Program delivery update: Delegation of authority under the Citizenship Act and Citizenship Regulations

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

January 16, 2019

The amendments to the Citizenship Instrument of Delegation are primarily a result of changes to legislation that were introduced through Bill C 6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act. Delegation has been added for citizenship officers to

  • seize and detain documents provided for the purposes of the Citizenship Act if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the
    • documents were fraudulently or improperly obtained or used
    • measure is necessary to prevent fraudulent or improper use of the documents
  • disclose certain information to and share seized documents with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, so the CBSA can determine whether the seized documents appear to be genuine or unlawfully altered

Also, delegated authority has been added for the Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, to enter into an arrangement or agreement for the disclosure of information related to citizenship with

  • any federal or provincial department or agency
  • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • any provincial or municipal police force or investigative body

Delegated authority has also been added for departmental officials to disclose information under these arrangements or agreements, as outlined in the Citizenship Regulations.

Other modifications are technical in nature.

Updated instructions

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