Canada cracking down on asylum claims from St-Pierre and Miquelon ferry to N.L.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“Canadian officials observed that some foreign nationals who would otherwise require an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada were attempting to bypass Canada’s immigration and border screening processes, by travelling first to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and then seeking entry to Canada by boat,” wrote department spokesman Anahita Beladi.

play ball

Saskatoon Berries camp returns to Meadow Lake to inspire next generation of ballplayers

30m ago

LUCK IN UNITY

Saskatchewan's newest millionaire claims $1.9M jackpot

1h ago

summer fun

Meadow Lake invites residents to play tourist with Passport to Play

3h ago

Her department would not specify how many claimants were arriving at Fortune, N.L., where a commercial ferry links Canada with the French territory.

“Data on asylum claims specifically related to movement from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is not available for public release, as the low volume of cases could result in the identification of individuals,” Beladi wrote.

“To protect ongoing border security and enforcement efforts, we can’t provide additional details about the people involved or their nationalities.”

The eTA is a permit is a pre-screening tool Ottawa uses to prevent criminals, people with active tuberculosis and some asylum claimants from reaching a border guard. Those who do get an eTA can board flights to Canada and be interviewed on arrival by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Canadians, permanent residents and Americans never need an eTA, and IRCC is exempting French citizens living on the archipelago, as well seafarers, fishers and cruise ship passengers.

The department says roughly 6,000 visa-exempt foreign nationals take the ferry between the territory and Fortune, N.L., each year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2026.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press