Canada’s recent decision to end the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry Visit visas represents a major shift in the country’s immigration and entry policies.
With this change, Canada signals a move toward more stringent regulations, impacting travellers from around the world who previously could rely on straightforward, long-term access.
This policy shift, aimed at tightening border control and addressing rising domestic concerns, affects various groups, from tourists and temporary workers to students.
Understanding the End of Automatic 10-Year Tourist Visas
Previously, Canadian tourist visas were often granted as multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, allowing holders to enter and exit Canada as needed within that timeframe. For many travellers, especially those visiting family or conducting short-term business, this flexible visa was convenient. However, under the new policy, Canada no longer automatically grants these long-term visas, opting instead for a case-by-case approach that prioritises stricter assessments of each visitor’s eligibility and purpose.Factors that can be considered are the purpose of the visit, occupation, financial stability, health of the visitor and more. Additional factors include ties to the applicant’s home country and previous travel compliance.
Officials will use their discretion in the future to provide visas that best fit the characteristics of the applicant and Canada’s changing immigration requirements.
“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said IRCC.
The updated visa regulations in Canada may result in selective entry and a shorter stay. Now, travellers whose visas are about to expire must reconsider their intentions for additional stays.
According to the department, if attached to a full or complete passport or travel document, it (multiple-entry visa) can still be valid. When travelling to Canada, the holder must also have a current, valid passport or other travel document, which they must show to the airline company and to the border services officer in order to gain admission.
According to Miller, he is aware of the part he and the government can play in the belief that Canada has too many immigrants, which is reflected in polls.
When assigning the challenge, the correlation, and the causation, we must exercise extreme caution. “We don’t want this conversation to turn into a weapon,” Marc Miller stated.
Miller claimed to have instructed visa officers to process applicants more strictly and rigorously. It was crucial to make the system a bit more disciplined and to ensure that the visa application procedure is a bit more stringent. It entails tightening the criteria for who we provide visas to and how we grant them.
The Background: Why Tighter Entry Rules?
The policy change is part of a broader trend in Canada to tighten its immigration and border control measures. Concerns over housing shortages, economic stability, and resource allocation have heightened public scrutiny of immigration policies. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has seen a significant uptick in refusals. In July 2024 alone, Canada denied entry to 5,853 individuals, a record high that included students, workers, and tourists, marking a 20% increase in monthly denials compared to the same period the previous years.
Several factors underlie this new approach:
- Housing and Resource Constraints: As immigration numbers rise, Canadian citizens have expressed concerns that an influx of temporary residents places undue pressure on housing availability and affordability. By limiting long-term visa issuance, the government hopes to alleviate some of this pressure on domestic resources.
- Economic Stability: With Canada’s job market adjusting to post-pandemic recovery, officials are keen to balance workforce needs with public perception that an unchecked inflow of temporary workers could impact job opportunities and wage growth for citizens.
- Border Security: The CBSA has indicated a renewed focus on security, requiring detailed checks for all visa applicants. Each application now undergoes more thorough scrutiny to verify eligibility and ensure that entry aligns with Canada’s security and public health standards.
Impact of Increased Visitor Visa Rejections
As Canada’s entry policies become more stringent, visitor visa rejections have also increased. In June 2024, rejection rates for visitor visas hit their highest levels since the pandemic began. In several months this year, visa rejections even outpaced approvals. Higher rejection rates are part of the government’s effort to prevent overstays and unauthorized work among tourist visa holders. The recent changes are expected to improve the accuracy of applicant vetting and align Canada’s immigration policy with evolving domestic priorities
Canada’s plan anticipates that over a million temporary residents will voluntarily leave the country over the next few years as their visas reach expiration. For those who fail to depart as required, deportations will be enforced, with Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasizing the distinction between temporary and permanent status: “Temporary means temporary, and permanent means permanent.” Additionally, the country is set to reduce its permanent resident intake, targeting 485,000 newcomers in 2024, decreasing to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 by 2027.
Consequences for Foreign Travelers, Students, and Workers
The tighter entry rules extend beyond tourists and affect other temporary residents, such as students and workers. Those applying for study permits or work visas have also faced increased scrutiny. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has commented on the need for controlled immigration policies that don’t strain Canadian resources, aligning with the government’s careful evaluation of applications to maintain manageable population growth
For tourists who are used to the flexibility of a long-term visa, the shift may mean planning shorter visits or arranging re-entries according to visa expiration dates. Workers and students, meanwhile, may encounter additional checks on entry, requiring them to demonstrate continued compliance with visa terms and work or study commitments.If reports are to go by, Canada is expecting more than one million temporary residents to depart as their visas expire in the coming years. The Canadian government is set to enforce deportations for those who overstay. The government aims to balance its open-door reputation with the realities of its current economic and social landscape.
Canada’s decision to end automatic 10-year multiple-entry tourist visas is more than just a policy change; it’s a signal of Canada’s approach to controlled immigration. Visitors, students, and workers alike will now face more detailed evaluations, and all applicants should prepare for an intensive application process. As Canada adjusts its immigration policies to meet both domestic and global challenges, travellers should stay informed about new requirements and be ready for potential shifts in the entry process.
