IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023: Departmental Overview

Year	Total Number of Permanent Residents Admissions	Percentage of the Canadian Population
1865	18,958	0.56%
1875	27,382	0.69%
1885	76,169	1.74%
1895	18,790	0.37%
1905	141,465	2.36%
1915	33,665	0.46%
1925	84,907	0.91%
1935	11,277	0.10%
1945	22,722	0.19%
1955	109,946	0.70%
1965	146,758	0.75%
1975	187,881	0.81%
1985	84,347	0.33%
1995	212,865	0.73%
2000	227,456	0.74%
2005	262,242	0.81%
2010	280,689	0.83%
2015	271,369	0.76%
2020	184,372	0.49%
2025	500,000	1.22%

Immigration is more than facilitating the movement of people

People bring skills, talent, and social connections. The work of this Department makes a difference to Canada by contributing to…

Economic Development

Managed migration (temporary or permanent) brings in global talent and skills to support and grow the Canadian economy, helping businesses scale up and compete in international markets. Additionally, tourists and students contribute to the economy.

Global Reach

IRCC’s network of people and offices is truly global. Canada’s approach to immigration is often cited as the benchmark internationally. IRCC’s approach to migration and refugee protection is often an international benchmark. 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. IRCC also issues trusted identity documents (e.g. permanent resident card). 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.

IRCC’s 2023-2024 Departmental Plan (DP)

Highlighting departmental expenditure plans and main priorities by strategic outcome, program and planned /expected results, over a 3 year period.

Plans at a glance:

• Achieved Immigration Levels Plan target for 2022
• Delivering on IRCC’s commitment to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada
• Immigration Support for those affected by the situation in Ukraine
• Enhancing Express Entry
• Truth and Reconciliation
• Digital transformation and Digital Platform Modernization Program
• Admitting more refugees through Economic Mobility Pathway Pilot
• Supporting international migration and protection
• Spreading the benefits of immigration across Canada

Departmental Spending 2020-21 to 2025-26

The Following Graphs Present Planned Spending (Voted and Statutory Expenditures) Over Time:

• Increase in 2022-23 forecast expenditures mainly attributable to funding for: resettling 40K Afghan nationals, one-time temporary financial support for Ukrainian nationals and their families, temporary accommodation to asylum seekers, Immigration Levels Plan, and improvement of processing times and inventory reduction.
• Decreasing trend in the planned spending beginning in 2023-24 mainly attributable to phasing down of resettlement of Afghan nationals, decrease in available funds for temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, phasing down of temporary funding to Ukrainian nationals and their families (gradually from Mid-July 2023 to June 2024), decrease in temporary funding related to procurement, design and implementation of modernization activities.

The 2023-2024 DP was tabled March 9, 2023 by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS)

Introduction to IRCC

Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Reconciliation are Core in our Work

Anti-racism, equity and Reconciliation issues have grown in public awareness in recent years, particularly in the context of COVID-19, which has exacerbated existing inequities. IRCC has taken these issues to heart and is actively seeking ways to engage and respond.

Historically, Indigenous, Black and racialized peoples, newcomers, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, ethnic and religious minorities, and women are impacted by systemic inequities and discrimination.

Anti-Racism

In May 2021, IRCC internally released its Anti-Racism Sector Commitments and Action Plans. In July 2022, IRCC publicly  launched the Anti-Racism Strategy 2.0 (2021-24) to advance racial equity and ultimately dismantle systemic racism in departmental policies, service delivery and people management practices. IRCC resolves to promote anti-racism, engage in dialogue about systemic barriers, and be accountable and transparent through data collection, reporting, and addressing systemic discrimination.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

GBA Plus is Canada’s approach to mainstreaming intersectional analysis to improve equity, diversity and inclusion in all government initiatives. It is an analytical approach to deepen knowledge and examine the impacts of our work on different groups of people, particularly those who are equity denied.

Reconciliation

Calls to Action
17: Passport, PR card, and citizenship certificate replacement fees will be waived, enabling survivors and their families to reclaim Indigenous names changed by the Residential School System.
57: IRCC is working to ensure employees have access to information, learning opportunities, and training that provides a more comprehensive history of Indigenous Peoples.
93: Work continues to update the Citizenship Guide.
94: In June 2021, the Oath of Citizenship was amended in the Citizenship Act to recognize Indigenous and treaty rights and obligations.

