Canada grants asylum to 3,463 Nigerians as backlog of applications grows

A total of 3,463 Nigerians were granted asylum in Canada in 2025, according to figures released by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

The development places Nigeria among the leading countries of origin for asylum seekers in Canada, alongside India, Haiti, Iran and Mexico.

The figures also indicate that a significant number of Nigerian applications remain unresolved, with 21,573 cases still pending as of the end of 2025.

During the period under review, Nigerians submitted 6,765 asylum claims.

Out of 5,039 applications processed, 3,463 were successful, while 1,377 were rejected. Additionally, 46 cases were abandoned and 153 were either withdrawn or closed for other reasons.

This translates to an approval rate of approximately 68 per cent for Nigerian applicants, marking a notable increase compared to previous years.

The outstanding 21,573 Nigerian applications contribute to a broader backlog being experienced by Canadian authorities.

In total, Canada received 107,802 asylum claims from all nationalities in 2025. However, only 50,067 of these applications were finalised, with 14,619 approvals and 7,944 rejections recorded.

Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, Canada’s Refugee Protection Division grants asylum to individuals who demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, or those at risk of torture if returned to their home country.

Asylum requests may be made at airports, land borders, or from within Canada. Before a claim is reviewed, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency determines eligibility and conducts initial screening.

Applicants who are successful are granted protected status and may proceed to apply for permanent residency, while unsuccessful applicants are subject to deportation.

The board attributed the increase in asylum claims to rising global instability and displacement, although it noted that new claims declined by 64 per cent in the early months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.