Latest trends for countless international travellers, the immigration department of Canada has changed rules relating to the single entry and multiple entry tourism visas.
This policy update also decentralises the process and discretion giving immigration officers better leeway to consider an applicant’s circumstances closely to arrive at the type of visa as well as the validity period of the visa.
This new approach shows a departure from the earlier practice in which multiple-entry visas with the maximum validity were routinely granted.
Now, officers are supposed to consider factors such as, the likely purpose of the visit, finance, health, and the extent of commitment by the person to his or her home country, when granting the visa type and its duration.
In this article, you’ll learn what has changed with the new guidelines and what applying for a Canadian visitor visa is like.
Multiple-Entry vs. Single-Entry Visas: What’s the Difference?
Previously, under the Canadian guidance, one would just grant a visa either single or multiple-entry visas depending on the circumstances of the Applicant.
It is recommended that immigration officers consider the following factors in any given case then decide on which visa to grant:
Here’s an overview of each visa category:
1. Multiple-Entry Visa
Overview: Multiple-entry visa simply means you can cross the Canadian border from any country at any one time within the period of validity of the visa.
Validity: Multiple-entry visas are usually valid for up to 3 to 10 years or the validity of the applicant’s passport whichever is first.
Requirements: That would be if you have a visa affixed on the expired passport, it is still legal to use the passport provided you have the current valid passport plus the expired one when entering the country.
2. Single-Entry Visa
Overview: A single-entry visa allows the holder to enter Canada only once, into the country. If the holder leaves at any time he or she must secure a new visa to gain entry into the country again.
Common Use: It is usually given to persons who have a single reason for visiting the country, for instance attending a conference or similar function in Canada and who do not intend to travel again.
Officer is able to grant not only the standard visa but also preferred visa and he/she employs various factors in order to determine which option will best suit the applicant.
Guidelines for Issuing Single or Multiple-Entry Visas
Concerning the change in policy, it is stated that deciding whether one or multiple-entry visa should be granted, an officer should consider the applicant’s profile.
Here are the factors immigration officers will consider in this decision-making process:
1. Purpose of Visit
One-Time Event: If for instance an applicant is visiting the host country for a one time event such as a conference, training, or tourism purposes, a single-entry visa may suffice.
Frequent Visits: For those candidates, who anticipate frequent visits to Canada, for example, to meet close relatives, a multiple-entry visa should be chosen.
Special Circumstances: In the case of compassionate visit examples like attending a sick or ailing family member, it may be either of the visa type depending on the frequency of visits and necessity of the applicants.
2. Financial Stability
Applicant’s Finances: Persons with regular and continuous sources of income may be issued the multiple entry visa since they are more capable of making multiple trips into Canada.
Support from Host: If more detail as to their funding is needed, information regarding the applicant’s Canadian host who will be bearing the expenses may also be considered as well as proof of the relationship between the host and the institution as well as the host’s ability to finance their expenses.
Employer Sponsorship: Regarding business trips that are paid by Employer, the officers may require some forms, for instance, a letter from the Employer to prove financial support.
3. Medical Considerations
Health Conditions: If an applicant has a medical condition that may decline in the future, some officers may decide that the visa should have a shorter validity, or just single-entry.
Medical Visits: As for those who arrived in Canada for treatment, insurance or some kind of an insurance guarantee may be requested to prove that the applicant is capable of covering possible medical expenses in Canada.
4. Additional Factors
Ties to Home Country: Employment relationships together with the close familial ties are found to have an impact on a visa issuing officer and hence a multiple entry visa.
Travel History: Any applicant who had the experience of travelling outside his home country or the one who has strictly followed the terms and condition of Canadian visa can be issued multiple entry visa.
Previous Refusals: This is because an officer can deny Canada or other countries’ visa history, and a single-entry visa can be given in such a situation.
Determining the Visa Validity Period
Even though a multiple entry visa may be eligible for validity of up to 10 years, this validity period is no longer standard.
It is recommended to take each applicant’s situation into account, and officials may even grant visas of shorter validity. Factors influencing the validity period include:
1. Purpose of Visit Duration
Finally, if applicants are visiting Canada for a limited purpose for example business activities under warranty the visa will have the validity period limited to the expected time of stay.
2. Country of Residence and Stability
The applicant must ensure that the officers look at the present and stable resident or citizenship status. In case the applicant comes from a country with a politically or economically unstable situation, the visa validity should be shorter.
3. Evolving Ties
This may depend on the applicant’s new developments of affiliation with Canada and or the home country. If the ties are expected to deteriorate a bit, the officers may opt to select a shorter validity period to apply.
Implications of the New Visa Guidelines for Applicants
This new guidance means that the applications may be regarded as more flexible on an individual-case basis, which is helpful and at the same time creates opportunities and difficulties at the same time.
