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.
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.
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.
