Amendments to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) Rules came into force on November 3, 2026. The amendments align the RPD Rules with the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act. The amended Rules will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on November 4, 2026.

What changed

The RPD Rules have been amended to reflect the new statutory framework. Alongside the Rules, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has amended the RPD Practice Notice on Procedural Issues (PNPI) to align with both the new Rules and the Act. The PNPI introduces temporary transitional measures intended to give claimants and counsel time to adapt to the new requirements.

The IRB has also updated its web content on the refugee protection claim process to reflect the new procedures, requirements and time limits. Details are available on the IRB news page.

Who is affected

The amendments apply to refugee claimants appearing before the Refugee Protection Division and to their counsel. Anyone preparing a claim, responding to a scheduling notice, or representing a claimant before the RPD should review the amended Rules and the updated PNPI.

What this means in practice

Because the Rules and the PNPI now set out new procedures, requirements and time limits, filings and hearing preparation will need to follow the updated framework. The transitional measures in the PNPI are temporary, and claimants and counsel are expected to adjust their processes within the period provided.

At this stage, the IRB has confirmed that procedures, requirements and time limits have changed, but the specific content of those changes should be reviewed directly in the amended Rules, the amended PNPI and the updated IRB web content.

Next steps

• Review the amended RPD Rules once published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on November 4, 2026.
• Review the amended RPD Practice Notice on Procedural Issues and the related questions and answers, including the temporary transitional measures.
• Consult the updated IRB refugee protection claim web content for the new procedures, requirements and time limits.
• Adapt pending filings and internal processes to the new requirements within the transitional period provided in the PNPI.

Our office is reviewing the amended Rules and the PNPI and will adjust our workflow for current and incoming RPD files accordingly.