The Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced that it will no longer automatically issue 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, a departure from the long-standing practice of routinely granting extended-validity visas to eligible visitors.
Under the new guidelines, Canadian immigration officers will assess each application individually, determining both the type—single-entry or multiple-entry—and duration of the visa. This represents a shift from the previous system, where many visitors were granted maximum-validity visas of up to a decade.
“Multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered the standard document,” the IRCC stated, adding that officers now have discretion in setting the validity period according to the applicant’s specific circumstances.
The IRCC explained that this policy update is part of a broader strategy to manage temporary immigration levels as Canada grapples with challenges such as rising living costs and housing shortages.
“This change reflects our efforts to balance immigration with the country’s current infrastructure capabilities,” an IRCC spokesperson commented.
Previously, tourists were often granted visas allowing entry over a 10-year period or until one month before their passport expired. Shorter-term, single-entry visas were primarily issued for special cases, such as official visits or attendance at single events.
However, with the new directive, 10-year multiple-entry visas are no longer the standard offering.
The CAD 100 application fee remains the same for both single-entry and multiple-entry visas. However, the change could lead to higher costs for frequent travellers, who may need to reapply if issued shorter-term visas.
As part of a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, Canada also announced a reduction in its permanent residency targets, with planned decreases from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000 in 2026, and further reductions slated for 2027.
