Mandate and role

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects and welcomes, as permanent and temporary residents, foreign nationals whose skills contribute to Canadian prosperity. It also reunites family members.

The Department maintains Canada's humanitarian tradition by welcoming refugees and other people in need of protection, thereby upholding its international obligations and reputation.

IRCC, in collaboration with its partners, conducts the screening of potential permanent and temporary residents to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians. IRCC is also responsible for the issuance and control of Canadian passports and other travel documents that facilitate the travel of Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents and Protected Persons.

Lastly, the Department builds a stronger Canada by helping all newcomers settle and integrate into Canadian society and the economy, and by encouraging, granting and providing proof of Canadian citizenship.

IRCC offers its many programs either directly or through contract, grant or contribution agreement, or in partnership with other government departments. Services are offered on the IRCC website, as well as at 25 in-Canada points of service and 57 points of service in 49 countries. As of December 14, 2017, there were 137 visa application centres in 95 countries, 135 application support centresFootnote 1 in the United States, as well as a panel physicians network operating around the world. Settlement and integration services are offered through a network of over 500 service provider organizations across Canada. The Department also works with Service Canada as its principal domestic passport service delivery partner, leveraging the latter's extensive network of passport processing centres and walk-in sites (34 passport offices, and 315 Service Canada sites). IRCC also partners with Global Affairs Canada, which provides passport services abroad in 204 different locations.

For more information on the department's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Minister's mandate letter.

Page details

Date modified: