Raison d'être
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is an independent, quasi‑judicial 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 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.
Operating context
Responsible for making well‑reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters, efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB or the Board) is one part of a complex and evolving immigration and refugee system.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports a decrease in the number of new asylum claims during the first half of 2025, noting that the number of asylum‑seekers awaiting decisions on their claims remains high. This global trend is also mirrored in Canada. Intake of refugee protection claims in the Refugee Protection Division has decreased from its record levels in 2023 and 2024 but remains a challenge, with around 100,000 claims expected in fiscal year 2025 to 2026. This is anticipated to leave an accumulated surplus inventory of approximately 300,000 refugee protection claims at the end of March 2026, exceeding funded capacity. Meanwhile, intake of appeals in the Refugee Appeal Division and the Immigration Appeal Division continues to increase. Intake of admissibility and detention cases in the Immigration Division has decreased, though the complexity of cases continues to rise.
There are several external variables that could impact the IRB. For example, the changing international immigration landscape may exert pressure on Canada and can lead to volatility of intake. Within Canada, the immigration and refugee system continues to face overall capacity constraints. Bill C‑12 is anticipated to have a significant impact on the Board and its key portfolio partners (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency), especially in the short term when alignment of processes and tools to new legislative requirements will be required. While this potential legislative change should result in an overall reduced burden on IRB case management and streamlined processing by limiting referrals to schedule‑ready claims, there is an anticipated delay before impacts are realized. Capacity limitations for legal counsel, interpreters, and other immigration and refugee stakeholders, are likely to continue to be an issue until the benefits of the legislative changes take hold. Additionally, the increasing use of artificial intelligence by claimants and their representatives also has the potential to disrupt and distract.
The IRB remains focused on maintaining quality decision‑making while continuing to review its business model, seeking to further bolster its productivity. The IRB's investments in process simplification and technological solutions have resulted in tangible success, leading to a 29% increase in case finalizations in 2024 to 2025. To further enhance the Board's capacity to hear and decide cases, the IRB will continue taking a systematic approach to simplifying and standardizing operations, and will seek to maximize the flexibility offered by becoming a more digital tribunal.
Further supporting these efforts, Budget 2025 announced Asylum Backlog Reduction funding that would provide two additional years of one‑time funding to increase first‑level asylum decisions. This should allow for a temporary increase in resources for the Refugee Protection Division. Additionally, the Board continues to work with central agencies to ensure a stable and sustainable source of funds. Building on its achievements to date and leveraging the temporary funding provided, the IRB will proactively address any potential disruptions, maintaining its ability to render fair decisions and provide timely access to adjudication.