The Canadian government has announced the cancellation of the automatic 10-year multiple-entry visa policy for Nigerians and other foreign citizens.
Previously, this visa allowed holders to freely enter and exit Canada over a 10-year period. However, a recent government update clarified that the 10-year multiple-entry visa is no longer viewed as the “standard document.”
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This move comes in response to the population surge Canada experienced after the COVID-19 pandemic, with authorities seeking to manage the increase in immigration. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated, “Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document.”
The IRCC also highlighted that immigration officers now have the discretion to decide whether to issue single-entry or multiple-entry visas and determine the length of their validity.
Additionally, the IRCC revealed in October that Canada’s immigration goals for permanent residents have been revised. The target for 2025 has been reduced from 500,000 to 395,000, while the 2026 target has been lowered to 380,000. Looking further ahead, Canada plans to admit 365,000 permanent residents in 2027.
