Multiple-entry visas to Canada are no longer the standard for visitors to the country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently updated their instructions to immigration officers on the issuance of multiple vs. single-entry visas to Canada, with tighter restrictions on who may be given a multiple-entry visa.
IRCC officers make the final decision on what kind of visa to issue to a visitor.
Who needs a visa?
Visitors from most countries will require a visa to visit Canada. A visa allows a foreign national to cross a port of entry and enter Canada, as a visitor, worker, or student. Visas are typically stamped onto a visitor’s passport. A list of visa-required countries can be found here.
Nationals of some countries do not require visas, but instead must obtain an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to visit Canada.
An eTA also allows for entry to Canada, but is typically easier and quicker to obtain than a visa. A list of visa-exempt countries to Canada can be found here.
Some visitors, such as US citizens and green card holders, require neither a visa nor an eTA to seek entry to Canada.
Note: Nationals of some countries may or may not require a visa to Canada, based on whether they meet certain conditions.
What is the difference between a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa?
When applying for a visa to Canada, applicants may be considered for either a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
A multiple-entry visa allows its holder to enter and leave Canada as often as necessary during its period of validity. These visas can be valid for up to 10 years, or until the expiry of the applicant’s passport, travel document, or biometrics, whichever comes first.
Single-entry visas on the other hand only allow one entry into Canada and are usually only valid for a foreign national’s purpose-of-visit to Canada. If an applicant on a single-entry visa leaves Canada, and wishes to re-enter the country afterward, they will have to obtain another visa.
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