Canada is a dream destination for many travelers because of its stunning scenery, bustling cities, and welcoming people. The landscape might be enchanting, but the visa procedure is pretty complex. Depending on your nationality, the visa procedure can be long and tedious.
The refusal rate is also significantly higher and on further rise. According to the statistics, the refusal rate for Canada visas is comparatively higher than other developed countries, like the US, and the UK. On average, 3,727 foreign travelers’ visas were rejected per month in the first seven months of 2024, which is 20% higher than a year before.
Crazy number! Right?
We know how frustrating a visa rejection can be. After weeks, or sometimes even months of preparing the documents and submitting them to the immigration authorities, no one wants to get a refusal letter.
What Is A Canada Tourist Visa?
Let’s talk about what a Canadian tourist visa is. They officially call it a temporary resident visa (TRV), and it’s valid for up to 10 years. You can do sightseeing and perform touristic activities in Canada with this visa. You can also visit your friends and family and participate in business meetings or conferences with the same visa.
A Canadian visitor visa is issued to foreign individuals who require prior visa approval. With a regular visitor visa, one can stay in the country for 6 months.
There are 2 types of visitor visas. These are:
- Single-entry visa: This allows visitors to come for a single visit only. However, for years, Canada has issued multiple-entry visas instead of a single entry, irrespective of the purpose. Recently, IRCC updated its policy guideline again, instructing the visa officers to issue a single entry visa if the purpose of the travel only requires a one-time visit for the applicant. If an applicant receives a single entry visa, they can only visit Canada once.
- Multiple entry visa: Multiple entry visa allows anyone to visit Canada as many times as they want within the visa validity. However, they can only stay up to 6 months at a time. The most extended validity is up to 10 years or until your passport validity. However, the exact duration is up to the visa officer who approves the visa. For long-term visa issuance, Canada never issues visas beyond the validity of the passport, unlike other countries.
Related Guideline: Reasons for Canadian Study Permit Refusals.
Why Are Canadian Visitor Visas Refused?
According to multiple non-government sources, the rejection rate ranges from 30% to 50%, but it largely depends on the nationality of the applicant. IRCC officially reveals any data regarding the refusal rate.
There are many reasons why Canadian visas are being refused. However, most of the refusals by the visa officers are based on some common grounds. Applicants should be well aware of this before they apply for the visa in order to avoid refusals.
Common Reasons For Canada Tourist Visa Rejection
Canada visit visa refusal reasons are not fixed, and the visa officers have a wide range of discretion. Some of the common Canadian tourist visa refusal reasons are described in detail.
1. Lack Of Financials:
Applicants must show strong financial ability to cover the proposed travel expenses. A visa officer carefully looks at having personal assets in the home country and sufficient income that shows economic ties.
How much is enough to apply for a Canada visit visa?
There is no minimum amount required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, the amount of money you need to show depends on your plans, how long you want to stay in the country, and the activities you want to participate in. In general, it’s recommended to have at least 150 CAD per day for your stay, plus the expenses of a return flight.
But please remember, the more money you can show, the better. It’s recommended that you show six months of bank statements that clearly outline the sources of funds and the length of time the money has been in the bank account.
2. Lack Of Strong Family Ties:
This is a very common reason for a visa being refused. Applicants must show how strongly they are linked to their home country and that they are leaving behind important family members who will warrant a return.
Not having parents in the home country or being unmarried sometimes results in refusal under family ties grounds. Having family members in Canada can also sometimes be a reason for visa refusal.
3. Lack Of Assets In The Home Country:
Lack of financial stability can also result in a refusal. Having assets in your name can also prove economic ties to the visa officer. We have received many refusal letters, and GCMS notes that specifically mention the reason for the refusal, which is not having properties or immovable assets in the home country.
4. Fake Documents:
Documents need to be genuine in order to be accepted by the visa officer. Uploading non-genuine documents has severe consequences as it’s considered a misrepresentation. Regardless of intent, misrepresentation is a serious offense under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Section 40. The person accused of misrepresentation gets a ban in Canada for 5 years.