2023-2028 UNDA Action Plan
Chapter 1, Action Plan Measure 52: Improving Indigenous Border Mobility for communities divided by Canada’s international borders

Accessibility

IRCC is committed to identifying and eliminating barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities across all of our business lines. In its Departmental Accessibility Plan, IRCC identifies specific barriers and actions to initiate a path toward an “accessible by design” and “accessible by default” environment in compliance with the Accessible Canada Act.

2SLGBTQIA+

IRCC supports the rights of gender and sexually diverse people, and seeks to improve outcomes through initiatives, e.g.: The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership, Sex and Gender Client Identifier Policy; Human Rights Defender Stream. IRCC also has Pride@IRCC, a positive space employee network that promotes workplace inclusion

Official Languages Act

IRCC communicates frequently with its workforce on the importance of linguistic duality; this includes sharing best practices and ensuring continued commitment to official language obligations as well as working towards diminishing linguistic insecurity.

Overview: Two Main Pathways

How do people come to Canada?

Temporary Residents: Visiting, Studying or Working in Canada

• Facilitates the entry of visitors, students and temporary workers for trade, commerce, work, tourism, cultural, educational and scientific activities.
• They are generally protected under Canadian law and also have many of the protections from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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. Permanent residents are also required to pay taxes.
• Permanent residents must adhere to and are protected under Canadian laws and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Over 7 million new permanent residents have arrived in Canada since 1990.

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

Overview: Two Main Pathways

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 published via tabling in Parliament.

In the Levels Plan, the Government sets the targets for admission of permanent residents. This allows us to communicate on key immigration priorities related to:

• Economic immigration
• Family reunification
• Resettled refugees and protected persons

Levels planning is informed by the following:

• Engagement with: provinces, territories, other government departments and agencies, and stakeholders
• Operational realities
• Data, research, and evidence
• International emerging priorities
• Public opinion research

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.

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

Overview: Two Main Pathways

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

2023 Planned Admissions: 465,000 persons

Attract Talent

Skilled individuals (and family members) that drive economic growth and innovation and attract investment.

Reunite Families

Provides support networks, contributes to social and cultural benefits and promotes retention in communities.

Respond to Crises & Offer Protection

Respects Canada’s humanitarian tradition and international obligations.

The 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan increases the total projected number of permanent resident admissions to 465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. The 2024-2026 Levels Plan is to be tabled in Parliament on or before November 1, 2023.

Health and Safety

Safeguarding the Health, Safety and Security of Canadians

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

Who and What?

Temporary Residents

• Temporary resident visa
  Thorough screening to assess admissibility and traveller intent; may be referred for in-depth security screening and medical screening where required by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
• Electronic Travel Authorization
  Light-touch screening for generally low-risk 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 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. United States).

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

Verification of information –e.g. meeting conditions for work or study permits.

Additional screening as needed.

Health and Safety

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

To that end, the Department:

• manages health screening of migrants abroad to prevent the arrival of certain infectious diseases (e.g. active tuberculosis), or public safety (sudden incapacity or violent behavior) or might be reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services (refugees are exempt from excessive demand)
• oversees immigration medical exams conducted by an international network of third-party Panel Physicians and the International Organization for Migration
• notifies provinces/territories of the arrival of newcomers with certain health conditions (e.g. previously treated or latent tuberculosis; HIV) to enable follow-up treatment and to support continuity of care
• assists refugee settlement partners in preparing to support the arrival of refugees with health needs
• supports IRCC’s response to local and global health events through its network of Regional Medical Offices (Ottawa, London, Delhi, Manila)
• manages the Interim Federal Health Program which provides healthcare coverage to
  refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations until they become eligible for provincial/territorial health coverage
• works with the International Organization for Migration to administer pre-departure medical services (e.g. vaccinations, medical support in transit, outbreak response measures) to overseas resettled refugees
• works with the Public Health Agency of Canada and local Canadian public health authorities, Health Canada, CBSA, and Migration Five partners to respond to potential public health risks
• supports IRCC’s response to local and global health events through its network of Regional Medical Offices (Ottawa, London, Delhi, Manila)

Settlement and Integration

Settlement Programming Helps Newcomers to Succeed in Canada

Canada funds a full array of settlement programming for eligible newcomers via a network of over 500 service providers and engages employers and civil society to create welcoming communities.

Programming builds on the human and social capital of immigrants and refugees to help them succeed in Canada.

