Security screening for visitors and newcomers to Canada

Every visitor, immigrant and refugee must be carefully screened before coming to Canada. This screening is an essential part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to keeping Canada safe and secure. Citizenship and Immigration Canada works closely with the Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to carry out the screening process.

Canada’s visa officers abroad are our first line of defence. They are specially trained to identify people who could pose a security risk, and they send anyone suspicious for further security checks. Canada also has special officers stationed abroad to help airlines screen people coming to Canada. In the past five years, these officers have caught more than 30,000 people attempting to travel without the proper documents. Since 9/11, Canada has also increased security screening at the border.

The safety of Canadians is our number one priority. Security screening is an important part of the overall assessment of whether a person is admissible to Canada. This assessment ensures that anyone who wants to come to Canada :

does not have a criminal record;
does not pose a risk to Canada’s security;
is in good health and does not pose a public health risk
(a medical examination may be required);
has not violated human or international rights;
has a valid passport or travel document; and
has not violated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
People who want to come to Canada as visitors must also show that they can support themselves and their families while in Canada and that they will leave the country at the end of their stay