Canada approves 3,463 asylum claims by Nigerians in 2025, over 21,000 still pending

Canada approved 3,463 asylum applications from Nigerians in 2025, while 21,573 cases were still waiting for a decision by the end of the year.

This information comes from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), based on data covering January to December 2025.

During the year, Nigerians submitted 6,765 asylum applications. Out of these:

3,463 were approved

1,377 were rejected

46 were abandoned

153 were withdrawn or had other outcomes

In total, 5,039 cases were decided, with an approval rate of about 68%. This is higher than in previous years.

Nigeria was among the top countries whose citizens applied for asylum in Canada in 2025, along with India, Haiti, Iran, and Mexico.

To be granted asylum in Canada, applicants must show they are at risk of persecution due to factors like race, religion, nationality, political views, or belonging to a particular group. They may also qualify if they face torture or serious harm in their home country.

People can apply for asylum either at entry points like airports and borders or from inside Canada. Their applications are first checked for eligibility before being reviewed by the IRB, which makes the final decision.

Those who are successful can stay in Canada and apply for permanent residence. Those who are rejected may be asked to leave the country.

Overall, Canada handled 107,802 asylum claims from all countries in 2025. It completed 50,067 cases, approving 14,619 and rejecting 7,944.

The IRB said the rise in asylum applications is due to global conflicts and instability. However, it also noted that new claims dropped by 64% between January and February 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.

Most asylum seekers in Canada live in provinces like Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.