Asylum seeker

IMPORTANT Asylum applications are submitted to the Government of Canada.



To submit your application and obtain the necessary forms, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.



The Ministère de lImmigration, de la Francisation et de lIntégration is currently receiving an exceptionally high volume of applications from individuals recognized as refugees within Quebec. The Ministère is making every effort to ensure that your file is handled as soon as possible. The Ministère is now processing applications that were received on August 12, 2020. This date will be updated regularly.

Statistical portrait of asylum seekers in Québec

Over the last year, Québec has seen an increase in the number of asylum claims made in its territory. Most of these claims are being presented by foreign nationals who have been intercepted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers during irregular crossings of the United States-Québec border.

On September 20, 2020, 5 new asylum seekers were provided with accommodation.

3 asylum seekers are being temporarily housed in the Greater Montreal area as of September 20, 2020.

In 2018, between January 1 and December 31, 27,970 asylum claims were presented in Québec, of which 66% were submitted by people who entered irregularly (18,518 interceptions). 24,980 claims were received during the same period in 2017.

As of December 31, 2018, the top five birth countries of the 27,970 asylum seekers in Québec were Nigeria, India, Mexico, the United States and Haiti.



Last update : September 23, 2020



Source: IRCC, January 31, 2019. These data are preliminary estimates and could change.

Are you living in Québec while your asylum application is being reviewed? You are entitled to services from the Government of Québec upon your arrival, namely:

temporary housing upon arrival in Québec

assistance in finding permanent housing on the private market

information sessions about life in Québec

last-resort financial assistance

preschool, elementary and secondary education

non-subsidized child care and community drop-in daycare activities

universal employment services

French classes (excluding allowances)

legal aid to prepare asylum claims, in particular

social services under the Program régional d’accueil et d’intégration des demandeurs d’asile (PRAIDA) au Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which is comprised of two components:

psychosocial: services provided by social workers



health: preventive and frontline services adapted to the needs of people seeking asylum

Information guide

Consult the Guide for asylum seekers in Québec wishing to obtain Québec government services (PDF, 196 Kb). It contains a lot of information on the services you are entitled to.

Certain services are accessible upon presentation of the Refugee Protection Claimant Document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Keep it handy at all times.

Information sessions

Participate in a free information session to find out about these services, receive practical advice and better understand life in Québec.

The sessions are given in French and English.

For more information, call La Maisonnée at 514 271-3533.

Housing assistance organizations

Community organizations have been designated to help you find housing as soon as possible. You can contact them with confidence.

Legal aid organization

Centre communautaire juridique de Montréal

514 849-3671

Questions and answers – Asylum seekers