Canada’s recent change to its visa policy means that the 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa, once standard for eligible visitors, will now be issued at immigration officers’ discretion, based on an individual assessment of each application. This marks a significant shift from the previous approach where most tourists received long-term, multiple-entry visas by default.
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.
Under the new guidelines from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), officers will decide whether to issue single-entry or multiple-entry visas and set shorter validity periods when deemed necessary. The IRCC clarified that this adjustment supports the government’s strategy to manage temporary immigration levels in light of challenges such as housing shortages and increased living costs.
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.
While application fees for Canadian visitor visas remain at CAD 100, the shift could increase costs for frequent travelers who may need to reapply more often. This policy shift also aligns with broader immigration adjustments, such as reducing the target for permanent resident admissions from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further cuts planned through 2027.
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