IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2025-03

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Departmental Overview

March 2025

Table of Contents

• Introduction to IRCC
  • Departmental mandate and core responsibilities
  • Legal frameworks
  • Canada’s managed approach to immigration
  • Departmental Plan
• Two Main Pathways
  • How do people come to Canada?
  • Immigration Levels Plan
  • Balances approach
• Health & Safety
  • Safeguarding the health, safety and security of Canadians
  • Migration health
• Settlement, Resettlement, and Integration
  • Settlement and resettlement programming for newcomers
• For Canadians
  • Citizenship
  • Passports
• Delivering Services
  • IRCC’s operational network in Canada
  • IRCC’s overseas operations
• Key Partners
  • Provinces, territories, and communities
  • Federal partners
  • International partners
• Annexes
  • Domestic Offices
  • International Network
  • Permanent residence
  • Temporary residence

Introduction to IRCC

Departmental mandate and core responsibilities

What we do:

• Screen and approve for entry temporary residents (international students, visitors, and workers) and permanent residents (economic, family, refugee/humanitarian classes and categories).
• Manage access to Canada to protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians, as well as the integrity of Canadian laws.
• Manage the number of admissions of new permanent and temporary residents, according to the Multi-Year Levels Plan.
• Resettle, protect, and provide haven for refugees through our resettlement and asylum programs.
• Help newcomers to participate fully in the economic, social, and cultural life of the country through settlement programming.
• Help permanent residents become Canadian citizens.
• Issue passports and other travel documents to facilitate travel outside of Canada.
• Engage internationally on migration and protection issues, supporting Canada’s foreign engagements.

Immigrants account for 100% of population growth

Immigrants account for almost all of labour force growth

Since 2015, the weight of the immigrant workers in the labour market increased from 24% to 31% in 2023.

Immigrants are mostly present in :

• Transportation and warehousing (41%)
• Accommodation and food services (40%)
• Professional, scientific and technical services (38%)

Immigrants represents 33% of health care workers.

Legal frameworks

The Department’s Work is Grounded in Strong Legal Frameworks

Canada’s Constitution

Establishes shared Jurisdiction over immigration between the federal and provincial/territorial governments.

Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act (1994)

Established the Department – Sets out the powers, duties, and functions of the Minister.

Citizenship Act (1977), Citizenship Regulations and Citizenship Regulations No.2

Enables:

• Acquisition of citizenship;
• Resumption of citizenship;
• Proof of citizenship; and
• Loss of citizenship (renunciation, recall, and revocation). 

Canadian Passport Order* (1981)
Diplomatic and Special Passports Order (2005)

Enables:

• Issuance of passports; and
• Cancellation, refusal, and revocation.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) (2002)
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)

Enables:

• Selection of economic immigrants;
• Family reunification;
• Refugee protection; and
• Enforcement

The Minister of Public Safety is responsible for the administration of the enforcement provisions of this Act.

The Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship also has discretionary tools from the Act:

• Ministerial Instructions; and
• Public Policy.

The Act also provides the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada with jurisdiction to hear and decide cases on immigration and refugee matters.

Canada’s managed approach to immigration

Canada has a Managed Approach to Migration

• Canada’s approach to migration is intended to maximize Canada’s economic and social well-being.
• The Department:
  • Plans the number of new permanent and temporary residents; and
  • Creates legal pathways for people to come to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis.

Permanent Resident Landings 1865 to 2027

Departmental Plan

Immigration is more than facilitating the movement of people

The work of this Department makes a difference to Canada by contributing to…

Economic Development

Bringing in global talent and skills to support and grow the Canadian economy, helping businesses scale up, and competing in international markets. Additionally, tourists and students contribute to the economy.

Global Reach

IRCC’s network of people and offices is global. Canada’s approach to immigration is often cited as the benchmark internationally. Global issues impact and inform IRCC’s work, and immigration and protection are increasingly part of Canada’s foreign engagements.

Nation-Building

IRCC facilitates the arrival and integration of people to Canada so that they can contribute to our strength and share with us the benefits of this country. We strive for intercultural understanding that allows all people to integrate into Canadian society, regardless of our differences.

