By Abiola Olawale
Canada has announced a major change to its visa policy, announcing that the country will no longer automatically issue 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists.
Under the new guidelines released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canadian government said it has authorized immigration officers to evaluate each visa application on a case-by-case basis.
The IRCC said it introduced changes as part of a comprehensive broad strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels.
Given this updated policy, individuals who visit Canada frequently for business, family visits, or leisure may now find themselves paying multiple fees for their visa applications.
Additionally, the duration of the visas granted may now be shorter, which could significantly affect those who rely on regular travel to Canada for their various work or other personal endeavors.
Recall that under its previous policy, Canada offered two specific types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry.
All applicants were automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa, allowing multiple visits over up to 10 years or until one month before the passport’s expiration date.
Single-entry visas, which allowed only one entry into Canada, were reserved for specific situations, such as official visits or single-event participation.
However, with the updated policy maximum-validity multiple-entry visas are no longer standard. According to the IRCC, Canadian visa and Immigration officers now have greater discretion in determining whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and will assess each application on a case by case basis.
This approach allows for varied durations tailored to the specific needs of travellers.
The statement by IRCC reads in part: “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.”
