Canada Ends Automatic 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visas: New Immigration Policy Takes Effect

Canada has officially ended the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas for tourists. As of November 2024, the new guidelines from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allow immigration officers to determine the appropriate visa type and validity period on a case-by-case basis.

Previously, eligible visitors were routinely granted multiple-entry visas with a decade-long validity, enabling them to enter Canada multiple times. Under the updated policy, however, visas will no longer be automatically issued for maximum durations. Immigration officers now have the discretion to issue single-entry or multiple-entry visas with varying validity periods, based on the individual applicant’s circumstances.

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The IRCC clarified that this change is part of broader efforts to manage temporary immigration levels while addressing growing challenges like housing shortages and rising living costs. The new guidelines reflect Canada’s evolving immigration strategy, which aims to balance visitor entry with the nation’s current infrastructure capabilities.

While the cost of a Canadian visitor visa remains at CAD 100, frequent travelers may face increased application costs, as they will need to apply more often due to the shorter visa durations. This shift comes alongside other measures, including a reduction in the target for permanent resident admissions, which will decrease from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000 by 2026.