Here’s what this means for visitors:
Purpose of Visit will play an important role in visa duration: Because of this power relation, applicants can presume that the officers take decisions favourable to their travel purpose, especially for single visit or compassionate grounds.
Enhanced Scrutiny: The more discretionary the decision, the greater the attention will be given to the decision. Candidates seeking multiple entries may be asked to provide even more documentation on why they need multiple-entry visa support, including, financial standing, family members, and multiple trips.
Potential for Shorter Validity: Applicants who request a multiple-entry visa may get multiple-entry visas issued with a validity of less than 10 years as was formerly the case due to certain factors mentioned above.
Personalised Assessment: Analysing matters of the case, visa officers tend to determine cases individually, so the results depend on the particularity of the applicant and his or her goals.
Tips for a Successful Canada Visitor Visa Application
To improve the likelihood of receiving a favourable decision, applicants should consider the following:
Clear Documentation: To support this purpose you should emphasise your reasons for visit, close relations with the home country, and enough funds for travelling.
Demonstrate Strong Ties: To convince the immigration officers that you plan to go back to your home country, sever links to your home country by showing family ties, source of income and property.
Prepare Financial Proof: No matter the kind of travel being done, the self-funded, host-funded or employer-funded make sure to attach all the necessary financial documentation.
Health Insurance: When visiting for medical reasons ensure health insurance will suffice the intended period of stay and produce it as and when required.
Canada’s revised visitor visa guidelines underscore the importance of individualised assessment.
In particular, officers have a broader control over single or multiple entry visas, as well as over the validity of the visa, but applicants should be ready for stricter standards and documentation..
As you may apply for a Canadian visa to visit family or friends, for business purposes or for medical treatment, it is crucial to know these new revised rules, which gives you increased chances of getting the visa when sufficiently prepared.
This change of approach seems to reiterate Canada’s on-going aspiration to, on one hand receive friendly economic and social benefits from international visitors, and on the other, ensure that such entrants do so only after admissible reasons are deemed sufficient.
What is the processing time for visitor visas?
The processing time of the visitor visa in Canada differs from one country to the other. Below are the latest average processing times for most of the finalised application for some of the nations:
India: 113 days
United States: 26 days
Nigeria: 175 days
Pakistan: 29 days
Philippines: 18 days
How much is the Canada visitor visa duration?
Multiple entry visitor visas of 10 year validity or validity of passport are now not granted by default.
Validity of Canadian visitor visa is written on the visa label fixed on the passport after successful processing by the immigration authority.
New Canada Visitor Visa Requirement starting from November 2024
Latest trends for countless international travellers, the immigration department of Canada has changed rules relating to the single entry and multiple entry tourism visas.
This policy update also decentralises the process and discretion giving immigration officers better leeway to consider an applicant’s circumstances closely to arrive at the type of visa as well as the validity period of the visa.
This new approach shows a departure from the earlier practice in which multiple-entry visas with the maximum validity were routinely granted.
Now, officers are supposed to consider factors such as, the likely purpose of the visit, finance, health, and the extent of commitment by the person to his or her home country, when granting the visa type and its duration.
In this article, you’ll learn what has changed with the new guidelines and what applying for a Canadian visitor visa is like.
Multiple-Entry vs. Single-Entry Visas: What’s the Difference?
Previously, under the Canadian guidance, one would just grant a visa either single or multiple-entry visas depending on the circumstances of the Applicant.
It is recommended that immigration officers consider the following factors in any given case then decide on which visa to grant:
Here’s an overview of each visa category:
1. Multiple-Entry Visa
Overview: Multiple-entry visa simply means you can cross the Canadian border from any country at any one time within the period of validity of the visa.
Validity: Multiple-entry visas are usually valid for up to 3 to 10 years or the validity of the applicant’s passport whichever is first.
Requirements: That would be if you have a visa affixed on the expired passport, it is still legal to use the passport provided you have the current valid passport plus the expired one when entering the country.
2. Single-Entry Visa
Overview: A single-entry visa allows the holder to enter Canada only once, into the country. If the holder leaves at any time he or she must secure a new visa to gain entry into the country again.
Common Use: It is usually given to persons who have a single reason for visiting the country, for instance attending a conference or similar function in Canada and who do not intend to travel again.
Officer is able to grant not only the standard visa but also preferred visa and he/she employs various factors in order to determine which option will best suit the applicant.
Guidelines for Issuing Single or Multiple-Entry Visas
Concerning the change in policy, it is stated that deciding whether one or multiple-entry visa should be granted, an officer should consider the applicant’s profile.
Here are the factors immigration officers will consider in this decision-making process:
1. Purpose of Visit
One-Time Event: If for instance an applicant is visiting the host country for a one time event such as a conference, training, or tourism purposes, a single-entry visa may suffice.
Frequent Visits: For those candidates, who anticipate frequent visits to Canada, for example, to meet close relatives, a multiple-entry visa should be chosen.
