Canada Ends Automatic 10-Year Visitor Visas in New Policy Change

Canada has updated its visitor visa policies, ending the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, as detailed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

According to a Nov. 6 update on the federal government’s website,

“multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document.”

Previously, visitors could receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, allowing them to travel to and from Canada without restrictions during that period.

Under the new policy, this will no longer be the default practice. Visa officers will now evaluate each application individually to decide whether a single or multiple-entry visa will be issued, and the duration of its validity, the IRCC noted.

Criteria for visa issuance will include the purpose of the visit, financial resources, health conditions, ties to the applicant’s home country, and other considerations.

For multiple-entry visas, the validity period will also be determined by visa officers, who may grant a duration shorter than the previous maximum of 10 years.

The IRCC stated that factors influencing this decision may include short-term visit purposes, the applicant’s current status in their country of residence, changes in ties to both their home country and Canada over time, and any economic or political instability in their home country.

News Source: CTV News