National Security

We screen people before they come to Canada to maintain the health, safety, and security of Canadians.

Two Main Pathways

How do people come to Canada?

Temporary Residents: Visiting, Studying or Working in Canada

• IRCC facilitates the entry of visitors, students, and temporary workers for trade, commerce, work, tourism, cultural, educational, and scientific activities while protecting the health, safety, and security of Canadians.
• Temporary residents are generally protected under Canadian law and have many of the protections from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• People who are authorized to work in Canada must pay taxes.

Visitors, international students, temporary foreign workers

Permanent Residents: Settling in Canada and Becoming Eligible for Citizenship

• Permanent residence grants many rights and responsibilities, including the right to live, work, or study anywhere in Canada; and social benefits including health care coverage and access to federally-funded settlement and integration services.
• To facilitate the successful integration of permanent residents, they are granted a permanent resident card which serves as official proof of status, which is a core identity document to access various services.
• Permanent residents must adhere to and are protected under Canadian laws and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Permanent residents are required to pay taxes.

Economic immigrants, spouses/partners and family members, refugees and protected persons

Immigration Levels Plan

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act requires that the Government’s planned number of permanent resident admissions for the next calendar year be tabled in Parliament and published annually by November 1.

The Levels Plan is a cornerstone of Canada’s managed migration system.

New as of the 2025-2027 Levels Plan, targets for new temporary resident arrivals are also included to promote better manage these new arrivals, and pressures on infrastructure and services.

The 2025-2027 Levels Plan also reduced permanent resident admissions and temporary resident arrivals for the first time in decades.

The Multi-year Levels Plan (three years) allows for a longer planning horizon, helping provinces and territories and stakeholders to better prepare and reflects a commitment to a well-managed system.

Levels planning is informed by:

• Engagement with provinces, territories and stakeholders;
• Domestic and international priorities;
• Operational realities;
• Data, research, and evidence; and
• Public opinion

Balances approach

Balancing Economic, Social and Humanitarian Objectives, and Increasing Canada’s Diversity

Health & Safety

The protection of health, safety, and security of Canadians is balanced with facilitating the movement of people.

Who and What?

Temporary Residents

(visitors, students, and workers)

Temporary Resident Visa: Thorough screening to assess admissibility and traveller intent.

Electronic Travel Authorization: Lighter-touch pre-travel screening for visa-exempt nationals.

Permanent Residents

Screening for security, criminality and medical admissibility.

Where?

Overseas – For most temporary and permanent residents

At the border – Canada Border Services Agency  screens all travellers

In Canada – Those seeking a change or extension in status (e.g., temporary to permanent, in Canada asylum claims), or applying for citizenship.

How?

Information provided by clients – e.g. biographic; biometrics (fingerprints and photo), medical history and immigration medical exams)

Information held by trusted partners – domestic security agencies (e.g. Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and  international partners (e.g. Migration Five, European Union)

Information in IRCC and CBSA systems – e.g. previous applications

Verification of information –e.g. meeting conditions for work or study permits, possessing a valid permanent resident card.

Safeguarding the health, safety and security of Canadians

Protecting the Health of Newcomers and Canadians is a Priority for the Department

To that end, the Department:

• Manages health screening of migrants to determine medical inadmissibility.
• Oversees immigration medical exams conducted by a global network of third-party Panel Physicians and radiologists.
• Manages the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which covers the cost of healthcare for vulnerable populations on a discretionary basis.
• Works with the International Organization for Migration and other IFHP-registered overseas providers to deliver pre-departure medical services for resettled refugees overseas.
• Monitors international public health risks, provides advice on public health issues, and works with its network to respond to potential public health risks.

Settlement, Resettlement, and Integration

Settlement Programming Helps Newcomers to Succeed in Canada

Canada supports the integration of eligible* newcomers through a full array of settlement programming via a network of over 550 service providers (outside Quebec) and engages employers and civil society to create welcoming communities.

Per the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec is granted annual federal funding to manage its delivery of settlement services.

Provinces, territories, municipalities, and other partners provide complementary settlement services related to education, health, and social.

