Canada is granting fewer visas and denying entry to more visitors and temporary residents, according to Reuters, which cites government data. The primary reason for this tightening is the housing shortage and high costs, attributed in part to the influx of migrants.

While Canadians have historically taken pride in welcoming newcomers, recent polls show a growing number now feel that Canada is admitting too many immigrants.

According to observers, this sentiment seems to be affecting the decisions made by border and immigration officers.

In July, Canada denied entry to 5,853 foreign travelers, including students, workers, and tourists, the highest number since at least January 2019, according to previously unreported border agency data. Between January and July 2024, border officers turned away an average of 3,727 foreign travelers per month, a 20% increase of 633 people compared to the previous year.

Additionally, in July, officers found 285 visa holders inadmissible, the highest number recorded since at least January 2019, according to the data.

A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that shifts in inadmissibility findings may be due to migration patterns or policy changes and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The CBSA did not point to any specific policy changes, emphasizing that “The CBSA’s role, policy, and practice have always been to assess the admissibility of individuals entering Canada. This has not changed.”

In June, the ratio of rejected visitor visa applications to approved ones hit its highest level since the peak of the pandemic. Immigration department data reveals that in January, February, May, and June 2024, the number of rejected applications exceeded the number of approvals.

The number of study and work permits approved in Canada has decreased from the highs seen in 2022 and 2023.

In August, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated, “Canadians want a system that is not out of control.”

According to Miller’s spokesperson, the immigration department is committed to enforcing immigration policies and procedures fairly and without discrimination. The spokesperson attributed the reduction in approved study permits to a cap announced in January, although the decline appears to have begun the previous year.

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