Instructions on How to Submit Documents Electronically to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)

​The submission of documents electronically to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is now allowed through the use of Canada Post’s Connect service for the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and Refugee Appeal Division (RAD). This service allows for electronic file transfers that are secure, private, and confidential. The instructions below will guide you through the process of signing up for this service and sending documents electronically to the IRB.

The process consists of three parts.

  1. Sign up with the IRB for access
  2. Register with the Connect service (through the email you will receive from the IRB)
  3. Submit your documents through Connect

Note

Any documents that you wish to submit to the IRB must follow the requirements below:

  1. Documents must be submitted in accordance with the rules of the corresponding division.
  2. Documents must be legible, including the proper pagination.
  3. Documents must be in PDF format.

  4. The file name of each document should follow the following naming convention:

    [IRB file number] – [Division] - [Type of document]
    For example: TB1-12345 – RPD – Disclosure

Part I – Sign up with the IRB for access

Step 1

Go to the IRB’s online web-form.​ 

Step 2

Select your region.

Note: If you wish to send documents to multiple regions, you will need to submit a new request and select the appropriate region as needed.

Step 3

Enter your first name, last name and email address.

Step 4

Click "Submit".

Step 5

The IRB will send you an email invitation to join a secure conversation on Connect.

Part II – Register with the Connect service

The instructions below will guide you through the process of signing up to the Connect service so that you can submit documents to the IRB.

Step 1

Click on “Access the Message” button found in the email invitation you received from the IRB.

Example of email notification of new message received on Canada Post Connect with “Access the message” button.

Step 2

After being redirected to the Connect portal, you will see the following screen. Click on the “Login to Connect” button.

Canada Post’s Connect portal with “login to connect” button.

You will then be directed to the next screen to register for a Connect account.

Sign-in or register page on Canada Post’s website.

Step 3

Complete the Profile Information form to create your account. Once you have filled out the form, click on the “Continue” button.

Canada Post’s profile creation page.

You will be redirected directly to your Connect Inbox where you can view any secure conversations that you have been added to. You are now ready to submit documents to the IRB for your case or your clients’ cases.

Example of Canada Post’s Connect inbox listing existing conversations.

Part III – Submit your documents through Connect

Once in your Connect Inbox (which is now connected with the IRB), please follow the steps below:

Step 1

Click on the name of the conversation to open the secure conversation.

Example of Canada Post’s Connect inbox with the names of existing conversations.

Step 2

Click on the envelope to view the contents of the unread message.

Example of new message received with an “Open” button in the center of an envelope.

Step 3

To send documents to the IRB, click on the “Post Message” button.

Example of new message window with text and an attached document, and the “Post message” button.

Step 4

Click “Choose Files” to browse for your document(s) to attach them to the message.

Note

Please refrain from adding any text in the Message box. The purpose of this Connect service is only for the submission of documents.

Example of new message window with “Choose files” button to attach documents, and a “Submit” button.

Step 5

Click the “Submit” button. The document(s) will be transmitted to the IRB via Connect.

The Sent time in the message to the IRB indicates that your document(s) will be considered to have been received.

Note

  • Please ensure to save your original document(s) on your computer or network as Connect is not meant for saving your files.
  • To submit more documents for the RPD and the RAD​ at a later date or for another case, just log into ​Connect and submit your new documents.
  • If you change regions, then you will have to sign up with us again (by following the steps above) to be able to submit documents to that new region.

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