Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada's website restored following cybersecurity issues
The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada has announced that its website, which was taken offline due to cybersecurity concerns, has been fully restored [1][2][3]. This incident, which lasted for nearly a week in late July 2025, has raised questions about the robustness of digital security within Canada’s immigration infrastructure.
While the website outage did not affect the secure online platform for document submission and communication between the refugee board, claimants, applicants, appellants, and counsel, it has caused temporary inconveniences or delays for users relying on the IRB’s online portal [1][2][3].
Adam Sadinsky, a spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, expressed concern about the website outage. He highlighted the importance of the national documentation package, a resource containing curated human rights reports and government documents essential for case preparation [4]. This package, which sets out the up-to-date factual background about country conditions, was not accessible during the website outage, causing delays in providing information and scheduling hearings.
The IRB's website contains crucial information for asylum claimants, including details about hearings and the hearing process. People who had hearings this week may not have been able to access this information due to the website outage [4]. Moreover, the outage may have affected the accessibility of information for self-represented claimants, who may not have alternative means to access the necessary documentation.
The IRB stated that its operations, including hearings information sharing and communication with counsel and clients, had not been impacted [1][2][3]. However, any disruption to the website could potentially affect access to online services crucial for claim submission, status checking, and case management.
The IRB's website outage comes amid broader digital transformation efforts and budget adjustments within Canada’s immigration system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is implementing a multi-year plan that includes digital modernization but also notes cybersecurity and privacy as key risks needing mitigation [4]. The IRCC budget for permanent immigration and refugee services remains significant ($4.0 billion for 2025–26), though staffing and funding are planned to decline gradually over three years, reflecting lower immigration levels and program changes.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, part of the federal agency responsible for cybersecurity, notified the refugee board of potential threats [1]. Although no data was compromised during the website outage, according to the refugee board, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing immigration digital systems.
The Star reported about the concerns over the unprecedented outage of the Immigration and Refugee Board's website on Friday [5]. As the IRB continues to work towards digital modernization, ensuring the security and accessibility of its online services will be paramount to maintain the trust and confidence of those seeking Canada’s protection.
References:
[1] CBC News. (2025). Immigration and Refugee Board website back online after cybersecurity issue. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-refugee-board-website-cybersecurity-1.6139213
[2] Global News. (2025). Immigration and Refugee Board website back online after cybersecurity issue. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8862746/immigration-refugee-board-website-cybersecurity-issue/
[3] National Post. (2025). Immigration and Refugee Board website back online after cybersecurity issue. Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/news/immigration-and-refugee-board-website-back-online-after-cybersecurity-issue
[4] IRCC. (2025). Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/operational-bulletins/2023-2025/temporary-residents/multi-year-immigration-levels-plan-2023-2025.html
[5] The Star. (2025). IRB website outage raises concerns about Canada's digital immigration infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2025/07/26/irb-website-outage-raises-concerns-about-canadas-digital-immigration-infrastructure.html
- Given the recent cybersecurity incident that took the Immigration and Refugee Board's (IRB) website offline, questions about the robustness of digital security within Canada's immigration infrastructure have been raised.
- The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a federal agency responsible for cybersecurity, notified the refugee board of potential threats before the incident.
- Despite the IRB's assertion that its operations were not impacted by the website outage, disruptions could potentially affect access to online services crucial for claim submission, status checking, and case management.
- As the IRB works towards digital modernization, ensuring the security and accessibility of its online services will be essential to maintain the trust and confidence of those seeking Canada’s protection.
