IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2026 - Digital Platform Modernization

Context

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) current aging digital platforms limit our ability to quickly respond to changing priorities and events. In response, IRCC is transforming its service delivery model and digital platforms through the Digital Platform Modernization (DPM) initiative.

Background

• IRCC’s digital platforms are critical to deliver programs that support Canadian communities and economies, Canada’s response to global crises, as well as national and border security.
• A key objective of DPM is transforming IRCC’s service delivery model and business processes by replacing aging technology with modern tools and redesigning paper-based processes to be digital first.
• An important component of this work is to replace the 20+ year-old Global Case Management System, which is a complex, fragile system unable to meet the business demands of today’s immigration system.

Overview

• Through DPM, IRCC is rolling out new, modern digital platforms that will:
  • Transform and streamline processes through automation and integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI);
  • Support better risk management through better and more accessible data;
  • Enable quicker, more nimble implementation of policy changes;
  • Provide a better user experience for clients; and
  • Increase technical stability and reduce outages.
• On the front-end, once fully implemented, the new client experience platform will support a single online window for clients to access the Department’s programs and services, improve channel support for clients, and enable digital travel and immigration documents for clients.
• On the back-end, once fully implemented, the new case management platform will be comprised of the foundational digital components that are needed to transform how IRCC processes applications, including:
  • New case management and enterprise data platforms;
  • Business rules management;
  • Advanced analytics tools that support officers in complex decision-making; and
  • Reporting and inventory management tools.
• DPM is taking a phased approach (also known as tranches), to minimize risks and deliver incremental value.

Tranche 1: Focus on Improving the Client Experience

Tranche 1, comprised of three projects, is focused on providing clients an easy to use, single window digital experience for all of IRCC’s services. Roll-out to clients is underway.

• Project 1 - Enabling a seamless online client experience: The first project is a new online account, already rolled out to visitor and passport renewal clients in Canada with plans to roll out to all clients (Express Entry clients targeted next). Existing legacy client portals will be consolidated into this new solution.
• Project 2 – Improving channel support for client enquiries: The second project is a new client support management platform that integrates with clients’ online accounts, to provide seamless access to support with better tools for agents to respond to enquiries quickly and accurately. This new platform has started rolling out to IRCC’s Client Support Centre.
• Project 3 – Digital visa pilot: The third project, now complete, was a digital visa pilot which successfully tested digital document technology with participating visitors from Morocco. The results of the pilot are informing longer-term solutions that will eliminate the need for eligible clients to send in their passports for a physical visa (counterfoil) as part of visa processing.

Tranche 2: Streamlining Back-End Processing

• Tranche 2 is focused on establishing the new case management platform and building our enterprise data platform, centralizing core data processing, and improving reporting, intelligence and analytics.
• The development for these new platforms are underway and include:
  • A new Case Management Platform for IRCC application management and processing, will support greater automation of clear-cut cases, and integrated AI to help decision-makers be more efficient.
  • A new Enterprise Data Platform that will support advanced analytics and better reporting, both allowing for increased program integrity.
• Tranche 2 has an early focus on Express Entry with the first release set to deliver a new Expression of Interest system to manage Express Entry applications.

Key Achievements to Date

Since the initiative formally launched in 2022, IRCC has advanced important foundational work:

• Defined a “North Star” with the Digital Platform Modernization Blueprint.
• Procured the new front-end client experience platform (July 2023) and case management platform (September 2024).
• Launched the new online account (June 2024), with the first client group of Temporary Resident Visitors. As of January 31, 2026, over 123K clients have used it to apply for a visitor visa.
• Expanded access to the new online account to a subset of adult passport renewal clients in Canada (December 2024), making online passport renewals possible for the first time. As of January 31, 2026, over 91K Canadians have used it to apply for an adult passport renewal.
• Began the roll-out of a new client enquiry management tool (November 2025), empowering client support staff with new digital tools and processes to better manage client enquiries consistently.
• Successfully completed the digital visa pilot (February 2026). Over 300 clients from Morocco chose to participate in the pilot, which successfully validated that the technology worked for issuing, verifying, amending and revoking digital credentials in real-time.

Upcoming Milestones

• In the coming year, DPM will continue to roll-out the new online account and work towards the first release of the case management platform, with a focus on:
• scaling access to the new online account for passport clients;
• rolling out a new Expression of Interest system to manage Express Entry applications; and
• improving our data foundations to enable future end-to-end process transformation.