Canada has experienced a significant rise in the number of foreign travellers being denied entry at its borders, according to recent data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This increase comes as the federal government faces mounting criticism over rising immigration levels, which are contributing to pressures on the housing market.
The CBSA’s data, shared with CTV News, reveals that nearly 4,000 foreign travellers per month were turned away during the first seven months of 2024. This figure includes non-refugee visa holders and individuals categorized as “allowed to leave.” The monthly average represents a more than 20% increase from the 3,271 travellers turned away during the same period in 2023.
July 2024 set a five-year record, with 285 non-refugee visa holders denied entry and 5,853 travellers classified as “allowed to leave.” The “allowed to leave” designation permits travellers to withdraw their application and voluntarily exit Canada, according to the CBSA.
The number of foreigners turned away had significantly dropped beginning in 2020, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted travel to Canada. In comparison, the CBSA turned away an average of 3,758 foreign travellers per month in the first seven months of 2019.
“The CBSA’s role, policy, and practice have consistently been to assess the admissibility of persons coming to Canada. This has not changed,” said CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer in an emailed statement. “The admissibility of travellers is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the information available at the time of entry.”
This increase in rejections occurs amid ongoing debates in Parliament about immigration numbers and potential measures to control them. Critics argue that the high influx of newcomers is exacerbating the already strained housing market.
The federal government has been under scrutiny since January, following a report by The Canadian Press. The report, based on internal documents obtained through an access to information request, revealed that public servants warned the government two years ago that ambitious immigration targets could threaten housing affordability.
In response, the government has announced several measures, including ending the pandemic-era policy that allowed visitors to apply for work visas from within Canada and tightening rules to reduce the low-wage stream of temporary foreign workers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that more changes to immigration policy are expected in the fall. At a recent Liberal cabinet retreat in Halifax, Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted that the government is exploring “significant” options to reassess permanent resident levels in Canada, rather than making only “cosmetic” changes.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that over 1.1 million temporary visas were approved in the first seven months of 2024, compared to nearly 1.3 million during the same period in 2023.
CBSA spokesperson Reimer pointed out that several factors influence whether a non-refugee visa holder is granted entry into Canada. These factors include increased travel volumes, changes in entry requirements—such as the February decision to require Mexican nationals to obtain visas to curb asylum claims—and socio-economic factors like employment rates that affect migration patterns.
Security concerns, serious criminality, financial reasons, health issues, and non-compliance are among nearly a dozen reasons why non-refugee visa holders might be deemed inadmissible to Canada, Reimer added.
“Admissibility of travellers is decided on a case-by-case basis and based on the information available at the time of entry,” he emphasized. “Having obtained a temporary resident visa, electronic travel authorization, or previous authorization to enter Canada does not guarantee entry.”