Canada Ends 10-Year Validity for Tourist Visas: Major Visa Policy Overhaul

Canada has announced significant changes to its visa policy, ending the 10-year validity for tourist visas. This update aims to simplify the entry process and align regulations with current international travel trends.

Under the new regulations, immigration officials will have the discretion to decide whether a visa should be issued as single-entry or multiple-entry, and determine its duration. This marks a departure from the previous policy, which typically issued multiple-entry visas with a maximum validity of up to 10 years, or until the expiration of the travel document or biometric data.

Previously, travelers with multiple-entry visas could visit Canada as often as they desired within the visa's validity period. However, with the new guidelines, visas will no longer automatically be issued with the maximum validity. Instead, immigration officials now have greater autonomy to assess each application and determine the appropriate visa type and duration.

According to the Canadian immigration department, these changes provide officials with more flexibility in managing visa approvals and better addressing individual circumstances.