IRCC Enhances Transparency for Refused Canada Immigration Applicants

Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is taking a major step toward transparency by providing more detailed reasons to individuals whose applications are refused.

Previously, applicants who were denied a visa or immigration status often received generic refusal letters that offered little insight into the decision-making process. To gain a fuller explanation, many resorted to filing Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests—a process that often took months.

As of 29 July 2025, IRCC has announced it will now include officer notes directly in refusal letters for certain types of applications, starting with temporary resident visa (TRV) rejections from India. This pilot project aims to reduce the need for ATIP requests and make the process clearer and faster for applicants.