Raison d'être
The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) is an independent, accountable administrative tribunal established by Parliament on January 1, 1989, to resolve immigration and refugee cases fairly, efficiently and in accordance with the law. The IRB ensures continued benefits to Canadians: by only accepting refugee claimants needing protection in accordance with international obligations and Canadian law; by contributing to the integrity of the immigration system, the safety and security of Canadians and upholding Canada's reputation of justice and fairness for individuals; and promoting family reunification. The IRB also contributes to the quality of life of Canada's communities by strengthening our country's social fabric and by reflecting and reinforcing core values that are important to Canadians. These include respect for human rights, peace, security and the rule of law. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is responsible for this organization.
Mandate and role
The IRB is Canada's largest independent administrative tribunal. It is responsible for making well-reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters, efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law. The IRB decides, among other responsibilities, who needs refugee protection among the thousands of claimants who come to Canada annually.
Operating context
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB or the Board) is responsible for making well-reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters efficiently, fairly and in accordance with Canadian law and international obligations. As such, the IRB safeguards Canada's respect for the rule of law and due process for all through its arm's-length, specialized decision-making. It contributes to the security of Canadians and the integrity of our immigration and refugee system.
While the IRB's caseload in the Immigration Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Appeal Division has been relatively stable in recent years, the number of claims before the Refugee Protection Division has seen historically high growth in the last two fiscal years. In its
2024 Global Trends Report, the UNHCR noted that 3.1 million new asylum claims were submitted worldwide in 2024. The report identified Canada as the fourth largest recipient of new individual applications for asylum. The Board's success is attributable in part to the ability of participants in IRB proceedings (e.g., legal counsel, interpreters, and other immigration and refugee stakeholders) to cope with demand and to the ability of the entire system to keep up with the unprecedented number of claims.
In response to this pressure, the IRB has implemented internal changes to processes, technology and productivity management to continue to address demand in the face of a drop in funding. Building on past accomplishments and successive Budget allocations, both permanent and temporary, the Board pursued efforts to standardize its processes, including by leveraging technology. It also employed cost-management strategies, including reallocating existing resources to priority initiatives that are intended to transform how work is done. Through these efforts, the Board strengthened its resiliency and increased its capacity to process more claims. This effort resulted in a 42% increase in Refugee Protection Division finalizations of claims in fiscal year 2024 to 2025. The IRB accomplished this without compromising on quality, maintaining its ability to render fair decisions and provide timely access to adjudication.
At this time, the Government has proposed legislative changes to immigration and refugee eligibility and processes and is also seeking to limit spending. While the impact of these changes on the Board is unclear, the IRB will continue, with determination and focus, to pursue the delivery of tangible, measurable results. Though the Board is seeking to sustain the efficiency gains achieved in the recent fiscal year, it is also continuing to work with central agencies, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency to ensure a stable and sustainable source of funds.