Exclusive: Canada Tightens Border Policies, Approving Fewer Visas for Foreigners

By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO – Canada is increasingly restricting access for visitors and temporary residents by issuing fewer visas and turning away more individuals at the border, according to data obtained by Reuters.

The rise in rejections coincides with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, which is facing challenges in polling ahead of an anticipated election next year, seeking to reduce the number of temporary residents and possibly permanent immigrants. Concerns have arisen regarding migrants contributing to the housing crisis and soaring prices.

Historically, Canadians have prided themselves on welcoming newcomers, yet surveys indicate a growing sentiment that the country is admitting too many immigrants. Observers suggest this view is influencing border and immigration officers.

In July, Canada denied entry to 5,853 foreign travelers, including students, workers, and tourists—the highest figure since at least January 2019, according to previously unreported data from the border agency. Average monthly rejections reached 3,727 for the first seven months of 2024, marking a 20% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, border officers deemed 285 visa holders inadmissible in July, the most significant monthly total since January 2019. A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency noted that changes in inadmissibility can arise from shifting migration patterns or policy adjustments and are determined on a case-by-case basis, but did not specify any recent policy changes.

At the same time, fewer visas are being approved by Canada’s immigration department. The ratio of refused visitor visa applications to approved ones was higher in June than at any point since the pandemic’s peak. During January, February, May, and June 2024, more applications were denied than approved, according to immigration department data. Approvals for study and work permits have also declined from their peak levels in 2022 and 2023.

“Canadians want a system that is not out of control,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller in August. His spokesperson emphasized the department’s commitment to fair and non-discriminatory immigration policies, attributing the decrease in study permit approvals to a cap introduced in January, although the decline appears to have started last year.

Several lawyers have reported increasing scrutiny faced by visa holders at airports and land crossings. British Columbia attorney Will Tao described cases where clients faced disbelief regarding their travel intentions, leading some to turn back voluntarily without understanding the potential ramifications for their visas or travel authorization.

Tao believes a significant shift in government attitude toward immigration is influencing the skepticism among border officers.

Mohammed Kamil Shaibu, a Ghanaian national, experienced this firsthand while waiting for a connecting flight to Canada for a conference. He was interviewed by a Canadian immigration officer before being informed that his temporary-resident visa was no longer valid for travel, and he was instructed to return home.

“Why accept people if, when they come, you’re not going to admit them?” questioned Gideon Christian, an assistant law professor at the University of Calgary.

Despite the incident, Shaibu remains positive about Canada, describing it as a welcoming country and expressing a desire to visit in the future.