In 2024, Canada rejected a record number temporary resident visas, including those for tourists, foreign workers and students, resulting in its highest-ever rejection rate.
Data obtained by the Toronto Star, showed that more than 2,3 million (50%) visas were rejected in 2024 compared with 1,8 million (35%) in 2023. Around 1,95 million (54%) visitor visas were rejected, up from 40% in 2023.
In September 2024, Travel News reported that Canada was approving fewer tourist visas following government measures to reduce temporary residents who were blamed for housing shortages and high property prices.
The VFR red flag
Additionally, travel agents in South Africa have noticed that clients applying to visit family in Canada are facing more visa refusals.
“I can’t speak for the Canadian government, but it seems that people visiting family are encountering hurdles when it comes to getting visas for Canada,” said Bridget Esterhuizen from 360 Degrees Travel. Her client was denied a visa after the issuing authorities did not believe her client provided sufficient evidence that they were going to return to South Africa.
Anil Varkey from XL Plettenberg Bay Travel, said a grandmother, her son and granddaughter planned to visit the grandmother’s sister in Canada, but were denied visas for the same reason, despite holding valid US visas.
Varkey added that while he expected travellers aged 18 to 30 to face stricter scrutiny due to concerns about overstaying, in this instance they were travelling with their grandmother who had travelled to Canada multiple times, always returning to SA.
Those applying to visit for tourism are facing similar rejection responses. Deanne Hunter, an ITC with TAG Travel, said her client’s visa had been rejected even though the client had his own business, house and child staying in South Africa. The client received a notice stating: “The application has been refused because you have not established you will leave Canada based on the following factors: the purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details he provided in the application.”
Long visa wait-times continue
In addition to battling visa refusals, travel agents are warning their clients that visa processing times continue to face lengthy delays. As of April 1, the processing time for a visitor visa (from outside Canada) is 435 days, according to the IRCC website.
“We’re being open and upfront with our clients, saying the processing time could take a year. Even then there is no guarantee the visa will be processed. We don’t even have anyone we can contact from our side to speed up the process,” said Esterhuizen
Varkey is advising clients to try get their visa first and then make their travel plans, while Hunter is warning them to have their other visas in order before they even attempt the Canadian one.
