Program directory · Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Admissibility and Detention Decisions
- Department
- Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
- Program code
- BGC03 (IRB)
- Core responsibility
- Adjudication of immigration and refugee cases
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
Render quality decisions and resolve cases in a timely manner regarding foreign nationals or permanent residents who are alleged to be inadmissible to Canada and foreign nationals or permanent residents who are detained for reasons under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissibility and Detention Decisions | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $108M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Indicators added: Percentage of admissibility hearings finalized within 12 months; Percentage of detention reviews finalized within legislated timelines | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2019-20 | Indicators dropped: Percentage of cases pending beyond time standards | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators added: The percentage of cases that meet high quality standards | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators dropped: The average score of proceedings measured on a 1-3 scale for being respectful and focused, and of decisions that are clear, concise and complete | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Employees (FTEs) 129, against 104 in 2021-22 (+24%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Indicators added: Less than XX% of admissibility inventory pending over 12 months | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Indicators dropped: Percentage of admissibility hearings finalized within 12 months; Percentage of detention reviews finalized within legislated timelines | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: Annual volume of Detention Reviews finalized; Average wait time for decisions on Admissibility Hearings; Percentage of Admissibility and Detention cases that meet or exceed the quality standard; Percentage of Admissibility and Detention Decisions overturned by the Federal Court; Percentage of first Detention Reviews concluded within 48 hours; Percentage of second Detention Reviews concluded within 7 days; Percentage of third and subsequent Detention Reviews concluded within 30 days; Time within which 80% of Admissibility decisions are finalized | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: % of decisions overturned by the Federal Court; Annual Detention Reviews Finalized; Less than XX% of admissibility inventory pending over 12 months; The percentage of cases that meet high quality standards | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Annual volume of Admissibility Hearings finalized
Expected result: Finalizations of Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 2,000 | 2019 | 1,685 The IRB received fewer referrals for admissibility hearings and detention reviews in 2018-19 than forecasted. The finalizations match the intake | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 1,700 | 2020 | 1,584 Limited actionable inventory due to volume and timing of 2019-20 referrals. Additionally, all in-person hearings were suspended as of March 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 1,700 | 2021 | 1,002 Target for annual finalizations identified prior to COVID-19 was not met due to lower intake of cases as a result of pandemic-related disruptions including border restrictions. However, the number of finalizations fully met the demand of intake (101%). | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 1,700 | 2022 | 1,200 While only 1,085 admissibility hearings were received in 2021–22, the Immigration Division (ID) reduced its volume of admissibility hearings inventory throughout the reporting period, with an output to intake of 111% of admissibility hearings referred in 2020–21, with 90% of them concluded within 12 months. The ID continued to process admissibility hearings in a manner that upholds fundamental ri… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | 1,000 – 1,700 | 2023 | 1,364 | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 1,200 | 2024 | 1,772 | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 1,200 | 2025 | 2,129 | Met |
% of decisions overturned by the Federal Court
Expected result: Fair and timely adjudication of immigration and refugee cases
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≤ 1% | 2019 | 0% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≤ 1% | 2020 | 0.7% Results reported are for admissibility hearings; 0% for detention reviews. | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≤ 1% | 2021 | 0.2% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≤ 1% | 2022 | 0.2% | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≤ 1% | 2023 | 0.7% | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≤ 1% | 2024 | 0.1% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≤ 1% | 2025 | 0.1% | Met |
Annual Detention Reviews Finalized
Expected result: Volume of finalizations
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 11,500 | 2019 | 11,240 The IRB received fewer referrals for admissibility hearings and detention reviews in 2018-19 than forecasted. The finalizations match the intake. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 11,500 | 2020 | 12,129 | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 13,500 | 2021 | 4,337 Target for annual reviews finalized identified prior to COVID-19 was not met due to lower intake of cases as a result of pandemic-related disruptions including border restrictions. However, the number of finalizations fully met the demand of intake (102%). | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 11,500 | 2022 | 6,352 With only 6,396 detention reviews received in 2021-22, the Immigration Division finalization of detention reviews kept pace with intake throughput of detention reviews throughout the reporting period, with a ratio of output to intake above the 98% targets, even as referrals increased by 51% as compared to the previous year. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | 6,500 – 11,500 | 2023 | 8,916 | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 7,500 | 2024 | 9,495 | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 9,000 | 2025 | 8,328 While the Division’s output kept pace with intake, it received insufficient referrals during the reporting period to meet the established target. | Not met |
Less than XX% of admissibility inventory pending over 12 months
Expected result: Timely Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | ≤ 20% | 2023 | 18% | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≤ 20% | 2024 | 24% Due to the small volume of admissibility hearings in the inventory, the indicator was not met but the cases impacted are fewer than 160. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≤ 20% | 2025 | 16% | Met |
The percentage of cases that meet high quality standards
Expected result: Cases are resolved through proceedings that are focused and respectful and decisions that are transparent, intelligible, and justified.