Provinces, territories, municipalities, and other partners provide complementary settlement services, and other mainstream supports related to education, health and social services that support newcomer integration.

Supporting Francophone minority communities outside Quebec is a priority for the Department, including providing tailored supports from pre-arrival to citizenship and strengthening the capacity of Francophone settlement service providers.

Additional policy and operational supports have been developed to welcome recent mass arrivals e.g., Ukraine, Afghanistan.

In 2022-2023, $1.036 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 and information & 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 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.

The Resettlement Assistance Program provides dedicated supports to government-assisted refugees, and other eligible clients, upon arrival in Canada by providing income support and other immediate and essential services. Resettled refugees are also provided access to the full suite of  settlement services to support long term integration.

Canadian Citizenship

In general, a person is a Canadian citizen by birth in Canada, by descent (by birth outside of Canada in the first generation), or naturalized as citizens if they meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act.

Acquisition:

Citizenship may be acquired through birth in Canada (with the exception of those whose parents are accredited diplomats), by descent (to those with a legal or biological parent who was born in Canada or naturalized before the birth of the child) , or by naturalization. A citizenship certificate is provided to Canadians who apply for evidence of their citizenship.

Eligibility for Naturalization:

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

• Being a permanent resident
• Being physically present in   Canada for a defined number of days
• Demonstrate knowledge of Canada and one of its official languages
• Filing income tax returns as required
• Not being subject to prohibitions (e.g. criminality)
• Taking the Oath of Citizenship

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 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 to educate newcomers and Canadians about Canadian citizenship and identity. Governor-in-council appointed citizenship judges preside at citizenship ceremonies, decide on some grant applications, and promote citizenship awareness.

Educational resources available include a citizenship study guide that supports the knowledge test, which is administered to all applicants between the ages of 18 and 54. It contains information about the history of Canada, how our government works, symbols of Canada, and its regions.

For Canadians

Passport – A Trusted Travel Document

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 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 and Emergency Preparedness.

Issuance:

Facilitates Canadians’ travel and contributes to international and domestic security.

• In 2021-2022 1,404,354 passports were issued
• In fiscal year 2022, 2,791,437 travel documents have been issued IRCC issued 1,739,605 travel documents between Jan-May 2023

Service delivery:

Works in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada (for the delivery of domestic passport services), and with Global Affairs Canada (for abroad services).

IRCC also handles the following:

• Special and diplomatic passports
• Travel documents to non-Canadians (e.g. refugee travel document)
• Complex and high risk passport applications (e.g. complex child custody situations)

Security:

• Maintains Canadian passport security and integrity through the authentication of identity and entitlement.
• Has the authority and the means to cancel, refuse, revoke, and impose a period of refusal of passport services (e.g. in cases of detected fraud, misuse, or misrepresentation).
• New design with enhanced security features introduced on May 10, 2023.

Key statistics:

• Approximately 68% of all Canadians hold a valid passport.
• There are 26.9 million passports in circulation.
• 93% of Canadian passport holders reside within 50 km of a passport point of service.
• Historically, passport services have been delivered with high client satisfaction and within service standards.
• Pre-pandemic, 99% of clients received their passport within established service standards. In 2022-2023 77% of clients received their passport within service standards.
• Forecasts predict high volumes of applications through 2024-25 due to the renewal cycle of 10-year passports.

IRCC is the policy lead for the Passport Program, and manages its legal and regulatory framework. As part of this, IRCC is a leading voice within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) groupings focused on travel document standards and specifications (as part of ongoing modernization efforts). This influence is key in ensuring that Canadian passport holders continue to benefit from cross-border travel innovation and that the strong reputation and global standing of the Canadian passport is maintained.

Delivering Services

IRCC’s Operational Network – in Canada

IRCC operates a vast 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 across all provinces

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 with 37 passport offices (includes 15 consolidated sites), 302 Service Canada centres, and 5 Service Delivery Hubs (mail and print).

In total, IRCC has 47 offices across Canada; this includes those listed above as well as those that support the corporate work of the Department (e.g. National Headquarters in Ottawa/Gatineau). Of IRCC’s current 13,500 staff, approximately 67% or 9,000 work in its Operations Sector. In addition to its own offices/centres IRCC works with over 500 service provider organizations across the country to deliver settlement programming.

