Asylum claims in Canada: the new steps

What is extended. On October 27, 2026, IRCC updated the temporary measures for Sudanese and Haitian nationals who are in Canada and cannot return home. The previous measures were set to expire on October 27. According to IRCC's notice, the extension is targeted: eligible people who hold a valid work permit issued under the previous measures can apply to extend that permit.

Who is covered. You need a valid work permit issued under the earlier temporary measures for Sudanese or Haitian nationals, as the case may be. The application comes with the standard processing fees. The extended measures expire on December 30, 2027.

What is not automatic. The extension does not apply to every status. People who want to extend their visitor status or study permit can apply through IRCC's existing channels, as the notice says. The measure is federal: it applies across Canada, including Quebec.

Good to know for newcomers. If this applies to you, first check that your current permit was issued under one of the temporary measures covered, then follow the requirements on IRCC's page. Keep proof of your status while your application is being processed. For the general steps, see our guide to work permits in Quebec and, if you are claiming asylum, our guide to claiming asylum in Quebec.

What changes. Since October 28, 2026, the federal government can impose monetary penalties on people who provide paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation without authorization. The measure is federal: it applies across Canada, including Quebec. According to IRCC's news release, the new rules also apply to licensed consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives who break the law.

The amounts. A person who gives paid advice or representation without authorization faces a $5,000 penalty. A person who knowingly provides false or misleading information on an applicant's behalf, or helps an applicant do so, faces a $15,000 penalty. Additional penalties may apply if an application is approved based on that information. For repeat violations, the total can reach $1.5 million for all violations combined.

A public registry. IRCC will publish the names of the people penalized and the details of their violations. The online registry is expected to launch in 2027, after the first penalties are imposed. The final regulations are to be published on November 4, 2026.

How to check your representative. Before you pay, check that the person is authorized. The release links to IRCC's page on authorized representatives. If you think you are dealing with someone who is not authorized, our guide to common scams in Quebec explains the warning signs. Our guide to essential government websites can also help you find the right official pages.

Good to know for newcomers. Before you pay for immigration advice, ask the person to prove they are authorized, then check it yourself. The federal government advises people to verify that a representative is authorized before paying them.

What's changing. Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) is now called the Ministère de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (MII). The ministry announced it in an October 22 news release (in French), the day after the new Cabinet was formed. The new minister is Catherine Gentilcore, who is also deputy premier, according to the ministry's page (in French).

The word "Francisation" leaves the name, not the courses. According to the release, the new name reflects a broader view of integration that includes French-language learning services. Those services stay in the same ministry, and Francisation Québec continues to offer its services to individuals and businesses.

What isn't changing. The ministry says it is keeping all of its activities and services for immigrants, employers and its partners. The release doesn't announce anything you need to do. The Quebec government's free French courses are still for people aged 16 and over who live in Quebec, under certain conditions, as explained on the Learn French page.

You'll still see the old name. On October 23, the title of the ministry's web page still read "Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration." The old acronym will probably keep circulating for a while, on websites, on forms and in conversation. MIFI and MII are the same ministry.

Good to know for newcomers. In our guides, you'll still read "MIFI" for a while: it's the same ministry, and the procedures described don't change with the name. For French courses, see our guide to free French classes (francisation) in Quebec. For the new government's immigration priorities, see our article on its first 100 days.