Canada has announced significant changes to its visitor visa policy, ending the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, according to an update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
An update posted on the federal government’s website stated, “Multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document.”
Previously, visitors to Canada could obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, allowing them to enter and exit the country freely within that period. Under the new rules, however, visa officers will now assess applications individually to determine whether a single or multiple-entry visa will be issued, along with the appropriate validity period.
Key factors affecting visa issuance include the purpose of the visit, the applicant’s financial resources, health conditions, and their ties to their home country, among other considerations.
For those granted multiple-entry visas, officers will assess the length of validity on a case-by-case basis and may issue a shorter period than the former 10-year maximum. The IRCC indicated that considerations will include the specific purpose of the visit, the applicant’s status in their current country of residence, any changes to ties with Canada or their home country, and the economic or political stability in the applicant’s place of origin.
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