canada/">Canada has denied 1,596 asylum claims filed by Nigerians so far in 2025, new data from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) show.
The figures, updated to August 21, indicate that Nigerian nationals filed 3,548 claims in 2025. Of these, 2,292 were accepted. That puts the acceptance rate at about 65%, higher than previous years when cumulative rejections topped 13,000.
An earlier analysis by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration practice, had already projected 3,455 Nigerian claims in early 2025. It placed Nigeria among the top asylum-seeking nations alongside Mexico, India, Haiti, and Colombia.
Violence from Boko Haram, rising insecurity, and economic instability continue to drive Nigerians abroad. Ontario and Alberta host the largest numbers of Nigerian asylum seekers.
The IRB grants refugee protection if applicants meet the United Nations definition of a refugee, which Canada has adopted into its law. Refugees are persons with a substantiated fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political views, or belonging to a social group.
These groups may include sexual orientation, gender identity, women, or persons living with HIV/AIDS. But applicants must also show a risk of torture, danger to life, or cruel and unusual punishment if returned home.
How the System Works
Applications often begin when immigrants report to Canadian Border Services at entry points or meet immigration officers.
“The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB. If the claim is eligible, it is sent (‘referred’) to the RPD to start the claim for refugee protection process,” an IRB guideline states.
By comparison, in 2024 Canada rejected 811 Nigerian claims while approving 2,230. Between 2013 and 2024, the IRB rejected 13,171 applications from Nigerians and accepted 10,580.
In 2019 alone, 3,951 Nigerian claims were denied — the highest in a single year. Rejections have since declined, dropping to 439 in 2023 and 811 in 2024.
Still, Canada granted 10,580 Nigerians refugee status in the past decade. In 2024 alone, 2,230 Nigerians secured protection. Nigeria ranks 8th among the top 10 countries with the most accepted claims, behind Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, and Afghanistan.
Why Many Nigerians Get Rejected
Experts say irregular migration remains a key reason why many Nigerians fail in their asylum bids.
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, explained: “Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination. Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system.”
She added: “For one, documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected from their system. But ultimately, everybody’s rights must be protected. Migration must be safe, orderly and regular. Even if their status is irregular, those who really need protection should be protected.”
Overall, asylum demand in Canada grew sharply after a record 173,000 claims in 2024. Applications eased slightly in 2025, with 19,660 filed in just the first two months, but numbers remain far above pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, the IRB continues to face criticism for delays, with its backlog of cases swelling in recent years.
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