Delivering Services

IRCC’s overseas operations

Missions Abroad - Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

IRCC represents and delivers Canada’s immigration program at 61 points of service, including Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates, in 52 countries around the world.

Visa Application Centres

167 VACs in 112 countries

These centres are 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

130 ASCs across US

US Application Support Centers (ASCs) conduct enrolment of biometrics in the US on behalf of IRCC for permanent and temporary resident applicants. ASCs do not provide administrative support services to applicants.

IRCC’s overseas footprint includes 1,218 locally engaged staff as part of the International Network (IN), as well as 41 additional positions representing Medical Health Branch and International Experience Canada (IEC).

Key Partners: Provinces and Territories

IRCC’s Relationship with Provinces and Territories is Critical

• Immigration is a shared federal, provincial, and territorial responsibility with federal paramountcy.
• Provinces and territories leverage immigration to meet their economic and demographic needs, and provide health and social services to newcomers in their jurisdictions.
• Provinces and territories also provide funding to settlement-service provider organizations; IRCC works closely with provinces and territories to ensure funding is coordinated and complementary. The Department has been expanding its delivery partners. Communities have a renewed role in regional immigration, acting as partners in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and participating in consultations on future regional immigration programs.
• Provincial and territorial vital statistic agencies are key stakeholders in the continuum of identity management for passport services, citizenship and immigration.  

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)
• 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.

Key Partners: Departments and Agencies

A lot of IRCC's work is done in partnership with other federal departments and agencies. To carry out our mandate, collaboration within the federal community is essential.

Immigration and Refugee Board

Portfolio Partner

• Makes decisions on claims for refugee protection made within Canada and on immigration-related matters
• (The IRB reports to Parliament through the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, but remains independent from IRCC and the Minister)

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 – important for settlement outcomes and attracting global talent so they can work in their field of expertise in Canada
• Provides services that support long-term integration of immigrants (e.g. adult literacy and essential skills; targeted labour market integration programs)
• Administers the Job Bank (Express Entry)
• Delivers domestic passport services on behalf of IRCC through Service Canada

Global Affairs Canada

Key overseas partner

• Is responsible for Canadian foreign policy and international trade, while IRCC leads on international migration and protection diplomacy
• Manages missions (embassies and consulates abroad) and supports IRCC’s international presence
• Delivers citizenship and passport services abroad on behalf of IRCC
• Shares social media account with IRCC for promotional and outreach purpose

A number of other federal partners also play key roles, including:

Public Safety Portfolio

• Public Safety Canada: oversees RCMP, CSIS and CBSA and coordinates national security policy
• The Minister of Public Safety is responsible for the administration of the enforcement provisions of the IRPA and co-administers the Canadian Passport Order
• 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 the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (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
• Relies on IRCC’s Global Case Management System

Other Key Government Departments/Agencies

• The Public Health Agency of Canada: administers the Quarantine Act and is responsible for health screening and monitoring
• Statistics Canada: key data partner in augmenting IRCC outcomes data and analytical capacity
• Canadian Heritage: partner in citizenship, official languages and Francophone immigration; leads on Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and social cohesion
• Regional Economic Development Agencies: support design and implementation of regional economic immigration programming
• Women and Gender Equality Canada: supports the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot
• Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and 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: key partner in development of industrial, regional and sectoral strategies.

IRCC also collaborates with a range of other departments and agencies, including Shared Services Canada, Transport Canada, Justice Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Finance Canada and the Privy Council Office.

Key Partners

IRCC Also Engages with International and Other Partners to Advance its Interests and Support Broader Government of Canada Priorities

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 (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR)
• 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, and integration
• support the health, safety and security of Canadians

Canada’s approach to immigration is frequently referred to as a best practice in global migration and refugee protection.

Canada leverages international partners to identify and discuss global migration trends that impact Canada’s immigration program.

