CANADA TO ACCELERATE CERTAIN TOURIST VISAS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Canada will soon begin expediting the processing of certain tourist visas through its immigration system. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a strategic immigration report titled ‘Canada’s Immigration System for the Future.’

The Ministry of Immigration stated, ‘We… commit to prioritizing visa processing for individuals from around the world attending major conferences and events in Canada registered with the IRCC.’

The action plan, led by IRCC in coordination with various stakeholders in Canada, comes as Canada aims to better adjust its national immigration system to meet the changing economic and demographic needs of the country.

Split into different groups, one of IRCC’s stated goals through this new immigration strategy is to continue efforts to reduce waiting times and improve service standards for newcomers to Canada.

As part of this government action plan, aimed at creating a ‘more welcoming experience for newcomers,’ Canada has expressed its intention to expedite the processing of certain tourist visas, particularly focusing on applications of newcomers seeking entry into the country ‘for tourism, conferences, and major events.’

Has Canada taken any other steps to support tourist visa applicants?

This isn’t Canada’s first step towards improving services for tourist visa applicants from around the world.

In June of this year, IRCC added 13 more countries to the ‘partially exempt countries’ list, increasing the total number of countries on that list to 67. This means that since June 6, 2023, ‘travelers from 67 countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead of a [traveler] visa.’