IRCC revised DNA-testing procedures—separating citizenship and immigration instructions, standardizing officer letters and GCMS recording, and adding virtual witnessing at select IOM offices. Tests must be SCC‑accredited and client‑paid, remain voluntary as a last resort, and affect Citizenship, Sponsorship, H&C and Refugee programs to improve consistency and fairness.
Soheil Hosseini
September 7, 2025
Jurisdiction
Federal
Week
Week 37
Impact
Low
Programs Affected
IRCC revises DNA testing procedures, adds virtual witnessing and standardized officer letter
Summary: IRCC has overhauled its DNA testing instructions, separating procedures for citizenship and immigration, introducing virtual witnessing at select IOM offices, standardizing officer communications, and formalizing how results are handled in GCMS to enhance consistency, integrity, and fairness.
Date of update: 2025-09-07
Source: IRCC In a program delivery update noted by IRCC (also referenced as September 5, 2025 on the program page), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has restructured its DNA testing guidance in full, creating distinct instructions for citizenship and immigration where processes differ. The update codifies how officers receive, record, and review DNA results in the Global Case Management System (GCMS); clarifies next steps following positive or negative DNA outcomes or when a client chooses not to proceed; and introduces a standardized officer letter to ensure consistent communication across offices. Notably, IRCC has added procedures for virtual witnessing available at select International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices. IRCC reiterates that DNA testing is a last-resort, voluntary measure used when documentary evidence is insufficient to establish relationships central to immigration or citizenship determinations. Testing must be conducted through Standards Council of Canada (SCC)-accredited laboratories, with clients covering all costs. The standardized processes aim to safeguard procedural fairness by clearly outlining alternative evidence pathways and by harmonizing officer practices.
Programs affected: Citizenship, Sponsorship, Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C), and Refugees.
Analysis: The revisions should improve national consistency and decision quality by aligning officer practices and enhancing auditability via GCMS. Virtual witnessing can reduce travel and logistical burdens, potentially accelerating cases, particularly in regions served by IOM. However, access may be uneven where virtual witnessing is not available, and the client-paid model continues to pose cost barriers for low-income applicants, including refugees and H&C applicants. Successful implementation will depend on clear officer training, robust privacy and chain-of-custody safeguards, and transparent communication so applicants understand when DNA is requested, alternatives available, and implications of declining.
Closing: Applicants and sponsors should expect clearer communications via the new standardized DNA letter, stricter adherence to SCC-accredited labs, and potential use of virtual witnessing at select IOM locations. The changes are designed to support accurate, fair, and timely decisions across citizenship and immigration streams.
Tags: IRCC, Canada immigration, DNA testing, GCMS, IOM, SCC-accredited labs, citizenship, family sponsorship, refugees, humanitarian and compassionate, program delivery update, virtual witnessing, procedural fairness, policy update
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