Canada has introduced changes to its visa policy, shifting from its previous practice of issuing long-term, multiple-entry visas. Under the updated policy, tourist visas with a validity of up to ten years will no longer be offered.
Instead, immigration officers now have the flexibility to grant either single-entry or multiple-entry visas based on each applicant’s circumstances. Officers will also determine the appropriate duration of validity for each visa. Previously, multiple-entry visas allowed holders to enter Canada as many times as they wished within the visa’s validity period, which could extend up to ten years or until the associated travel document or biometrics expired.
Multiple-entry visas
“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 judgment in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” the Canadian immigration department stated in a recent update.
This change aligns with efforts by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration, which is addressing public dissatisfaction over high living costs and a housing shortage by reducing both permanent and temporary immigration. Last month, Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged that Canada could have acted sooner to manage the rising number of temporary residents contributing to housing pressures. In an interview with Reuters, Miller described the increase in migration as “aggressive” and accepted that the government shares responsibility for the current situation. He noted that Canada’s approach to temporary migration could have been more proactive.
Under this new approach, Canada anticipates that over a million temporary residents will leave as their visas expire in the coming years. Those who do not depart voluntarily will face deportation, as Miller emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between temporary and permanent residency.
