The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is an independent administrative tribunal. The IRB is responsible for applying the Canadian federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and for making decisions on immigration and refugee matters. The IRB decides, among other responsibilities, who needs refugee protection among the tens of thousands of claimants who come to Canada annually. The IRB was created after the seminal decision by the Supreme Court of Canada that mandated hearings for all refugee claimants in Canada. The IRB has three separate divisions: the Immigration Division (ID), the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).
The Immigration Division (ID) conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews. The Refugee Protection Division (RPD) has exclusive jurisdiction over the determination of refugee claims made inside Canada. The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) determines appeals of overseas spousal sponsorships as well as appeals of removal orders issued by the Immigration Division in respect of Permanent Residents of Canada.
The IRB reports to the Canadian government through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
The operations are overseen by the chairperson, currently Brian P. Goodman.
The IRB consists of four divisions or tribunals.
Members have included Ian Kagedan.