Ottawa has made changes to its visitor visa regulations, discontinuing the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas.
“For multiple-entry visas, officers now have the discretion to issue visas with a validity period shorter than 10 years,” the announcement states.
Previously, visitors to Canada could obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, allowing multiple entries and exits during that timeframe.
However, the default 10-year option for visa seekers has been removed.
Visa officers will now assess each application individually, considering the specific circumstances before deciding whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determining its duration.
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Various factors like the purpose of the visit, financial resources, health status, ties to the home country, and previous visa denials can influence the visa issuance decision, according to the website.
This change comes amidst growing concerns among Canadians regarding the impact of expanded immigration on housing, public services, and programs.
Trudeau also announced a reduction in immigration targets from 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 and 2026 to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026, further decreasing to 365,000 in 2027.
The new immigration plan is expected to result in a 0.2 percent population decline over the next two years, easing some pressure on the housing market, as mentioned in a government press release. It aims to “reduce the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units” in the coming years.
Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.
