CHANGES TO TEMPORARY VISA APPLICATIONS TAKE EFFECT

Ottawa, June 12, 2019 – Changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations are now in effect. These changes make the application process smoother for clients. They also reduce the likelihood of errors and incomplete applications by supporting the greater use of technology in the immigration system.

The changes also streamline and clarify processes for international adoptions and permanent resident sponsorship applications. You can find the most up-to-date information on how to apply for various immigration, visa and citizenship programs online.

The changes involve

• ensuring that applicants who are paying fees or applying electronically use only the electronic systems provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• requiring that most temporary residence applications submitted from within Canada be submitted electronically on Canada.ca; exceptions include situations where a disability prevents someone from applying online and systems being unavailable or unreliable
• applications already submitted by paper do not have to be resubmitted online