Special Circumstances: In the case of compassionate visit examples like attending a sick or ailing family member, it may be either of the visa type depending on the frequency of visits and necessity of the applicants.
2. Financial Stability
Applicant’s Finances: Persons with regular and continuous sources of income may be issued the multiple entry visa since they are more capable of making multiple trips into Canada.
Support from Host: If more detail as to their funding is needed, information regarding the applicant’s Canadian host who will be bearing the expenses may also be considered as well as proof of the relationship between the host and the institution as well as the host’s ability to finance their expenses.
Employer Sponsorship: Regarding business trips that are paid by Employer, the officers may require some forms, for instance, a letter from the Employer to prove financial support.
3. Medical Considerations
Health Conditions: If an applicant has a medical condition that may decline in the future, some officers may decide that the visa should have a shorter validity, or just single-entry.
Medical Visits: As for those who arrived in Canada for treatment, insurance or some kind of an insurance guarantee may be requested to prove that the applicant is capable of covering possible medical expenses in Canada.
4. Additional Factors
Ties to Home Country: Employment relationships together with the close familial ties are found to have an impact on a visa issuing officer and hence a multiple entry visa.
Travel History: Any applicant who had the experience of travelling outside his home country or the one who has strictly followed the terms and condition of Canadian visa can be issued multiple entry visa.
Previous Refusals: This is because an officer can deny Canada or other countries’ visa history, and a single-entry visa can be given in such a situation.
Determining the Visa Validity Period
Even though a multiple entry visa may be eligible for validity of up to 10 years, this validity period is no longer standard.
It is recommended to take each applicant’s situation into account, and officials may even grant visas of shorter validity. Factors influencing the validity period include:
1. Purpose of Visit Duration
Finally, if applicants are visiting Canada for a limited purpose for example business activities under warranty the visa will have the validity period limited to the expected time of stay.
2. Country of Residence and Stability
The applicant must ensure that the officers look at the present and stable resident or citizenship status. In case the applicant comes from a country with a politically or economically unstable situation, the visa validity should be shorter.
3. Evolving Ties
This may depend on the applicant’s new developments of affiliation with Canada and or the home country. If the ties are expected to deteriorate a bit, the officers may opt to select a shorter validity period to apply.
Implications of the New Visa Guidelines for Applicants
This new guidance means that the applications may be regarded as more flexible on an individual-case basis, which is helpful and at the same time creates opportunities and difficulties at the same time.
Here’s what this means for visitors:
Purpose of Visit will play an important role in visa duration: Because of this power relation, applicants can presume that the officers take decisions favourable to their travel purpose, especially for single visit or compassionate grounds.
Enhanced Scrutiny: The more discretionary the decision, the greater the attention will be given to the decision. Candidates seeking multiple entries may be asked to provide even more documentation on why they need multiple-entry visa support, including, financial standing, family members, and multiple trips.
Potential for Shorter Validity: Applicants who request a multiple-entry visa may get multiple-entry visas issued with a validity of less than 10 years as was formerly the case due to certain factors mentioned above.
Personalised Assessment: Analysing matters of the case, visa officers tend to determine cases individually, so the results depend on the particularity of the applicant and his or her goals.
Tips for a Successful Canada Visitor Visa Application
To improve the likelihood of receiving a favourable decision, applicants should consider the following:
Clear Documentation: To support this purpose you should emphasise your reasons for visit, close relations with the home country, and enough funds for travelling.
Demonstrate Strong Ties: To convince the immigration officers that you plan to go back to your home country, sever links to your home country by showing family ties, source of income and property.
Prepare Financial Proof: No matter the kind of travel being done, the self-funded, host-funded or employer-funded make sure to attach all the necessary financial documentation.
Health Insurance: When visiting for medical reasons ensure health insurance will suffice the intended period of stay and produce it as and when required.
Canada’s revised visitor visa guidelines underscore the importance of individualised assessment.
In particular, officers have a broader control over single or multiple entry visas, as well as over the validity of the visa, but applicants should be ready for stricter standards and documentation..
As you may apply for a Canadian visa to visit family or friends, for business purposes or for medical treatment, it is crucial to know these new revised rules, which gives you increased chances of getting the visa when sufficiently prepared.
This change of approach seems to reiterate Canada’s on-going aspiration to, on one hand receive friendly economic and social benefits from international visitors, and on the other, ensure that such entrants do so only after admissible reasons are deemed sufficient.
What is the processing time for visitor visas?
The processing time of the visitor visa in Canada differs from one country to the other. Below are the latest average processing times for most of the finalised application for some of the nations:
India: 113 days
United States: 26 days
Nigeria: 175 days
Pakistan: 29 days
Philippines: 18 days
How much is the Canada visitor visa duration?
Multiple entry visitor visas of 10 year validity or validity of passport are now not granted by default.
Validity of Canadian visitor visa is written on the visa label fixed on the passport after successful processing by the immigration authority.
Author: lokeshwar Bandral
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