Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple entries over a decade.
Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.
Instead of a default extended validity period, each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic issuance of maximum-validity multiple-entry visas.
“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 judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the IRCC.
The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.
The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and infrastructure pressures.
Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s expiration date.
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