Surge in Asylum Applications at Canadian Airports Following Federal Relaxation of Visitor Visa Requirements

The number of asylum claims at Canadian domestic airports has jumped more than 50 percent since Ottawa waived specific requirements for thousands of visitor visa applicants at the end of February.

The uptick in numbers has been linked to Ottawa waiving some of the eligibility requirements for visitor visa applications in a bid to clear the immigration application backlog. 

Through the end of 2023, those applying for a visa no longer have to prove they have sufficient funds to stay in the country or show that they will leave Canada when their visas expire. 

“Facilitating the processing of applications currently in the inventory by streamlining eligibility requirements will position Canada for a clean start and a return to pre-pandemic processing times, thereby ensuring our international competitiveness moving forward.”