Canada revises visa policy, ends 10-year tourist visa validity ; over 1 million temporary residents likely to exit country
PTC Web Desk: Canada has announced major changes to its visa policy, ending the 10-year validity for tourist visas. This overhaul aims to streamline entry procedures and update regulations for international.
The new regulations empower immigration officials to determine whether a visa should be single-entry or multiple-entry, as well as its duration. This is a shift from the previous standard of issuing multiple-entry visas with a maximum validity of up to 10 years or until the expiration of the travel document or biometric data.
The previous policy allowed travellers holding multiple-entry visas to visit Canada as frequently as needed during the visa's validity period. However, the updated guidance clarifies that visas with the maximum validity will no longer be the default. Instead, immigration officials will use their discretion to decide the type of entry and the visa's duration. According to a statement by the Canadian immigration department, officials now have more autonomy in determining these factors.
This policy change coincides with efforts by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to address mounting criticism over high living costs and a severe housing shortage. These issues have contributed to lower public approval ratings and a growing sentiment that immigration is straining resources. Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the government should have acted sooner to manage the influx of temporary migrants, which he described as “aggressive.”
In an interview with Reuters, Miller admitted that the government holds some responsibility for the surge in temporary migration. He said the number of temporary residents had exacerbated the housing crisis and indicated that public concerns over high immigration numbers were valid. Under the revised approach, Canada anticipates that over 1 million temporary residents will exit the country as their visas expire. Miller said any temporary residents who did not leave voluntarily would face deportation.
- PTC NEWS
