Saturday, November 9, 2024 Canada ‘s government has announced a significant shift in its visa policy, eliminating the issuance of tourist visas with a validity of up to ten years. This change marks the end of Canada’s practice of providing multiple-entry visas with long-term validity, signaling a new, more controlled approach to temporary migration. Under the updated guidelines, Canadian immigration officers now hold discretionary power to issue either single-entry or multiple-entry visas based on individual cases, with the validity period also determined on a case-by-case basis.
Previously, the standard multiple-entry visa allowed foreign nationals to visit Canada multiple times for up to ten years, or until the expiration of their passport or biometric records. In its policy update, the Canadian immigration department stated, “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.
” This change comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration faces increased public concern over high immigration levels, a housing shortage, and rising living costs. Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged that the government should have acted sooner to manage temporary migration flows, which have strained the housing market and public services. Des.
