As of August 13, 2025, senior Iranian regime officials continue to reach Canada despite a national ban and active investigations. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is probing 66 individuals suspected of being senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran who are in the country without the right to stay. Since the 2022 designation and a 2023 expansion, authorities have declared 20 people inadmissible, issued three deportation orders, and carried out one removal.
Ottawa named the Islamic Republic a state sponsor of terrorism under Canadian law and used the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to bar its senior officials. In 2023, the government set the policy start date to June 22, 2003, tying it to the arrest and death of Iranian‑Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi. That change widened who can be found inadmissible and removed.
Who falls under the ban
The rules cover a broad list of senior actors who served on or after June 22, 2003. They include:
- Heads of state
- Cabinet ministers
- IRGC members
- Senior military and intelligence officers
- Ambassadors
- Judges
- Top public servants
The reach applies to individuals who entered Canada before or after the designation.
Enforcement picture in 2025
The CBSA reports it is working with domestic and foreign partners and sharing intelligence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for visa and citizenship decisions. Officers have canceled 131 visas tied to suspected regime links and are reviewing another 115 files.
VisaVerge.com reports that the CBSA is investigating 66 individuals and has moved to cancel visas in dozens of other cases.
Still, gaps remain. Several Iranian regime officials have entered Canada in recent years, sometimes using the asylum system or routine visa channels. A notable case is Mahdi Nasiri, a former regime propagandist who arrived in April 2025 and remains in the country despite the ban. That file has drawn public anger and raised questions about screening at overseas posts and at the border.
Investigations are labor intensive. Officers must:
- Confirm identity.
- Prove senior rank.
- Link service dates to the June 22, 2003 threshold.
Of the 20 declared inadmissible, only one removal has occurred, while three people now face deportation orders. Others may leave voluntarily after seeing they cannot win status in Canada.
Legal tools and procedural steps
Canada uses the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to make these findings. The law allows the Minister of Public Safety to name regimes tied to terrorism or gross human rights abuses and declare their senior officials inadmissible. The 2023 amendment setting the start date to June 22, 2003 broadened the ban and permitted action against people already in Canada who meet the definition.
Typical case flow:
- Visa application: Iranian nationals apply for a visa; IRCC checks risk flags with CBSA help.
- Screening: suspected senior ties trigger deeper review.
- Investigation: CBSA investigates using partner intelligence and public tips.
- Inadmissibility: if confirmed, the person is found inadmissible under IRPA.
- Removal: officers issue a deportation order, seek travel documents, and carry out removal when possible.
- Monitoring: the agency tracks visa cancellations and new leads.
The CBSA outlines its security and inadmissibility work on its website, including tools used against foreign state actors. Readers can review the overview here: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-securite/wc-cg/menu-eng.html.
Security context and outlook
The mid‑2025 flare-up between Iran and Israel has increased scrutiny of Iranian regime officials on Canadian soil. Agencies warn of Iranian cyber threats, though current assessments say Canada’s critical infrastructure is not a main target.
Security concerns include:
- Propaganda
- Espionage
- Influence activity
Experts warn more senior figures could try to reach Canada if the regime weakens. They may test the asylum system or seek entry through family or business links. Analysts urge three priority actions:
- Stronger pre‑travel screening
- Quicker inadmissibility rulings
- Faster removals once orders are issued
Human rights groups and legal experts also call for more transparency on case timelines and outcomes.
What the public can do
If you have credible information about suspected senior officials, contact the CBSA. The agency builds cases using:
- Travel records
- Open‑source material
- Partner intelligence
- Public reports
These sources help confirm roles held after June 22, 2003.
Scope and community impact
Most Iranian nationals have no tie to the regime and continue to follow normal visa paths. The focus is narrow: senior state actors, not ordinary travelers, students, or families. However, community leaders say clear updates from officials help limit rumor and fear.
Key numbers framing the issue:
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Open investigations | 66 |
| Inadmissible rulings | 20 |
| Deportation orders | 3 |
| Removals carried out | 1 |
| Canceled visas | 131 |
| Ongoing reviews | 115 |
Each file demands time, resources, and legal steps. Each decision signals how Canada will treat alleged enforcers of a state it has named for terrorism and human rights abuses.
Political and operational pressure
Pressure on the government is rising in Parliament and among Iranian‑Canadian groups, who want faster action and clearer reporting on how barred figures reached Canada.
Officials note:
- Files must meet legal standards.
- Removals depend on identity checks and travel documents from third countries.
- The CBSA is sharing leads with international partners and with airports and airlines to spot high‑risk travelers before they board.
- The CBSA supports IRCC in screening citizenship and permanent residence files tied to possible senior roles.
Canadian security agencies say vigilance will remain high through 2025 as the regional picture shifts. If conflict widens:
- More screening resources may be pushed to visa posts.
- Removal teams may prioritize cases already ruled inadmissible in 2025.
As Canada balances public safety with due process, the task remains steady application of the rules. The next months will show whether added effort and possible legal updates can close gaps that let some senior figures slip through. The CBSA says it will keep working with partners at home and abroad to find, rule, and remove those who are barred by law.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada probes 66 suspected senior Iranian officials amid gaps in screening. Since 2022 and a 2023 expansion tied to June 22, 2003, authorities declared 20 inadmissible, issued three deportation orders and removed one. CBSA canceled 131 visas and continues intelligence-sharing with IRCC to prevent further entries.
