Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

The minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship (French: ministre de l'immigration, des réfugiés et de la citoyenneté) is the minister of the Crown responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The minister is a member of the King's Privy Council for Canada and the Canadian Cabinet.

Lena Diab has served as the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship since 2025. The minister is selected by the prime minister and appointed by the Crown. The modern day role was created by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act in 1994 and the minister was known as the minister of citizenship and immigration until the present name was adopted in 2015. Before the modern-day role was introduced, the portfolios responsible for immigration in Canada throughout history were titled: Immigration and Colonization (1917–36), Mines and Resources (1936–50), Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66), Manpower and Immigration (1966–77), and Employment and Immigration (1977–96).

The Constitution Act, 1864, grants the federal Parliament as well as provincial legislatures concurrent (shared) jurisdiction over immigration. The minister works with provincial counterparts to set policy and regulate immigration to Canada. Federal legislation relating to nationality status, such as the Citizenship Act, and immigration and refugee law such as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, is administered by the minister. IRCC supports the minister in managing most operational programs, such as issuing Canadian passports. The Immigration and Refugee Board, which is independent from the department, also reports to the minister.