Canada Visitor Visa Policy Change From November 2024
Canada has updated its policy for visitor visa, ending the practice of routinely issuing 10-year multiple-entry visas. Announced on Thursday by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the new guidelines provide immigration officers with greater discretion to assess each applicant individually and issue shorter visa durations based on specific circumstances, rather than automatically granting extended validity periods.
The IRCC stated that this change is part of a broader strategy to manage temporary immigration levels, address housing shortages, and control the rising cost of living. As a result, frequent visitors to Canada may face higher application costs and shorter-term visas, particularly those who travel frequently for business or leisure.
What Was the Previous Policy?
Under the previous system, IRCC issued two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry.
However, all applicants were typically considered for a multiple-entry visa, allowing them to enter Canada multiple times during the visa’s validity period, which could last up to 10 years or until one month before the passport expired—whichever came first.
Single-entry visas, on the other hand, allowed a one-time entry into Canada and were usually reserved for specific cases, such as official visits, participation in one-time events, or situations governed by country-specific guidelines. After leaving Canada, holders of single-entry visas generally needed to apply for a new visa to re-enter.
The New Approach
With the updated guidance, multiple-entry visas with maximum validity are no longer the default. Immigration officers now have the flexibility to assess applicants on a case-by-case basis, determining whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa based on the applicant’s needs. The visa’s duration may also vary according to the individual’s specific situation.
Visa Costs
The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains CAD 100 per person, regardless of whether the visa is for a single entry or multiple entries. Therefore, the cost remains the same for both types of visas.
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