The Canadian government has revised its visa policy and will no longer issue tourist visas with a validity of up to ten years. Also, the new guidelines will give immigration officers the discretion to decide whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. They will only determine the appropriate validity period.

Before this, the multiple-entry visa allowed the holder to enter Canada from any country. Also, it had a maximum validity of up to 10 years, or until the expiry of the travel document or biometrics.

In a recent update, the Canadian immigration department stated that the guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. The move from Canada comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is facing low approval ratings and anger over a housing shortage and a high cost of living.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgment in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” the Canadian immigration department stated in a recent update.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller, while speaking to media said that the flow of migration became “aggressive.” He further reported how he is conscious of the role he and the government can play in the perception, reflected in polls, that Canada has too many immigrants.