Canada is set to expedite the processing of specific visitor visas, as announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in its strategic immigration report titled “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future.”
The department of immigration expressed its commitment to prioritize visa processing for individuals from around the world attending major conferences and events in Canada that are registered with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This initiative is part of a comprehensive action plan presented by the federal government, led by IRCC, following consultations with diverse Canadian stakeholders. The move aligns with Canada's efforts to adapt its national immigration system to meet evolving economic and demographic needs.
Canada has implemented various measures to assist visitor visa applicants from around the world. In a proactive approach to enhance services, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has taken steps to improve the experience for individuals applying for visitor visas.
As part of these efforts, IRCC expanded its "partial visa exempt countries" list in June of the current year, adding 13 additional countries and bringing the total number to 67. This development allows travellers from these countries to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a traditional visitor visa. The advantage of opting for an eTA lies in its faster approval process, often taking just minutes, according to IRCC.
The focus on improving visitor visa services aligns with the broader context of Canada's immigration goals. While much attention is typically given to permanent residence and the entry of long-term newcomers, IRCC emphasizes that temporary residents, including visitor visa applicants, are a crucial consideration in the immigration system. This approach is underscored by the notable increase in the processing of visitor visas across Canada, with IRCC processing over 260,000 visitor visa application in November 2022 alone, surpassing the monthly average of 180,000 applications in 2019. The commitment to prioritizing visitor visas aims to benefit eligible newcomers seeking to visit Canada, aligning with the country's evolving immigration landscape.
While the public discourse on immigration often revolves around permanent residence and the entry of long-term newcomers into Canada, IRCC emphasizes that temporary residents, including those applying for visitor visas, are a significant focus for the immigration department. Towards the end of 2022, IRCC underscored the substantial increase in the processing of visitor visas nationwide, acknowledging the need to "reduce backlogs and process visitor visas more quickly" due to a heightened global interest in visiting Canada. The month-by-month data reveals a notable surge, with IRCC processing over 260,000 visitor visas in November 2022 alone, surpassing the monthly average of about 180,000 applications in 2019. In response to these trends, Canada's decision to prioritize visitor visas through a new strategy is poised to benefit numerous eligible newcomers seeking to visit Canada in the future.
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