Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to enhance the ability to cancel temporary resident documents, reinforcing the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
Key Changes
Under the new regulations, immigration and border services officers now have explicit authority to cancel electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs) on a case-by-case basis. This applies in situations where:
- A person’s status or circumstances change, making them inadmissible or ineligible (e.g., providing false information, having a criminal record, or being deceased).
- An officer is not convinced that the individual will leave Canada by the end of their authorized stay.
- The document is lost, stolen, destroyed, or abandoned.
Additionally, officers can now cancel TRVs, eTAs, work permits, and study permits when:
- The individual becomes a permanent resident.
- The individual is deceased.
- The document was issued due to an administrative error.
Effective Date and Impact
These regulatory amendments, published in the Canada Gazette II, took effect on January 31, 2025. They are designed to strengthen border security, enhance the integrity of Canada’s temporary residence programs, and prevent the misuse of immigration documents.
The “Canadian Immigration Department” remains committed to improving processes and investing in tools to protect Canada’s borders and maintain a fair and secure immigration system.
According to the latest immigration-level plan, these changes are a part of the immense immigration-mode shift to decrease temporary residents in Canada, up to 20% less in 2025. More visit visa refusals cuts on study residence permits, restrictions on dependants, and no LMIA for TFWP in big cities are some of the major changes we have experienced in previous months.
Why do these changes matter? These updates indeed are meant to enhance the integrity of Canada’s temporary residence programs and strengthen security at the border and within Canada.
IRCC says it will continue improving processes and investing in tools to secure Canada’s borders and protect the immigration system.