Canada’s refugee protection system recorded a significant shift in 2026, with new refugee claims falling sharply while the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) increased the number of cases it finalized.
According to the latest monthly statistics provided by the IRB, refugee protection claims received in July 2026 fell to 2,652, compared with 11,181 claims in July 2025. At the same time, the number of pending refugee protection claims declined to 268,058 by the end of July.
The figures point to a combination of lower intake and increased case finalization activity as Canada works through its refugee protection inventory.
July Sees Sharp Decline in New Refugee Claims
The IRB data shows that refugee protection claim intake has declined considerably during 2026.
In July 2025, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) recorded 11,181 new claims. One year later, that figure had fallen to 2,652, representing a substantial year-over-year decline.
The decline was also visible earlier in 2026. Monthly intake remained below 6,000 from January through July, compared with considerably higher levels throughout most of 2025.
The latest figures were:
| Month | Refugee claims received | Claims finalized | Pending claims |
| January 2026 | 6,494 | 6,667 | 300,174 |
| February 2026 | 5,834 | 7,593 | 298,415 |
| March 2026 | 5,882 | 8,585 | 295,712 |
| April 2026 | 2,659 | 5,118 | 293,253 |
| May 2026 | 2,971 | 9,030 | 287,194 |
| June 2026 | 2,704 | 13,034 | 276,866 |
| July 2026 | 2,652 | 11,473 | 268,058 |
The numbers show that the pending inventory has fallen every month since January, despite the fact that thousands of new claims continued to enter the system.
Refugee Protection Inventory Falls Below 270,000
One of the most notable developments is the reduction in pending refugee protection claims.
At the end of December 2025, the RPD had 300,347 pending claims. By July 2026, the inventory had dropped to 268,058.
That represents a reduction of more than 32,000 pending cases over seven months.
The largest monthly reduction occurred in June, when the pending inventory fell from 287,194 to 276,866. This coincided with the RPD finalizing 13,034 cases, its highest monthly finalization figure in the data provided.
In July, another 11,473 claims were finalized, further reducing the inventory.
What the Refugee Claim Figures Mean
A lower number of new claims does not necessarily mean that fewer people require protection. Refugee claim statistics can be affected by multiple factors, including changes in migration patterns, eligibility rules, border movements and other immigration-related circumstances.
The IRB also cautions that cases finalized during a particular month may have been referred to the RPD during an earlier period.
Therefore, the monthly intake and finalization numbers should not be interpreted as a direct one-to-one measure of applications being decided during the same month.
For people with an active refugee protection claim, the overall inventory reduction may nevertheless indicate increased decision-making capacity within the RPD.
Refugee Appeals Continue to Move in the Opposite Direction
While the refugee protection inventory has declined, the number of pending refugee appeals has continued to increase.
According to the latest figures, 1,149 refugee appeals were filed in July 2026, while 915 were finalized. This left 5,949 pending refugee appeals at the end of July.
The pending appeal inventory has increased steadily during 2026:
- January: 4,791
- February: 4,844
- March: 4,964
- April: 5,231
- May: 5,506
- June: 5,715
- July: 5,949
This means the refugee appeal system is experiencing a different trend from the initial refugee protection claim system.
Immigration Appeals Remain Comparatively Stable
The IRB’s Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) also recorded activity during July.
There were 285 immigration appeals filed and 349 finalized during the month. The number of pending non-stayed appeals stood at 2,424, while 480 stayed appeals were pending.
The total number of pending immigration appeals therefore remained substantially lower than the inventory of refugee protection claims and refugee appeals.
Why These Figures Matter for People Seeking Protection in Canada
The latest IRB statistics provide an indication of how Canada’s refugee determination system is handling its caseload.
For refugee claimants, the most important distinction is between:
- New claims entering the system;
- Claims being finalized by the RPD;
- Pending claims waiting for a decision; and
- Appeals involving decisions that are being challenged.
The reduction in pending RPD claims suggests that the Board is processing cases at a faster pace relative to incoming claims. However, the increase in pending refugee appeals shows that processing pressures have not disappeared across every stage of the system.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that a reduction in the overall RPD inventory automatically means every refugee case will be finalized quickly.
What Should Refugee Claimants Do?
People with refugee claims or appeals should continue to monitor their individual case information and comply with all deadlines and requirements communicated by the relevant Canadian authorities.
Because the IRB’s monthly statistics are aggregate figures, they cannot predict the processing time or outcome of an individual case.
Anyone dealing with a refugee claim, appeal or immigration matter should assess their circumstances carefully and seek qualified legal or immigration advice where appropriate.