Access to information and privacy

Updated July 13, 2022

Openness, transparency and accountability are guiding principles of the Government of Canada. However, significant increases in request volumes may have an effect on our ability to respond to requests within the timelines mandated by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. Access to information and personal information requests continue to be important to us, and we continue to make reasonable efforts to respond to requests in accordance with operational realities. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we navigate these unprecedented challenges.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act came into effect on July 1, 1983.

These acts provide the legal right to obtain information, in any form, that is under the control of a government institution. The general purpose of these acts is to make government more open and transparent, allowing individuals to more fully participate in the democratic process.

Access to Information Act

The Access to Information Act gives Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals (or corporations) present in Canada the right to access records under the control of a federal government institution in accordance with the principles that government information should be available to the public, that necessary exceptions to the right of access should be limited and specific and that decisions on the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently of government.

Eligible individuals (or entities) may make a request under the Access to Information Act for information under the control of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Make an access to information request

Privacy Act

The Privacy Act protects the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by a government institution. This Act also provides Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals, regardless of where they are located, the right to access and request correction to their own personal information. In accordance with section 7 of the Privacy Act, personal information can only be used in accordance with the purpose for which the information was collected or for a use consistent with that purpose.

Information protected by the Privacy Act can only be disclosed with the consent of the person to whom it relates or in accordance with the exception terms of subsection 8(2) of the Privacy Act.

Individuals may make a request under the Privacy Act for their personal information held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Make a privacy request

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