Canada
IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC is the Canadian federal department responsible for immigration, refugee claims, and citizenship. It took on its current name in 2015 (previously Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CIC). IRCC runs the Express Entry system, issues permanent-residence visas, and grants Canadian citizenship.
Parent ministry
Government of Canada
Established
2015
Last reviewed
20 April 2026
Scope
- Administers Express Entry — the application-management system that selects Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades candidates from a points-based pool.
- Coordinates the Provincial Nominee Programs by issuing final PR visas once a province has nominated a candidate under its own stream.
- Issues temporary-resident visas, study permits, work permits (including International Experience Canada / IEC working-holiday permits), and Post-Graduation Work Permits.
- Operates Service Canada's biometric collection network domestically and contracts with VAC providers (VFS Global) overseas.
Procedural quirks
- Express Entry CRS cut-offs swing by 10+ points between consecutive draws; Category-Based Selection draws (healthcare, STEM, trades, French) opened in 2023 and now pull candidates outside the general round.
- IRCC targets published annually in the Immigration Levels Plan drive the volume and shape of each year's draws. The 2025 plan reduced overall targets for the first time since 2017.
- Processing times are updated weekly and split by application type and method of filing (online vs paper). The PR Card renewal queue and citizenship ceremonies can be the bottleneck even after the grant.
Primary service channels
IRCC main portal
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
Express Entry
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
IRCC processing times
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html
Fee list
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp
Routes administered
IRCC decides the following Canada visa routes covered on Visa Atlas:
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.
Start-Up Visa (Canada)
Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
Canadian Study Permit
Study permit for international students at Designated Learning Institutions, governed by provincial study attestation caps.
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.