Canada's refugee protection claims reached 300,000 pending cases in December 2025

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has reported a significant milestone: pending refugee protection claims reached 300,163 by December 2025. Despite processing 6,724 finalizations during the month, the new intake of 7,397 claims continues to outpace the resolution. The backlog has grown steadily throughout the year, reflecting ongoing challenges in the refugee determination system. Meanwhile, refugee appeals have also increased, with 4,665 cases pending by year-end, up from 3,303 at the start of 2024. Immigration appeals showed similar trends, with non-stayed pending cases climbing to 2,550. These figures underscore the mounting pressure on Canada's immigration infrastructure as authorities work to balance processing efficiency with fair case reviews.

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