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | ≥ 75% | 2021 | 95% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 75% | 2022 | — Actual results are not available for 2021–22. The focus of the quality review shifted following the move from in-person hearings to virtual hearings and included an Access to Justice Review of Virtual Hearings which concluded that a strong majority of stakeholders had an overall positive experience with virtual hearings. The Board is further evolving its virtual hearings processes based on the re… | No result reported |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 80% | 2024 | 100% | Met |
Percentage of admissibility hearings finalized within 12 months
Expected result: Timely Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | ≥ 80% | 2020 | 86% | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 80% | 2021 | 69% Target for timely decisions was not met. Disruptions to operations related to the COVID‑19 pandemic led to delays in the timely adjudication of decisions in the first few months of the year. A shift to remote hearings increasingly allowed the Immigration Division to meet timeliness targets as the year progressed. | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 80% | 2022 | 90% | Met |
Percentage of detention reviews finalized within legislated timelines
Expected result: Timely Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | ≥ 96% | 2020 | 97% | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 96% | 2021 | 96% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 96% | 2022 | 98% | Met |
The average score of proceedings measured on a 1-3 scale for being respectful and focused, and of decisions that are clear, concise and complete
Expected result: Cases are resolved through proceedings that are focused and respectful and decisions that are transparent and intelligible
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 2 – 3 | 2019 | 0 This is a biennial measurement and will next take place in fiscal year 2019-20. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | 2 – 3 | 2020 | 2.8 | Met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Annual volume of Admissibility Hearings finalized
Expected result: Finalizations of Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 1,500 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Annual volume of Detention Reviews finalized
Expected result: Finalizations of Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 8,000 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Average wait time for decisions on Admissibility Hearings
Expected result: Timely Admissibility and Detention Decisions rendered
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≤ 6 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of Admissibility and Detention Decisions overturned by the Federal Court
Expected result: Fair and timely adjudication of Admissibility and Detention cases
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≤ 1% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of first Detention Reviews concluded within 48 hours
Expected result: Timely Admissibility and Detention Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 96% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of second Detention Reviews concluded within 7 days
Expected result: Timely Admissibility and Detention Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 96% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of third and subsequent Detention Reviews concluded within 30 days
Expected result: Timely Admissibility and Detention Decisions rendered
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 96% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Time within which 80% of Admissibility decisions are finalized
Expected result: Timely Admissibility and Detention Decisions rendered
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≤ 9 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
Percentage of Admissibility and Detention cases that meet or exceed the quality standard
Expected result: Admissibility and Detention cases are resolved through quality proceedings and decisions
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 80% | 2028 | — | Planned |
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $10.6M | $11.7M |
| 2019-20 | $12.2M | $12.1M |
| 2020-21 | $12.2M | $12.2M |
| 2021-22 | $12.2M | $14M |
| 2022-23 | $14.5M | $16.8M |
| 2023-24 | $15.4M | $20.1M |
| 2024-25 | $17.1M | $21.5M |
| 2025-26 | $17M | — |
| 2026-27 | $21.9M | — |
| 2027-28 | $21.6M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $20.6M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 146 | 83 |
| 2019-20 | 95 | 86 |
| 2020-21 | 106 | 89 |
| 2021-22 | 117 | 104 |
| 2022-23 | 117 | 129 |
| 2023-24 | 138 | 134 |
| 2024-25 | 148 | 141 |
| 2025-26 | 143 | — |
| 2026-27 | 147 | — |
| 2027-28 | 145* | — |
| 2028-29 | 140* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $10,580,433 | $10,683,433 | $10,662,433 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $12,195,532 | $12,187,949 | $11,949,492 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $12,179,275 | $11,955,399 | $11,956,732 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $12,242,096 | $12,255,572 | $12,255,572 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $14,531,466 | $14,367,849 | $14,367,849 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $15,385,981 | $15,609,811 | $14,948,901 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $17,070,289 | $16,844,351 | $16,472,315 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $16,991,230 | $16,618,122 | $16,618,122 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $21,875,592 | $21,569,058 | $20,605,714 | ||||||||
| Actual | $11,727,994 | $12,068,445 | $12,172,427 | $13,982,529 | $16,791,131 | $20,094,845 | $21,475,587 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
