Canada Visitor Visa New Policy: Ends 10-Year Tourist Visa Validity

The normal issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas has been discontinued by Canada due to changes made to its tourist visa program. The new rules, which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced Thursday, give immigration officials more latitude to grant shorter visas based on individual evaluations rather than automatically granting longer ones.

The change, according to the IRCC, was a component of a larger plan to control the rising cost of living, manage temporary immigration levels, and solve housing shortages. Those who frequently travel for business or pleasure may now have to deal with higher application fees and shorter-term permits as a result of the move.

What Was the Old Policy?

Both single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas were issued by the IRCC under the prior regime. However, as all candidates were automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa, they were not forced to choose between them. During the visa’s validity period, which may last up to ten years or until one month before the passport’s expiration, whichever came first, this permitted travelers to enter Canada several times.

Travelers with single-entry visas were only permitted to enter Canada once. Generally speaking, these visas were only granted in certain circumstances, like official visits by foreign nationals who qualified for fee concessions, participation in one-time events held in Canada, or circumstances subject to national regulations. Single-entry visa holders usually require a new visa after leaving Canada.

What’s New?

Multiple-entry visas with a maximum validity will no longer be the norm under the new guidelines. Officers are now free to evaluate each applicant separately and determine whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa per their needs. Depending on the particular circumstances of the traveler, these visas may also have different durations.

Multiple-entry visas granted to the maximum validity are no longer regarded as the standard document, according to new guidance. When evaluating the validity time and whether to grant a single or multiple-entry visa, officers are free to use their discretion, according to the IRCC.

Visa Costs

Whether applying for a single-entry or multiple-entry Canadian visitor visa, each applicant must pay CAD 100. As a result, applying for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa does not cost any more.

More Comprehensive Immigration Policies

The revised visa policy is a component of a larger strategy that Canada has implemented to strike a balance between immigration levels and public infrastructure issues. Other recent actions taken by Canada consist of:

• Reducing the goal of 500,000 new permanent residents to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027 is part of the government’s updated immigration levels strategy.
• International student cap: Canada has set a cap on student permits, which is anticipated to reduce the number of international students by about 300,000 over the course of the following three years.
• Restrictions on temporary foreign workers: Businesses are now only able to hire 10% to 20% fewer low-wage foreign workers thanks to tighter rules under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• Reintroduced visa requirements for Mexican nationals On February 29, 2024, Canada reestablished visa requirements for Mexican nationals in response to an increase in asylum petitions and unauthorized crossings.

Automatic 10-Year Tourist Visas Are Ending in Canada

Canada has changed its tourist visa regulations, reducing the number of 10-year multiple-entry visas that were previously issued. The updated rules give immigration officials more latitude in deciding the kinds of visas and their validity, so regular travelers might no longer be assured permanent access.

According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), officials will now evaluate each applicant separately and may grant shorter visas depending on need, whereas previously, multiple-entry visas with maximum validity were the standard. Due to growing housing shortages and worries about the expense of living, Canada’s approach to temporary immigration has changed, as evidenced by the new guidelines.

Regular visitors to Canada may have to apply for visas more regularly under the new regime, which could result in higher expenses and administrative difficulties. Amid worries about the growing number of temporary residents, the administration expects that these steps will help control immigration levels.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered the standard document,” said Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Officers are free to use their discretion when determining the validity duration and whether to grant a single or multiple entry visa.