According to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada rejected approximately 2.36 million temporary resident visa applications in 2024! This set of data clearly shows that Canada is drastically tightening its immigration policies to address housing shortages, strained medical resources, and other livelihood crises.
After the pandemic, Canada's population surged, and the number of temporary residents skyrocketed, putting unprecedented pressure on public resources. As a result, the federal government has introduced a series of restrictive policies to strictly control the number of temporary visas, with the aim of "regulating population growth and ensuring the quality of life for local residents."
Which visas were affected the most?
- Visitor Visas
As many as 1.95 million visitor visa applications were rejected in 2024, far higher than the rejection rate in 2023 (which was around 40%).
- Study Permits
Last year, approximately 290,317 international student study permits were rejected, setting a new record. The new study permit policy not only sets an upper limit on quotas but also requires stronger proof of financial capability.
- Work Permits
About 115,549 work permit applications were rejected, despite some industries in Canada still heavily relying on foreign labor.
Why is this being done?
- To prevent overstays: Many visitors overstayed their visas, so the government has strengthened reviews and rejected applications with unclear intentions.
- To regulate the study permit market: Data shows that nearly 50,000 students did not actually enroll. IRCC therefore set an upper limit on study permits and introduced strict review mechanisms such as financial proof and school verification.
- To balance the labor market: The government hopes to introduce the necessary technical workers while avoiding labor market imbalances.
What impact will this have on the Canadian economy?
The impact of these policies is a double-edged sword:
- Positive aspects: Reduced immigration eases pressure on housing and healthcare, which may help shorten waiting times for medical care and reduce rental costs.
- Negative aspects: Labor shortages may worsen, particularly in highly immigrant-reliant industries such as healthcare, construction, and services, potentially leading to recruitment difficulties.
How is the processing progress in 2025?
IRCC is currently processing over 2 million various applications, including:
- 947,200 temporary residence applications are still pending; of which,
- 532,700 are still within normal processing times,
- 414,500 are backlogged, exceeding the processing deadlines.
- In the first two months of 2025, IRCC processed:
- 112,572 study permit and extension applications,
- 260,431 work permit and extension applications.
According to official forecasts, by the end of April 2025, up to 38% of temporary visa applications will remain backlogged.
What lies ahead?
Currently, entering Canada remains challenging. The application process is stricter, and errors are harder to overlook. It can be anticipated that it will become increasingly difficult to come to Canada for study, visit relatives, or work in the future. By 2026, Canada plans to further reduce the number of temporary residents. The path to immigration still exists, but it is fraught with challenges.
Immigration experts suggest that regardless of whether you are applying for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit, please carefully fill out your application form and prepare adequately.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493710979289645578/
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