According to new guidelines announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, tourists will no longer be automatically granted 10-year multiple-entry visas.
This decision signals a departure from prior practice, in which eligible travelers were commonly awarded long-term visas that allowed for several entries over a decade.
Under the new rules, immigration officials can now issue visas with shorter terms depending on individual assessments.
Instead of a preset extended validity period, each application will be examined individually.
Officers can now decide whether to award a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, as well as the duration of the visa, rather than granting maximum-validity multiple-entry visas automatically.
“The guidance has been amended to reflect that multiple-entry visas issued with maximum validity are no longer regarded the standard document. Officers may use their discretion in selecting whether to grant a single or multiple-entry visa and determining the validity period,” according to the IRCC.
The IRCC said that this move is part of a larger plan aimed at regulating temporary immigration levels while addressing long-term issues such as housing shortages and growing living costs.
The policy change reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to revise its immigration strategy in response to economic and infrastructure challenges.
Previously, Canada provided two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were normally evaluated for a multiple-entry visa, which permitted them to visit the country many times during a 10-year period or until one month before their passport expired.
Single-entry visas, which are provided for specified purposes such as official trips or participation in a single event, were less popular.
With the amended guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard option.
Immigration authorities will use their discretion to decide on the right kind and term of the visa, customizing it to the traveller’s unique needs and circumstances.
The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains at CAD 100 per person, with no distinction between single-entry and multiple-entry alternatives.
However, the shift may result in higher application fees for regular travelers, who may have to apply more frequently due to shorter-term visas.
This policy move is part of a larger effort to align immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.
Other changes outlined include lowering the objective for permanent resident admissions from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further reductions expected for 2026 and 2027.
