Backgrounder - Immigration and Refugee Board selection process

Candidates for the IRB are screened against merit-based criteria. Applications are also screened by an advisory panel. The panel is an independent group that includes representatives from the legal community, academics, non-governmental organizations and human resources experts. The Advisory Panel assesses the application form, curriculum vitae and written test results of each candidate to determine whether candidates should be further considered in the selection process.

Candidates identified by the Advisory Panel are interviewed by the Chairperson’s Selection Board to further assess their skills, abilities and personal suitability as decision makers. The Chairperson’s Selection Board is chaired by the IRB Chairperson and includes experts with an in-depth understanding of the IRB and its decision-making processes. The final selection of appointees is made by the Governor in Council on advice from the Minister, which is based on the recommendations of the IRB Chairperson.

The IRB, created in 1989, is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Board has three divisions: the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB hears refugee protection claims made in Canada, considers immigration appeals, holds admissibility hearings and conducts detention reviews.