Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the federal department responsible for immigration, refugee protection, and Canadian citizenship. IRCC designs selection programs, sets annual immigration levels, processes applications, funds newcomer settlement and language services, manages temporary resident visas and permits, and administers the Citizenship Program. It also oversees the Passport Program in partnership with Service Canada for in-person service delivery.

At a glance — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Type	Federal department (Government of Canada)
Legal framework	Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) • Citizenship Act • related regulations, ministerial instructions, and agreements with provinces/territories
Core programs	Permanent residence selection • Refugees & protected persons • Temporary residents (visitors, students, workers) • Citizenship • Passports (with Service Canada) • Settlement & language training
Key partners	Canada Border Services Agency (enforcement & ports of entry) • Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (independent tribunal) • Provinces/territories • Service provider organizations • Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada
Official site	canada.ca/immigration

Mandate and responsibilities

IRCC’s mandate is to build a strong, inclusive Canada by facilitating lawful immigration, protecting refugees and vulnerable people, and granting citizenship while safeguarding health, safety, and security. The department:

Sets multi-year immigration levels plans tabled in Parliament.
Designs and manages permanent and temporary programs and issues visas, permits, and authorizations.
Funds settlement and resettlement services (language training, employment supports, information/orientation) delivered by community organizations.
Administers the Citizenship Act (naturalization, proofs, resumptions, revocations in defined circumstances).
Manages the Passport Program with Service Canada’s front-end network.

Permanent residence pathways

Economic immigration — Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades), Provincial/Territorial Nominee Programs, Atlantic/Regional programs, Start-Up Visa, agri-food and caregiver pathways (streams and criteria evolve over time).
Family class — Sponsorship of spouses/partners and dependent children; parents and grandparents (including capped intake and super visa options for long-term visits).
Refugees & protected persons — Resettlement from abroad (government-assisted and private sponsorship), and in-Canada claims referred to the independent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) for adjudication.

Temporary residents

Visitors — Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for visa-exempt air travellers; temporary resident visas for others.
International students — Study permits; accompanying family options; work authorization rules (co-op/off-campus within limits) and post-graduation work permits (PGWP, eligibility varies).
Temporary foreign workers — Employer-specific or open work permits; many employer streams require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada; LMIA-exempt categories exist under trade agreements and public policies.

Application processing and client services

Applications are submitted online or through visa application centres abroad. Typical steps include eligibility assessment, biometrics, medical exams, background/security checks, and document verification. IRCC provides client accounts and secure portals for status updates, correspondence, and confirmations of permanent residence.

Settlement, integration, and citizenship

IRCC funds newcomer services such as language instruction (LINC/CLIC), employment bridging, mentorship, and community connections.
New permanent residents may apply for citizenship once residence, language, knowledge, and tax-filing requirements are met; successful applicants take the Oath of Citizenship and receive certificates.
IRCC supports civic-integration initiatives and anti-racism/inclusion programming in partnership with communities and provinces/territories.

Enforcement, admissibility, and appeals (who does what)

IRCC makes many front-end decisions on eligibility and admissibility.
CBSA enforces the IRPA at and beyond the border, conducts investigations and removals, and presents cases before the IRB’s Immigration Division.
IRB (independent) decides refugee claims, admissibility hearings, and appeals where provided by law.
Federal courts review decisions for legality through judicial review; Charter and privacy laws apply.

Passports

IRCC is responsible for the Passport Program policy and issuance; Service Canada provides most in-person services and intake across the country. Canadians apply domestically or abroad (via missions) for passports and travel documents; security and entitlement checks protect program integrity.

Data, transparency, and planning

IRCC publishes operational data, processing-time ranges, backlogs by category, program-specific instructions, and the annual immigration levels plan. Agreements with provinces/territories guide nomination programs, settlement funding, and shared accountability.

History (brief)

1869–1950s: Early immigration statutes and federal-provincial roles evolve.
1976: Major reform modernizes objectives and categories.
2002: IRPA comes into force; new protections and program architecture.
2015: Department becomes Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada).
2020s: Digital services expand; targeted pilots and regional programs address labour needs and demographic goals.

External links (official)

IRCC — Programs & applications: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): https://www.canada.ca/eta
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/
Service Canada — Passports: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/passport.html