Last Updated on January 23, 2011 by Steven Meurrens

The Immigration and Refugee’s Board (“IRB“) National Documentation Package (“NDP“) is the starting point for compiling information for a refugee case.  The NDP contains information on almost every country on earth.  Each package contains a selection of documents on human rights, security conditions, and other issues that are relevant to the determination of refugee protection claims.  They are regularly reviewed and updated.

Each NDP is broken down into the following sections:

  1. General Information and Maps
  2. Human Rights
  3. Identification Documents and Citizenship
  4. Political Activists and Organizations
  5. Gender, Domestic Violence, and Children
  6. Sexual Orientation
  7. Criminality and Corruption
  8. Military Service Issues
  9. Judiciary, Legal, and Penal Systems
  10. Police and Security Forces
  11. Media Freedoms
  12. Religion
  13. Nationality, Ethnicity, and Race
  14. Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement
  15. Labour, Employment, and Unions
  16. Other

It is important that anyone with a case before the Refugee Protection Division familiarize themselves with the NDP for their country of origin.

Related Jurisprudence

Refugee Protection Division members do not have a duty to make themselves aware of information before it becomes vetted and becomes part of a country’s National Documentation Package.  An exception is if an applicant directs the Member’s attention to the information in question prior to a decision being made.  (Ramos v. Canada, 2011 FC 15)