Canada has implemented more stringent regulations that empower officers to revoke visitor visas, eTAs, study permits, and work permits instantly.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a fresh set of guidelines detailing the specific circumstances under which temporary visas and permits may be annulled. This encompasses visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and even eTAs.
The update, declared on November 4, 2025, presents precise instructions, specifying both discretionary cancellations (where an officer makes a judgment) and automatic cancellations (where the document becomes void of its own accord). For years, officials possessed the authority to revoke documents, but the previous guidelines were somewhat ambiguous.
However, the recent update clarifies that if an individual becomes ineligible, inadmissible, or was erroneously granted approval, IRCC now has robust legal justifications to proceed.Under the new sections 180.1 and 180.2, a visitor visa can be annulled for various reasons, including: administrative mistakes, loss of eligibility, becoming inadmissible after the visa’s issuance, and failure to leave the country when required. The update further details that a visa automatically becomes invalid if the individual acquires permanent residency, loses the passport associated with the visa, or in the event of the individual’s passing. For example, a business visitor who loses their position overseas but subsequently applies for a work permit extension in Canada and is denied may see their original TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) annulled under 180.1(e).
Alternatively, if an officer discovers that an applicant presented fraudulent financial documents, the TRV can be revoked for misrepresentation even before the individual arrives in Canada. New regulations for eTAs Sections 12.07 and 12.08 provide analogous regulations for electronic travel authorizations (eTAs).
An officer has the authority to cancel an eTA if: the traveler becomes criminally inadmissible, their passport is rendered invalid, or in instances where the eTA was issued in error. For instance, a French traveler receiving an eTA but later being convicted of a serious offense may have their eTA cancelled due to criminal inadmissibility. If they renew their passport but neglect to apply for a new eTA, the previous one becomes automatically invalid.
Modifications for study permits and work permits : Study permits are now governed by sections 222.7 and 222.8, while work permits fall under sections 209.01 and 209.02. IRCC can revoke a study or work permit if it was issued in error, or when the individual no longer meets the eligibility criteria.
Automatic cancellation occurs if the individual becomes a permanent resident or in the event of their death. Officers can also cancel a work permit if it was granted due to an oversight, such as failing to verify an LMIA or employer eligibility.