In 2023-2024, $1.1 billion in settlement funding was allocated among provinces and territories through the Settlement Funding Formula (excluding Quebec), and through other settlement funding envelopes.

Pre-arrival services help newcomers plan and prepare to work and live in Canada.

Needs assessment as well as information and orientation services help newcomers make informed settlement decisions and access other community supports.

Language assessment and training builds a key skill for life and work in Canada.

Employment-related services prepare newcomers for the workforce and link them to employers.

Community connections link newcomers to local communities and institutions, creating a sense of belonging.

Indirect and support services (e.g., childcare, interpretation, etc.) facilitate access to settlement services, and foster community planning and partnerships.

Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)

Provides supports to government-assisted refugees and other eligible clients, including overseas supports before individuals travel to Canada, immediate and essential services upon arrival in Canada (e.g., airport reception, temporary accommodation), as well as income support for up to 12 months.

For Canadian Citizenship

Citizenship

Acquisition:

Citizenship may be acquired through birth in Canada, by descent, or by naturalization. A citizenship certificate is provided to naturalized Canadians and those who apply for evidence of their citizenship.

Eligibility for Naturalization:

Adult citizenship applicants must meet requirements set out in the Citizenship Act.

An individual granted citizenship is issued a citizenship certificate.

Loss:

Canadian citizens may apply to renounce their citizenship if they meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act.

Citizenship may be revoked from naturalized Canadians if it was obtained as a result of fraud, false representation, or knowingly concealing material circumstances.

A citizenship certificate may be recalled if the person is not entitled to it.

Awareness:

The Citizenship Program promotes awareness of the rights (i.e. to vote and hold a passport), responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, and educates newcomers and Canadians about Canadian citizenship and identity.

Educational resources available include a citizenship study guide that supports the knowledge test. It contains information about the history of Canada, how our government works, symbols of Canada, and its regions.

Passports

A Trusted Travel Document

The Canadian passport facilitates global travel, enabling Canadians to fully exercise their Charter right to mobility.

Issuance:

• Service delivery is carried out in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada (for delivery of domestic passport services), and Global Affairs Canada (for abroad services).
• IRCC also handles special and diplomatic passports; travel documents issued to non-Canadians (e.g., refugee travel document); and complex and high-risk passport applications (e.g., complex child custody situations).

Service Transformation:

• The Program is transitioning from paper-based processing to streamlined online services, with automated decision-making to enhance efficiency.

Security

• The Minister of IRC has sole authority for decisions on passport cancellation, refusal, and revocation, except for cases related to terrorism and national security, which fall under the authority of the Minister of Public Safety.
• Passport designs are updated every five year to stay ahead of counterfeit attacks and to ensure the documents we issue are among the most secure in the world.

Key statistics:

• Canada issues around 5 million travel documents a year. Of these, 98% are regular (blue) passports.
• Approximately 68% of all Canadians hold a valid passport.
• There are 26.9 million passports in circulation.
• In 2025, IRCC is moving to a 30 business days or free refund policy.
• By Fall 2025, all domestic adult renewals will be eligible to apply online, with an expected uptake rate of more than 80%.

As policy lead for the Passport Program, IRCC manages the legal and regulatory framework and is a leading voice within the International Civil Aviation Organization in establishing global travel document standards.

Delivering Services

IRCC’s operational network in Canada

IRCC operates a network of offices and support centres in Canada that deal with decision-making on application cases, passport issuance, client inquiries (including services to MPs and Senators), settlement supports, as well as citizenship tests and ceremonies.

Domestic and Settlement Offices

29 offices

Case Processing Centres

Sydney, Ottawa, Mississauga, and Edmonton

Client Support Centre (National Client Centre)

Montréal

Operations Support Centre & Electronic Processing and Intake Centre

24/7, Gatineau

Resettlement Operations Centre

Ottawa

Passport

Service delivery partner is ESDC
37 passport offices (includes 15 consolidated sites)
302 Service Canada centres
3 Service Delivery Hubs (mail and print)

IRCC’s overseas operations

Missions Abroad - Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

IRCC represents and delivers Canada’s immigration program at 59 points of service (including Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates) in 51 countries around the world.

