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Last verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca← Back to IRPA ExplorerLast verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca
PART 1: Immigration to CanadaDIVISION 2: Examination
§15

Examination by officer

Examination by officer

🍁 In Simple Terms

This is what lets an officer actually start examining you once you apply. It also lets officers board a plane, bus or ship arriving in Canada, question the people aboard, look at documents about them, and hold the vehicle until they are finished. For applicants selected by Quebec, the province's own document settles the selection question.

Affects: Immigration applicants (economic, family, humanitarian)
Legal Text: IRPA Section 15

(1)An officer is authorized to proceed with an examination if a person makes an application to the officer in accordance with this Act or if an application is made under subsection 11(1.01).

Provincial criteria

(2)In the case of a foreign national referred to in subsection 9(1), an examination of whether the foreign national complies with the applicable selection criteria shall be conducted solely on the basis of documents delivered by the province indicating that the competent authority of the province is of the opinion that the foreign national complies with the province’s selection criteria.

Inspection

(3)An officer may board and inspect any means of transportation bringing persons to Canada, examine any person carried by that means of transportation and any record or document respecting that person, seize and remove the record or document to obtain copies or extracts and hold the means of transportation until the inspection and examination are completed.

Instructions

(4)The officer shall conduct the examination in accordance with any instructions that the Minister may give.

Cross-References
Amendment History (2)
2001, c. 27, s. 15
2012, c. 31, s. 310
Related Subsections
s.15.1Health insurance policy

15.1 A health insurance policy purchased from an insurance company outside Canada that is approved by the Minister satisfies any requirement in an instruction given under subsection 15(4) that a foreign national who applies for a temporary resident visa in order to visit their Canadian citizen or permanent resident child or grandchild for an extended period must have private health insurance.

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