Canada engages in numerous partnerships to advance the above objectives:

Bilateral

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

Regional

Migration Five (Canada, USA, UK, Australia, NZ)

• Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC)
• Regional Conference on Migration (RCM)

Multilateral

• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• United Nations Refugee Agency (IUNHCR)
• OECD Working Party on Migration
• Global Forum on Migration & Development (GFMD)
• International Civil Aviation Organization

Annex A: Organizational Structure of IRCC

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Minister

Portfolio Organization*

• Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Chairperson Manon Brassard
  • Refugee Protection Division
  • Refugee Appeal Division
  • Immigration Division
  • Immigration Appeals Division

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Minister

• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants**

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Minister

• Deputy Min Associateisters
• Deputy Minister
  • Chief of Staff
  • Anti-Racism Task Force
  • Communications
  • Senior General Counsel
  • Internal Audit
  • Conflict Resolution
    • Afghanistan
    • Corporate Services
    • Finance, Security and Administration
    • Digital Strategy, Services and Innovation Sector
    • Operations Sector
    • Strategic and Program Policy Sector
    • Settlement and Integration Sector
    • Strategic Immigration Review

*The Immigration and Refugee Board is an independent administrative tribunal; accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

**The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act was brought into force by Order in Council in December 2020. The Act provides a statutory framework for the College to regulate immigration and citizenship consultants in the public interest and makes the College the official regulator for the consulting profession, operating at arm’s length from IRCC. The College opened on November 23, 2021 and is subject to government oversight, including the ministerial appointment of public interest directors to the College’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will be accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

Annex B: In-Canada Offices: IRCC and Delivery partners

Legend

Domestic & Settlement Offices (28)

• Whitehorse
• Yellowknife
• Vancouver
• Surrey
• Edmonton
• Calgary
• Saskatoon
• Winnipeg
• St. John’s
• Charlottetown
• Fredericton
• Halifax
• Montreal
• Ottawa
• Mississauga
• Kitchener
• London
• Windsor
• Scarborough
• Etobicoke
• Hamilton
• Niagara Falls

Case Processing Centre

• Edmonton
• Gatineau
• Mississauga
• Sydney

Digitization Centre

• New Waterford

Client Support Centre (National Contact Centre)

• Montréal

Operations Support Centre

• Gatineau

Electronic Processing and Intake Centre

• Gatineau

Resettlement Operations Centre

• Ottawa

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

• Yukon: 2
• 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

Annex C: IRCC’s International Network

Map of IRCC Missions and Biometric Points of Service

Headquarters Divisions

• Geographic Coordination and Engagement (RIO)
• Resettlement Operations (ROD)
• Innovation, Design & Delivery
• (ROI-INOM)
• International Support (RIS)
• Strategic Planning & Delivery (RIC)
• Workforce Management (RIR)

United States

Area Office: Washington DC
Responsible for: 4 overseas offices

Latin America And Caribbean

Area Office: Mexico City
Responsible for: 8 overseas offices

Northern Europe

Area Office: London
Responsible for: 9 overseas offices
(Including P.M. to the UN in NYC)

Southern Europe & The Maghreb

Area Office: Paris
Responsible for: 6 overseas offices

North Asia

Area Office: Beijing
Responsible for: 4 overseas offices

South Asia

Area Office: New Delhi
Responsible for: 4 overseas offices

South East Asia & Oceania

Area Office: Manila
Responsible for: 9 overseas offices and the Manila Global Operations Centre

Middle East

Area Office: Ankara
Responsible for: 8 overseas offices

Sub-Saharan Africa

Area Office: Nairobi
Responsible for: 9 overseas offices

Canada (Virtual Office)

Area Office:
Innovation, Design & Delivery (ROI)
Responsible for Rapid Response Operations Centre (RROC)
*Havana is not included as an overseas office as it does not have
Canadian-based staff
**IN Staff on Strength as of 31/03/2023

Note: not to scale. For illustration only.

IRCC International Network

61 Overseas Offices

9 Area Offices Overseas

297 Biometric Collection Points in 112 Countries

**1041 Locally Engaged Staff Overseas

**291 Canada Based Staff Overseas

Annex D: Permanent Residence

A Closer Look

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

• Federal High Skilled (managed through the Express Entry system)
• Federal Economic Public Policies
• Federal Business
• Economic Pilots
  • Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots (Caregivers)
  • Agri-Food Pilot
  • Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
  • Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMP)
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Quebec Skilled Workers and Business
• New Brunswick Critical Works Pilot

Family: Family reunification has been an important pillar of Canada’s immigration policy. Citizens and permanent residents are able to sponsor family members.

• Spouses/Partners and Children
• Parents and Grandparents

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

• Protected Persons in Canada and Dependants Abroad
• Resettled Refugees
  • Government-assisted refugees (GARs)
  • Privately sponsored refugees (PSRs)
  • Blended visa office-referred refugees (BVORs)

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 and Compassionate and Other
  • Humanitarian & compassionate grounds
  • Public policy considerations
  • Permit holder class