Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its Instrument of Designation and Delegation (IDD), effective December 15, 2025, reflecting expanded authorities, streamlined processes, and structural alignment across the department. The IDD outlines policy, procedures, and guidance for IRCC staff and is shared on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Key Updates in the IDD
- Expanded delegations: New powers have been assigned to roles including Director General, senior program officers, case processing agents, and locally engaged staff across branches like Settlement and Resettlement Operations. The updates replace outdated titles and reflect current responsibilities.
- Designated Learning Institution (DLI) changes: Responsibilities and compliance roles related to DLIs have been updated to align with current operations.
- Three new delegation items:
- Quebec selection refusals: Officers in Resettlement Operations can now refuse permanent resident visas if Quebec’s selection criteria are not met, streamlining PSR processing.
- Communicable disease authority: The Director General of the Migration Health Branch now holds authority to designate countries requiring Immigration Medical Exams, correcting a previous omission.
- Refugee claim eligibility: Lower-level agents can confirm eligibility, while higher-level officers handle ineligibility decisions.
Organizational and procedural improvements
- Obsolete roles have been removed, and officer titles standardized to ensure consistency across the department.
- Decision-making has been streamlined, including transferring rehabilitation decisions to managers and consolidating delegations under the Service Delivery Sector. Geographic coverage areas have been reduced from nine to five.
- Branch names and alignments have been updated to match IRCC’s current organizational structure.
These updates reinforce IRCC’s commitment to clarity, accountability, and efficient decision-making, ensuring that delegations of authority remain aligned with the department’s operational priorities.