IRCC to Include Officer Decision Notes With Refusal Letters for Greater Transparency

IRCC to Include Officer Decision Notes With Refusal Letters for Greater Transparency

Summary: IRCC has begun attaching officer decision notes to refusal letters for selected application types to enhance transparency and streamline access to personal case information, effective 2025-07-29. IRCC announced a phased change effective 2025-07-29: for certain applications, refusal letters will now include the officer’s decision notes from the deciding officer. The measure is intended to make it easier for clients to access information about their applications and supports the department’s transparency objectives.

KEY POINTS
- EFFECTIVE DATE: 2025-07-29
- INITIAL SCOPE: Temporary resident visas (excluding electronic travel authorizations and temporary resident permits), visitor records, study permits, and work permits
- DELIVERY: Notes will be included with the refusal letter sent to the applicant or authorized representative
- LIMITATIONS: Portions of notes may be withheld for security, privacy, or other concerns; applicants using the IRCC Portal – New version will not receive notes at this time
- ROLLOUT: Phased expansion to additional application types over time

Programs affected: TRV, Study Permit, Work Permit

Date of update: 2025-07-29

Urgency: The inclusion of officer decision notes should provide more clarity on refusal rationales, helping applicants and representatives assess re-application strategies and reduce uncertainty. It may also streamline access to personal case details without separate requests, potentially improving efficiency. However, the phased rollout, carve‑outs for security and privacy, and the current exclusion of IRCC Portal – New version applicants could create uneven access in the short term. As only certain application types are covered initially, expectations must be managed until the rollout broadens. This update marks a tangible step toward clearer decision-making in Canada’s immigration processes, with transparency gains expected to expand as additional application types are included.

Tags: IRCC, Canada immigration, refusal letters, officer decision notes, transparency, TRV, study permit, work permit, visitor record, policy update, 2025-07-29