The IRB's National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are the primary country condition evidence used by RPD members in refugee determinations. An NDP is a curated package of publicly available, authoritative documents from international organizations, governments, NGOs, academics, and news sources that describe current conditions in a particular country relevant to refugee claims — including human rights conditions, security situations, treatment of particular groups, and state protection capacity.

NDPs are publicly available on the IRB country documentation page and are updated periodically by the IRB's Research Directorate. They are a standard exhibit in RPD hearings.

• IRPA s 170(g) — the RPD may receive and base its decision on evidence it considers credible and trustworthy, even if inadmissible in a court
• RPD Rules rr 34–38 (SOR/2012-256) — disclosure obligations; documents must be disclosed to the other party and the RPD before the hearing within prescribed deadlines
• IRPA s 171 — the RAD may also use country condition evidence, including NDPs

What NDPs contain

Each NDP is organised thematically and typically includes:

• Human rights reports (UNHCR, US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch)
• Country situation reports from international organisations (UNHCR, IOM, UN agencies)
• Government and academic sources on rule of law, security forces, judicial independence, and treatment of specific groups
• Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) — research notes prepared by IRB Research Directorate in response to recurring issues in claims from that country
• News articles and reports on recent events

NDPs do not contain documents specific to an individual claimant — they provide general country condition background against which individual claims are assessed.

How RPD members use NDPs

RPD members use NDPs to:

• Evaluate the plausibility of the claimant's account against established country conditions
• Assess whether the harm feared is one that a person of the claimant's profile could face in the country of origin
• Analyse state protection — whether the state is able and willing to protect persons in the claimant's situation
• Assess internal flight alternative — whether a safe area in the country exists where the claimant could reasonably relocate

Members may rely on NDP documents as evidence without each document being specifically put to the claimant, but must ensure that the claimant is not taken by surprise by reliance on a specific document in a way that raises a fairness concern.

Claimants supplementing or challenging NDPs

Claimants may and should disclose additional country condition documents before the hearing if the NDP does not fully address their particular profile or situation — for example, emerging developments after the NDP was last updated, documents on specific sub-groups, or regional reports. These documents must be disclosed to the RPD and the Minister within the timelines in the RPD Rules (typically 10 days before the hearing).

Claimants may also challenge the currency or accuracy of NDP documents during the hearing, and the RPD must address significant evidence that contradicts the position it is taking on country conditions.

Responses to Information Requests (RIRs)

RIRs are thematic research notes prepared by the IRB Research Directorate in response to recurring questions about conditions in a particular country. They are included in the NDP and are publicly accessible. RIRs are not legal opinions and do not determine claims — but they are frequently cited by members and practitioners as authoritative summaries of country conditions on specific issues.

NDPs are updated periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments in a country. For claims from countries with rapidly evolving situations, claimants and their counsel should supplement the NDP with current sources. The update date of each NDP package is noted on the IRB website.

Country documentation is equally relevant at the RAD level. The RAD may admit new country condition evidence that arose after the RPD decision, subject to the requirements in the RAD Rules. Refer to the IRB country documentation page for the current NDP library.