Temporary public policy to continue port of entry facilitation for certain temporary resident visa holders
Background
In February 2023, the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Processing of Temporary Resident Visa Applications in Inventory was approved with a view to streamlining processing activities and thereby reducing processing times, thus better positioning Canada to maximize the benefit of the movement of tourists, business persons, and family visitors and restoring Canada’s global competitiveness. This public policy has now been revoked under my authority.
The present public policy seeks to ensure that foreign nationals issued visas under the revoked public policy are provided with sufficient time to use their visas and benefit from the previous waivers which applied at ports of entry for their first entry, provided they arrived on or before December 31, 2023.
Therefore, I hereby establish that, pursuant to my authority under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act), there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting of exemptions from the requirements of the Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions (eligibility requirements) set out below.
Conditions (eligibility requirements):
Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the Act and Regulations identified, if the following conditions are met:
- The foreign national
- holds a temporary resident visa issued following facilitation under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Processing of Temporary Resident Visa Applications in Inventory signed February 28, 2023; and
- seeks to enter Canada as a visitor for the first time following the issuance of the temporary resident visa described in (i) on or before December 31, 2023
Provisions of the Act for which an exemption may be granted:
For the foreign national who meets the conditions listed in 1):
- the requirement in Paragraph 20(1)(b) of the Act – for a foreign national to establish that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay (obligation on entry);
- the requirement in subsection 22(2) of the Act – for a foreign national to establish they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay (dual intent); and
- section 39 of the Act – the requirement for a foreign national not to be inadmissible for financial reasons.
Other Admissibility and Selection Criteria
Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all other applicable eligibility and admissibility requirements not exempted under this, or another, public policy.
Effective Date and Expiration
This public policy comes into effect upon signature.
This public policy expires on December 31, 2023, and may be revoked at any time without prior notice.
Marc Miller, M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Dated at Ottawa, this 7 day of December 2023