Canada declined more than 2.35 million temporary visa applications

April 24, 2025

SPS Canada

Canada Just Got Stricter with Immigration

Thinking of moving to or visiting Canada?
You’ll want to pay attention, the rules have changed, and getting a visa just became harder.

2.36 Million Visa Applications Rejected in 2024

According to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), Canada denied over 2.3 million temporary resident visa applications last year alone. That includes visitor visas, study permits, and work permits.

Why is Canada Tightening Immigration?

After COVID, Canada saw a big increase in temporary residents — more people arriving for work, study, or travel.

As a result, services like housing, healthcare, and infrastructure began to feel the pressure.

To manage this, the Canadian government introduced stricter immigration rules aimed at slowing things down and protecting local resources.

Which Visas Were Affected the Most?

The toughest impact was on these three types of visas:

• Visitor Visas: Nearly 1.95 million were rejected — a big jump from previous years.
• Study Permits: Around 290,000 were denied, with new rules now in place.
• Work Permits: Over 115,000 applications didn’t make the cut.

What’s Behind These Rejections?

Here are a few key reasons Canada is rejecting more applications:

• Overstays: Some visitors weren’t leaving when their visas expired.
• Student Monitoring: Nearly 50,000 students weren’t actually studying, so Canada introduced a cap on study permits and asked for proof of finances.
• Workforce Balance: While foreign workers are needed, Canada is being more selective to avoid oversaturation in some job sectors.

What Does This Mean for Students and Workers?

Unfortunately, international students are being hit hard.

Now, they must prove they can support themselves financially, or risk rejection.

Because of this, some students are choosing to study in other countries instead.

What About the Economy?

There are both benefits and risks to these new policies:

Positive: Less pressure on hospitals, housing, and public services.
Negative: Canada still has an aging population and worker shortages. Cutting back too much could hurt industries that rely on foreign workers.

What’s Happening in 2025?

Right now, IRCC is processing over 2 million applications — and nearly 40% are backlogged.

In just the first two months of 2025, they’ve already handled:

• 112,000+ study permit applications
• 260,000+ work permit requests

But even with faster processing, delays and strict reviews are expected to continue.

What’s Next for Immigration?

Looking ahead to 2026, Canada plans to further reduce the number of temporary residents. That means the path to getting a visa will likely become even more competitive.

So, whether you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit — make sure your application is strong, complete, and backed with the right documents.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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