Visa Application Centres

167 VACs in 112 countries

Managed by third party contractors authorized to provide specific administrative support services and biometric collection services to visa applicants under VAC contracts with the Government of Canada. Services are delivered to applicants in the local language and in the most prevalent Canadian official language. Where demand for the other official language is 5% or greater, they must provide services in both.

US Application Support Centers

128 ASCs across U.S

U.S. ASCs conduct enrolment of biometrics in the U.S. on behalf of IRCC for permanent and temporary resident applicants. ASCs do not provide administrative support services to applicants.

Key Partners

Provinces, territories, and communities

Province and Territories

• Immigration is a shared federal, provincial, and territorial responsibility, with federal paramountcy.
• Provinces and territories leverage immigration to meet their economic and demographic needs.
• Provinces and territories provide funding to settlement service provider organizations; IRCC works closely with provinces and territories to ensure funding is coordinated and complementary.
• Provinces, territories, and local health authorities are responsible for health care delivery; IRCC shares the cost of providing this care to certain migrant groups and works with jurisdictions to respond to potential public health risks.

Community Partners

• Communities have a renewed role in regional immigration, acting as partners in select Pilots, where they have a direct role in selecting skilled workers and international graduates that meet their labour market needs, and intend on settling within their community.

Quebec and Canada have a distinct relationship on immigration. Under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has sole responsibility for the following:

• Selection of immigrants (except Family Class and in-Canada refugee claimants); and
• Delivery of integration services, supported by an annual grant from the federal government, based on formula set out in the Accord.

Quebec publishes its own immigration levels plan annually.

Federal partners

Immigration and Refugee Board

Key domestic policy and delivery partner

• Co-delivers the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including by conducting labour market impact assessments.
• Leads federal foreign credential recognition efforts.
• Provides services that support long-term integration of immigrants (e.g., adult literacy and essential skills; targeted labour market integration programs).
• Delivers domestic passport services on behalf of IRCC through Service Canada.

Employment and Social Development Canada

Key domestic policy and delivery partner

• Co-delivers the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including by conducting labour market impact assessments.
• Leads federal foreign credential recognition efforts.
• Provides services that support long-term integration of immigrants (e.g., adult literacy and essential skills; targeted labour market integration programs).
• Delivers domestic passport services on behalf of IRCC through Service Canada.

Global Affairs Canada

Key overseas partner

• Responsible for Canadian foreign policy and international trade.
• Manages missions (embassies and consulates abroad) and supports IRCC’s international presence.
• Delivers citizenship and passport services abroad on behalf of IRCC.
• Provides consular services

Public Safety Portfolio

• Public Safety Canada oversees Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Security and Intelligence Service, and Canda Border Services Agency, and coordinates national security policy.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducts criminal screening.
• Canadian Security and Intelligence provides advice on threats to the security of Canada and conducts security screening for temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship applicants.

Canada Border Services Agency

Primary delivery partner

• Responsible for delivering the enforcement provisions of IRPA.
• Manages travelers at Canadian ports of entry and examines admission documents.
• Removes persons from Canada who are found to be inadmissible.
• Supports refugee claimant intake at the border and implements the Safe Third Country Agreement.
• Conducts security screening and provides intelligence on admissibility and border security matters.

Other Key Government Departments/Agencies

• Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for health screening at Canadian borders.
• Health Canada holds responsibility for Health Human Resources.
• Statistics Canada is a key data partner in augmenting IRCC outcomes data and analytical capacity.
• Canadian Heritage is a partner in citizenship, official languages, and Francophone immigration; leads on Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.
• Regional Economic Development Agencies support design and implementation of regional economic immigration programming.
• Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities alongside Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation collaborate on issues related to housing and homelessness.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada supports work related to Indigenous mobility and border crossing.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is a key partner in the development of industrial, regional, and sectoral strategies.

IRCC also collaborates with a range of other departments and agencies, including but not limited to: Shared Services Canada, Transport Canada, Justice Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Finance Canada, and the Privy Council Office.

