According to updated data released by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), Canada granted 3,463 asylum applications filed by Nigerian nationals in 2025, while 21,573 claims were still pending at the end of the year.
Nigerians filed 6,765 asylum claims between January and December 2025, according to data that was updated on February 13.
The total number of completed cases was 5,039 after 3,463 applications were approved, 1,377 were denied, 46 were abandoned, and 153 were withdrawn or categorized under other outcomes.
In comparison to prior years, when 2,230 out of 16,267 claims were approved, the figures show an approval rate of roughly 68%.
Nigeria, along with India, Haiti, Iran, and Mexico, was one of the top countries of origin for asylum seekers in Canada in 2025 due to this volume of applications.
As per Canadian regulations, those who fulfill the requirements specified in the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention are granted asylum by the Refugee Protection Division. Candidates must show that they have a legitimate fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, social group membership, political beliefs, or that they would be subjected to torture or cruel treatment if they were sent back to their native country
According to the IRB, requests for asylum may be submitted from within Canada or at specific entry points like airports, land borders, or seaports. Before being sent to the board for decision-making, each claim is first evaluated for eligibility by representatives of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency.
The board added that applicants must demonstrate a legitimate fear of persecution or serious harm in their country of origin. “All eligible claims are then determined by the IRB based on the evidence and arguments presented, and in line with Canadian laws,” the board said.
Those whose claims are rejected may be subject to removal procedures, while those who are granted protected status are eligible to apply for permanent residence
50,067 of the 107,802 asylum requests from all nationalities that Canada processed in 2025 were resolved. 14,619 of these were accepted, while 7,944 were denied.
The IRB observed a steady rise in asylum requests in recent years, which was attributed to conflicts, global instability, and an increase in displacement. In contrast to the same period in 2024, it also revealed a 64% decrease in new claims between January and February of 2026.
The majority of the nation’s asylum seekers are currently housed in provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
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