Canada is tightening its visa policies, making it more harder for visitors and temporary residents to enter the country, as government data obtained by Reuters shows an increase in visa rejections and turnaways at the border, even for those with official documents.
The move comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, facing declining poll numbers ahead of an election next year, aims to reduce the number of temporary and potentially permanent immigrants.
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Migrants have been increasingly blamed for Canada’s housing shortages and soaring prices.
As Per Stats in July, Canada refused entry to 5,853 foreign travellers, who were “allowed to leave,” as Canada puts it, and who include students, workers and tourists, the most since at least January 2019, according to border agency data that has not been previously reported.
Border officers turned away 3,727 foreign travellers per month on average through the first seven months of 2024, an increase of 633 people or 20% from a year earlier.
Separately, officers deemed 285 visa-holders inadmissible in July, also the most in any month since at least January 2019, the data showed.
At the same time, Canada’s immigration department is approving fewer visas.
