Canada closes doors to foreign workers, students and tourists as visa denial rates soar in 2024

The data reveals that 52% of study permit applications were denied, while 22% of work permit requests were rejected, a slight decrease from 23% in 2023.

Canada is tightening its borders by approving fewer visas, rejecting over 2.3 million foreign workers, students, and tourists in 2024.

This accounts for 50 per cent of all visa applications, a sharp increase from 1.8 million rejections (35 per cent) in the previous year.

According to data obtained by the Toronto Star, Canadian immigration officials rejected 2,359,157 temporary resident applications in 2024, up from 1,846,180 rejections in 2023.

The data reveals that 52 per cent of study permit applications were denied, while 22 per cent of work permit requests were rejected, a slight decrease from 23 per cent in 2023.

Additionally, Ottawa has reduced its permanent residency targets for the next three years: 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.

The rise in visa rejections comes amid growing public pressure on the Canadian government to limit temporary immigration. Public dissatisfaction has risen due to increasing living costs and housing shortages, with some blaming migrants for contributing to the crisis.

While obtaining a visa has become more difficult, many residents are opting to remain in Canada legally through visitor records, which allow them to stay without working or studying. Applications for visitor records nearly doubled, from 196,965 in 2019 to 389,254 in 2024. However, the refusal rate for these applications remains low at around 5 per cent.

Meanwhile, international students appear to be avoiding Canada. New data shows a sharp decline in study visa applications, with applications dropping by 46 per cent in 2024, from 868,000 in 2023 to 469,000 this year. This decline mirrors a broader global trend, with countries like Australia, the UK, and the US also experiencing a slump in student enrollments.