5. Refusal Due To An Individual’s Current Employment Status:
Having a steady job with a good income or owning a business in your country reduces the risk of overstaying in another country. Being employed may increase the chances of being approved. Having a job in the country of residence is one of the most substantial ties and the best way to show the source of their financial ability. An employed applicant can overstay in Canada, which is a very common cause for visa refusal.
Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens recently collected ATIP notes from the immigration department, where it is clearly mentioned that the IRCC has a policy guideline of checking the applicant’s salary, socioeconomic status, and wealth, which is important in approving the visitor visa.
6. Unclear Purpose Of Visit:
A vague purpose of a visit can give a red flag to the visa officer. If the applicant failed to explain the purpose of travelling to Canada, the chances of being approved would decrease. A tourist visa application with a proper travel plan or a family visit application without proper family documents and proof of relationship has a high likelihood of being refused.
7. Lack Of Travel History:
If you do not have sufficient travel history outside your home country, the visa officer might suspect that you are not a legitimate traveller; instead, you applied for this visa for some other purposes. So, it’s essential to travel to some nearby countries before you apply for a visa to Canada.
A lot of people ask how many countries they should visit before a Canada visa application. However, there are no specific requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on this. Still, we have seen hundreds of refusal letters with information that the application was refused because the applicant has a poor travel history.
How many countries you should visit before applying for a Canada visa always depends on your overall profile. While it’s just 2-3 countries for some applicants, on the other hand, we have seen refusals on this ground for some candidates with 5-6 countries of travel.
8. Illegal Status In The Country Of Residence:
If the applicant does not have legal status in the country of residence, then their visa application will highly likely be refused. The visa officers assume that if you are not following the law of the land in the country you reside, there is a potential risk, considering you might end up not leaving Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
9. Lack Of Sufficient Documentation:
To apply for a Canadian visa, an applicant must submit all the required documents. If any documents are missing or do not contain information that visa officers are looking for, then the visa might get refused. It’s always better to check the IRCC website for a document checklist.
Please note that the IRCC website has international requirements and a checklist for everyone; however, based on your location, your local visa office might have additional document requirements. So always check both the IRCC website requirements and local office requirements for a complete document checklist.
10. History Of Overstay And Lengthy Proposed Stay:
Overstaying a visa in Canada or any other country can have a negative impact on the visa application. As mentioned, the maximum stay is up to 6 months; if the applicant’s proposed stay seems longer, then it can lead to visa refusal.
11. Hiding Previous Information:
Your visa might be refused if you hide any material information, such as your previous refusal to other countries. Canadian authorities share important immigration information with their counterparts in the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Even if you don’t announce your previous refusal or immigration history in your Canada visa application, the Canadian authority will uncover the information. So, hiding important information such as previous refusal means a refusal of your visa application, and in some cases – the visa officer might give you an inadmissible penalty for material representation under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Section 40.
Tips To Avoid Canada Tourist Visa Rejection
It has already been discussed why the visas are being rejected. However, it can be avoided in the following application.
- Misinformation can result in visa rejection, so providing accurate and genuine information is necessary.
- Showcase strong ties to the home country. The applicant needs to convince the visa officers that he will return to his home country after the proposed visit.
- Showing sufficient funds to increase the chances of visa approval. The applicant must have enough money to cover the expenses while visiting Canada. This can include bank statements or other forms of deposits, such as investments and fixed deposits.
- The cover letter should contain a proper travel itinerary. The purpose of the trip should be stated clearly in the cover letter. Visitors must include all the necessary and valid documents to support their claim.
- Candidates should apply early. If they use too close to the date of the intended travel time, they might not have sufficient time to submit all the relevant documents. This will ensure that visitors have enough time for the application process.
- A proper proof of employment needs to be submitted; it will also ensure that the applicant has substantial professional ties with their home country. Business owners need to provide business-related documents in the home country.
- Being transparent and truthful in the visa interview can convince the immigration officer to issue the visa. Applicants should be well prepared to face a physical interview.
Conclusion
To conclude, obtaining a Canadian visitor visa is a great accomplishment. It is necessary to know why the visa might get rejected. So property planning, understanding the requirements, providing correct documents, completing the visa application without mistakes, and showing strong ties to the home country can reduce the chances of being denied a visa.