Canada Tightens Immigration Rules, Impacts Temporary Residents

Canada brings new immigration rules

Canada’s government has unveiled a sweeping set of new regulations aimed at tightening control over temporary residents, including international students, workers, and visitors. The new measures—set to take effect on February 12, 2025—empower immigration officials to cancel key documents such as electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work and study permits, and temporary resident visas (TRVs) if there are reasonable grounds to believe an individual will not depart Canada by the end of their authorized stay.

New Rules and Their Implications

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the new regulations will be applied in specific cases. Some of them are ineligibility, overstaying, document issues, or administrative errors. For instance, if an individual is found to have provided false information, lost their passport, or is deemed to have overstayed, an immigration officer can cancel their temporary status. The move is expected to result in approximately 7,000 additional cancellations of temporary resident permits, a step that comes amid efforts to reduce the number of international students and workers in Canada.

The decision follows alarming statistics: a report indicated that around 50,000 international students, mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Iran, and other countries, failed to enroll in the institutions they were approved to attend. These numbers have prompted the government to reassess its temporary residence framework to better protect the integrity of its immigration system.

Consequences for Affected Foreign Nationals

If foreign nationals violate these rules, they may face severe consequences such as forced departure from Canada, denial of boarding at airports, or refusal of entry at Canadian ports. In addition to personal disruption, affected individuals could incur significant financial losses if they have already purchased travel tickets or invested in relocation arrangements.

Shifting Attitudes on Immigration

Canada’s tightening of temporary resident rules reflects a broader international trend toward stricter immigration controls.

Across the United States, recent policy shifts highlight a growing focus on border security. President Trump came to power with a promise to carry out the biggest deportations in US history. This has led to executive actions granting immigration officials the power to cancel travel authorisations and work permits when compliance doubts arise. These actions, designed to stem the tide of illegal immigration, echo similar regulatory tightening seen in Canada.

The debate on immigration has intensified in the United Kingdom. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has recently proposed a series of stringent reforms aimed at curbing permanent settlement. Her proposals include doubling the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain, from five to ten years. She also proposes extending the wait before applying for British citizenship from one year to five years, effectively creating a 15-year pathway to settlement. In addition, her plan would bar migrants who have claimed benefits or relied on social housing from obtaining permanent residency.

Reasons for Cancellation

Canada anticipates approximately 7,000 additional cancellations of temporary resident visas, work permits, and study permits due to these changes. This will likely affect international students, both current and prospective. This is considering that Canada aims to issue 437,000 study permits in 2025. As such, the IRCC, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, outlines several grounds for cancelling temporary visas:

Ineligibility: Individuals with criminal histories or those who provide false information may have their visas revoked.
Overstay: If officials believe an individual will not leave Canada by their authorised departure date, their visa can be cancelled.
Document Issues: Lost, stolen, or damaged documents can lead to visa cancellation.
Errors and Status Change: Visas issued due to administrative errors can be revoked. Visas are also cancelled upon the death of the holder or if they become a permanent resident.

Who is Affected?

The new rules primarily impact students applying for study permits. As such, cancellations will be possible due to administrative errors or the student’s death. Work permit holders are also affected, with permits subject to invalidation upon expiry, cancellation, administrative error, or death. Visitors with incomplete documents, those who die, or those whose visas were issued due to administrative error may also be impacted.