Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where
eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple
entries over a decade.
Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have
discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.
Instead of a default extended validity period, each
application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or
multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic
issuance of maximum-validity 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 judgement in deciding whether to issue a
single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the
IRCC.
The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader
strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing
ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.
The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s
efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and
infrastructure pressures.
Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas:
multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the
multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times
over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s
expiration date.
Single-entry visas, issued for specific situations like
official visits or participation in single events, were less common.
Now, with the updated guidance, maximum-validity
multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard offering.
Immigration officers will exercise their judgement to decide
on the appropriate type and duration of the visa, tailoring it to the specific
needs and circumstances of the traveller.
The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains
unchanged at CAD 100 per person, with no difference in cost between
single-entry and multiple-entry options.
However, the shift may result in increased application costs
for frequent travellers, who might need to apply more often due to shorter-term
visas.
This policy change is part of a wider effort to balance
immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.
Other measures announced include a reduction in the target
for permanent resident admissions, which will drop from 500,000 in 2025 to
395,000, with further decreases planned for 2026 and 2027.
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