 27, 2026. All study in Canada now requires a valid study permit.

7. The 150-day rule for students

IRCC formalized the 150-day rule: if you have a study permit and stop studying, you need to resume within 150 days, change status (visitor/worker), or leave Canada. The interruption needs to be authorized by the DLI.

8. Expanded open work permit for PSTQ spouses (Quebec)

The PPTR2PRQC2026 policy, also in force since June 5, 2026, allows spouses of Quebec PSTQ candidates to apply for an open work permit within 30 days. Read the full guide.

What this means for those already in Canada

The consensus among experts is that the package represents a shift toward more control and more speed — control over who enters, who stays, and who leaves, and speed in decisions that used to sit in the backlog for years.

For Brazilians already in Canada with temporary status, the points of attention are:

1. Strict compliance with permit conditions (authorized studies, correct employer, updated address)
2. No criminal convictions — even offences that used to seem minor can trigger removal
3. Applications up to date — IRCC can suspend categories without notice; those who have already applied are safer
4. Complete documentation — the 60-day asylum window is a general warning about the level of documentary rigor IRCC will adopt

For Brazilians still in Brazil

If you're planning to immigrate in 2026 or 2027, the landscape calls for:

• Early preparation of documents (passport, ECA, language tests, criminal background checks)
• Choosing the right program — ImmigraCan's free quiz helps map this out
• Reliable guidance — with the CICC reform, it's easier to verify legitimate consultants

Conclusion

July 2026 is the month when much of Bill C-12 moves off paper and into the real lives of immigrants and applicants. The overall tone is more scrutiny, firmer deadlines, and greater IRCC discretionary power — combined with some meaningful expansions (work permits for asylum seekers, PSTQ spouses, the compensation fund).

Our recommendation: study every change that affects your specific profile. Many of these changes have permanent consequences if you get compliance wrong.

Start with the free eligibility quiz to understand which changes are relevant to you.

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*This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. ImmigraCan is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Always confirm official data at canada.ca and, for your specific case, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.*