Canada has announced a change to its tourist visa policy, moving away from the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has issued new guidelines that grant immigration officers more discretion in determining the duration and type of visa issued to visitors.
“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,” IRCC stated.
The decision is part of a broader strategy to manage temporary immigration levels and address challenges like housing shortages and rising living costs.
Previously, eligible visitors were routinely granted 10-year multiple-entry visas. However, under the new rules, each application will be assessed individually, and the duration of the visa will be determined based on the specific circumstances of the traveler.
While the application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains unchanged at CAD 100, the shift towards shorter-term visas may lead to increased application costs for frequent travelers.
The Canadian government aims to balance immigration levels with the country’s infrastructure capacity.
Other measures include reducing the target for permanent resident admissions in the coming years.