International partners

IRCC engages in migration and protection diplomacy globally to:

• Advance the implementation of United Nations objectives on migration and protection, reflected in the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact for Refugees;
• Fulfill Canada’s refugee protection commitments and support the 1951 Refugee Convention, as well as promote complementary pathways for refugees;
• Promote well-managed migration systems, deter irregular migration; and build migration and protection capacity in key countries;
• Exchange best practices and shared challenges in managing migration, settlement, resettlement, complementary pathways, and integration; and
• Support the health, safety, and security of Canadians.

Canada engages in numerous partnerships to advance the above objectives, including:

Bilateral

• United States
• Mexico
• European Commission
• Key countries for engagement (e.g., Australia, India, Germany, Japan, South Korea)

Regional

Americas:

• Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection
• Regional Conference on Migration
• Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS Support Platform)

Multilateral

• Migration Five (Canada, USA, UK, Australia, NZ)
• United Nations System:
  • International Organization for Migration
  • United Nations Refugee Agency
  • International Civil Aviation Organization
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Working Party on Migration
• Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum, and Refugees
• Global Forum on Migration & Development

Annexes

Domestic Offices

Number of Passport Service Locations (Included 21 SSC-PS Sites)

• Whitehorse: 28
• Northwest Territories: 5
• Nunavut: 3
• British Columbia: 42
• Alberta: 22
• Saskatchewan: 12
• Manitoba: 17
• Ontario:98
• Quebec: 80
• New Brunswick:19
• Nova Scotia:19
• Prince Edward Island:5
• Newfoundland and Labrador: 15

International Network

59* Overseas Offices + 2 GOCs
5 Area Director Offices
296 Biometric Collection Points
963** Locally Engaged Staff Overseas
356** Canada Based Staff Overseas

Indo-Pacific

Manila: Area Director
Beijing: Senior Director
Responsible for: 15 overseas offices, plus the Manila Global Operations Centre (GOC)

Middle East

Ankara: Area Director
Responsible for: 7 overseas offices

Permanent residence

A Closer Look

Economic: Canada selects economic immigrants (including their immediate family) based on ability to economically establish in Canada.

• Federal High Skilled (managed through Express Entry)
• Federal Economic Public Policies
• Federal Business
  • Start-Up Visa
  • Self-Employed
• Economic Pilots
  • Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
  • Agri-Food Pilot
  • Rural Community Immigration Pilot
  • Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
  • Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Quebec Skilled Workers and Business

Family: Family reunification is an important pillar of Canada’s immigration policy. Citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family to become permanent residents. 

• Spouses/Partners and Children
• Parents and Grandparents
• Other Family in Specific Circumstances

Refugees and Protected Persons: Canada has a strong commitment to its humanitarian goals by resettling refugees and recognizing those persons in need of protection (i.e., asylum). 

• Protected Persons in Canada and Dependants Abroad
• Resettled Refugees
  • Government-Assisted Refugees
  • Privately Sponsored Refugees
  • Blended Visa Office-Referred Refugees

Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other: Permanent residency is granted to those who would not otherwise qualify based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, public policy considerations, and as permit holders.

• Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds
• Public Policy Considerations
• Permit Holder Class

Temporary residence

Canada’s foreign worker system consists of two complementary programs that aim to bolster Canada’s workforce:

• International Mobility Program: Advances Canadian interests, supports international commitments, and responds to emerging government priorities. Does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Work permits can be employer-specific or open.
• International and Provincial/Territorial Agreements
• International Experience Canada
  • Working Holiday
  • Young Professionals
  • International Co-op Internship
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• Public Policies (significant benefit and reciprocal opportunities)
• Spousal Work Permit
• Family Reunification, Humanitarian/Crisis Response, or Cultural
• Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Addresses immediate/short-term needs by filling specific jobs when no Canadian or permanent resident is available to do the work. A Labour Market Impact Assessment is required for all work permits, which are only employer-specific.
• Primary Agriculture Stream
  • Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
  • Agricultural
  • Low-wage
  • High-wage
• General Stream
  • Low-wage
  • High-wage
  • Global Talent

International Student Program: Study permits are issued to foreign nationals applying to study at a Designated Learning Institution in Canada.

Visitors: Depending on their country of citizenship, foreign nationals can come to Canada temporarily on a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent resident to visit Canada for extended periods.