Canada approved 3,463 asylum applications from Nigerian citizens in 2025, while 21,573 cases were still awaiting decisions as of the end of the year.
The figures are contained in data released by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, covering claims handled between January and December 2025.
According to the report, a total of 6,765 Nigerians applied for asylum during the period under review.
Out of these, 3,463 applications were accepted, while 1,377 were rejected. The report also showed that 46 cases were abandoned and 153 were either withdrawn or placed under other categories, bringing the total number of completed cases to 5,039.
The acceptance rate for Nigerian applicants stood at about 68 per cent, which is higher than figures recorded in previous years.
Despite the approvals, a large number of applications remain unresolved, with 21,573 Nigerian claims still pending as of December 31, 2025.
The report places Nigeria among the top countries whose citizens sought asylum in Canada last year, alongside India, Haiti, Iran, and Mexico.
Under Canadian law, asylum is granted to individuals who can prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors such as religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
Applicants may also qualify if they face risks such as torture or inhumane treatment in their home country.
The board explained that asylum claims can be made either at a port of entry, such as airports or land borders, or from within Canada.
Each claim is first assessed by officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency to determine eligibility. Qualified cases are then forwarded to the Refugee Protection Division for a final decision based on evidence presented.
Successful applicants are granted protected status and may apply for permanent residence, while unsuccessful claimants may be removed from the country.
Thus, Canada handled 107,802 asylum claims from all countries in 2025, out of which 50,067 were concluded. A total of 14,619 applications were approved, while 7,944 were rejected.
The report noted that the rise in asylum claims in recent years has been driven by global instability, conflicts, and increasing displacement of people across different regions.
, it also indicated a decline in new applications in early 2026, with 64 per cent fewer claims recorded between January and February compared to the same period in 2024.
Provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia currently host the highest number of asylum seekers in Canada.
The data highlights both the growing number of Nigerians seeking refuge abroad and the pressure on Canada’s asylum system as it processes thousands of pending cases.
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