Canada granted asylum to 3,463 Nigerian nationals in 2025, while 21,573 applications from the country remained unresolved as of December 31, highlighting a growing backlog in its refugee system.
Latest figures released by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada showed that a total of 6,765 Nigerians filed asylum claims within the year under review.
Out of the applications processed, 3,463 were approved, 1,377 were rejected, 46 were abandoned, while 153 were withdrawn or categorised under other outcomes, bringing the number of concluded cases to 5,039.
The data indicates an approval rate of about 68 per cent for Nigerian applicants, a significant rise compared to previous years when far fewer claims were successful.
Despite the approvals, a substantial 21,573 applications remained pending at the close of 2025, underscoring mounting pressure on Canada’s asylum system.
The development places Nigeria among the leading countries of origin for asylum seekers in Canada, alongside nations such as India, Haiti, Iran and Mexico.
Under Canadian regulations, the Refugee Protection Division grants asylum to individuals who meet the criteria set out in the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee as a person with a well-founded fear of persecution.
Grounds for protection include threats linked to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, as well as risks of torture or inhumane treatment if returned to one’s home country.
The board explained that asylum requests can be made either at official entry points such as airports and land borders or from within Canada, after which eligibility is assessed by officers of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency.
Eligible claims are subsequently reviewed by the board based on evidence presented and in accordance with Canadian law.
Successful applicants are granted protected status and may apply for permanent residency, while those denied risk deportation.
Across all nationalities, Canada received 107,802 asylum claims in 2025, out of which 50,067 cases were determined. Of these, 14,619 were approved and 7,944 rejected.
The board attributed the sustained rise in asylum applications to global instability, armed conflicts and increasing displacement worldwide, though it noted a 64 per cent drop in new claims in early 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.
Provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia continue to host the highest number of asylum seekers in the country.