SECU – Security Screening and Admissibility – August 28, 2024
Key Facts and Figures
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is responsible for assessing admissibility of foreign nationals who submit an application to come to Canada. The admissibility assessment includes security screening for all applications.
IRCC works closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), referring certain applications for Comprehensive Security Screening.
One hundred percent of in-Canada refugee claims are assessed by CBSA and CSIS for comprehensive security screening.
All citizenship grant applications are referred to CSIS for screening.
Key Messages
All visitors, temporary foreign workers, students, immigrants and refugees are carefully screened before coming into Canada to determine their admissibility. This screening ensures that these persons do not pose a threat to the health, safety or security of Canadians, and are allowed to enter the country.
IRCC highly trained officers conduct the initial security screening of permanent and temporary resident applications against departmental databases and risk indicators, to ensure that entry documents to Canada are not issued to those who are inadmissible on grounds of security, human or international rights violations, or organized criminality.
When required, IRCC works closely with Public Safety partners (CBSA, CSIS, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP]) on security screening applicants, using the information available to them at the time of processing.
Both CSIS and CBSA also play an integral role in the security screening program, which is a critical function of Canada’s national security, as they provide security advice on immigration (CBSA and CSIS) and citizenship (CSIS only) applicants.
This allows for a comprehensive screening where necessary to help identify those who might pose a threat to Canadians, and to mitigate the potential security risks associated with those seeking to enter Canada.
Biometric information (fingerprints) help to build confidence in Canada’s immigration programs, protect the North American perimeter, and serve as the foundation of identity management.
Visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), and immigration documents are issued when it has been assessed that the applicant poses no threat to the health, safety, or security of Canadians.
With the exception of some vulnerable groups and special measures in place to support resettlement initiatives, permanent resident applicants may be asked to provide a police certificate or criminal record check (foreign) as part of the screening process. In certain cases, temporary resident applicants may also be asked to provide this documentation.
Supplementary Messages
Security Screening
This security screening assessment aims to ensure that anyone who wants to come to Canada:
has not engaged in an act of espionage that is against Canada or that is contrary to Canada’s interests;
has not engaged in or instigated the subversion by force of any government;
has not engaged in an act of subversion against a democratic government, institution or process as they are understood in Canada;
has not engaged in terrorism;
has not engaged in acts of violence that would or might endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada;
does not pose a danger to the security of Canada;
has not violated human or international rights; and,
has not engaged in organized or transnational criminal activities.
Canada’s standard security screening approach is a robust process that leverages biometrics (fingerprints) along with biographic information to ensure that risks to national security and public safety are identified and mitigated, and to protect the integrity of our immigration system.
When an applicant provides their biometrics, IRCC may receive derogatory information from Migration 5 partners (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States). This information contributes to the assessment of applicant’s admissibility to Canada.
All applicants are subject to universal and non-discriminatory considerations during the screening process.
CBSA is responsible for undertaking investigations and enforcement action against permanent residents and foreign nationals in Canada who are believed to be inadmissible.
Criminal Offences
Alleged criminal offences committed on Canadian soil are a matter for law enforcement. Allegations of criminal activity, such as coercion or intimidation should be referred to the RCMP, or local police forces, for investigation.
If a permanent resident or a foreign national is convicted of an indictable offence in Canada, or if a foreign national is convicted of two offences not arising out of a single occurrence, or has been found to have engaged in acts of espionage that are against Canada or that are contrary to Canada’s interests, they will be found to be inadmissible and may be issued a deportation order by the CBSA, have their visa or eTA cancelled, and be removed from Canada.
Criminality can also apply to a conviction or commission of an offence outside of Canada equivalent to an offence punishable by indictment in Canada.
The Minister of Public Safety is responsible for policy concerning inadmissibility on grounds of security, human or international rights violation, cross-border criminality and organized criminality, as well as for immigration enforcement, including removing foreign nationals. Further questions on these matters should be referred to the Minister of Public Safety or CBSA.
Process for removing foreign nationals and permanent residents found to be inadmissible
CBSA is the enforcement arm of Canada’s immigration programs and is responsible for immigration inland enforcement and removals. IRCC supports CBSA through conducting interviews and verifications, writing A44 reports, and enforcing removal orders for certain grounds of inadmissibility.
A foreign national loses temporary resident status when an IRCC or CBSA officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board has determined they did not comply with IRPA. The eTA or visa held by the individual may also be cancelled.
A permanent resident loses status when a removal order comes into force, i.e. becomes active, under A48(1). Once the removal order is enforceable, the foreign national must leave Canada immediately.
Most removals and inadmissibility reports (A44 reports) are led by CBSA. There are various reasons, including appeals and legal proceedings, that may prevent CBSA from enforcing a removal order.
