Program directory · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Visitors
- Program code
- BGD01 (CI)
- Core responsibility
- Visitors, International Students and Temporary Workers
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
IRCC facilitates the entry of visitors, whether as a tourist, a visiting friend or family member, or a business traveller. Depending on the assessment of specific political and other conditions in their country of origin, visitors (except U.S. passport holders) are required to apply for and, if eligible, receive either a visa or an electronic travel authorization from IRCC before they enter Canada. IRCC may also impose terms and conditions on a visitor’s stay, such as restricting the visitor from engaging in unauthorized work or study and identifying a prescribed period of stay.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $1.25B |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Indicators added: Number of eTAs issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers; Number of temporary resident visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2019-20 | Indicators dropped: Number of eTAs issued to visitors; Number of temporary resident visas issued to visitors | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators dropped: Number of Temporary Resident Permits issued to visitors | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Spending $92.5M, against $142M in 2019-20 (−35%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2021-22 | Spending $123M, against $92.5M in 2020-21 (+33%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Employees (FTEs) 898, against 721 in 2021-22 (+25%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Spending $233M, against $123M in 2021-22 (+89%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Employees (FTEs) 1,323, against 898 in 2022-23 (+47%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Spending $346M, against $233M in 2022-23 (+49%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Spending $187M, against $346M in 2023-24 (−46%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned employees (FTEs) 1,487, against 1,108 in 2024-25 (+34%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $244M, against $187M in 2024-25 (+30%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2026-27 | Planned employees (FTEs) 518, against 1,487 in 2025-26 (−65%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: Percentage of Electronic travel Authorization applications processed within 5 minutes (automated decisions) and 72 hours (send correspondence with next steps if no automated decision within 5 minutes); Percentage of temporary resident visitor visa applications processed within 14 calendars days; Percentage of visitor record applications processed within 120 calendars days | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: Number of eTAs issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers; Number of temporary resident visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Planned spending $137M, against $244M in 2025-26 (−44%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Number of eTAs issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2019 | 4,077,471 In 2019, there were a total of 4,077,471 eTAs issued to visitors, a slight decrease of 1.2% from 2018 due to the eTA program stabilizing. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2020 | 648,789 In 2020, the total of number of electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers was 648,789, a significant decrease of approximately 84% from 2019. The majority of these eTAs were issued to visitors which is consistent with historical trends. While 2020 volumes did not meet the expected outcome, this is attributed to the profound impact of… | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2021 | 813,306 In 2021, the total number of eTAs issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers was 813,306. While 2021 volumes were significantly lower in comparison to annual data between 2016 and 2019, the lower total reflects the continued implications of COVID-19 on travel as well as operational pressures on the Department. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2022 | 2,866,545 In 2022, the total number of eTAs issued to visitors, international students, and temporary workers increased to 2,866,545. This represents a 253% increase from eTAs issued in 2021. While 2022 volumes are below the expected target and lower than pre-pandemic years, the significant increase from 2021 volumes indicates that the demand for eTAs is recovering from the impacts of the pandemic as trave… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2023 | 3,713,015 In 2023, the number of Eletronic Travel Authorizations issued to visitors, international students and workers increased by 846,470 from 2022’s number, but was still 386,985 below the target. Visitors made up 94% of the 2023 volumes, international students made up 1.2%, and workers made up 4.8%. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 4,100,000 | 2024 | 3,494,730 The target was not met. The number of eTAs issued is based on the existing demand from potential visitors, students and workers which, to a large extent, is beyond the scope of the department's influence. International visitor volumes to Canada have continued to decline, and as of 2024, have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. One of the contributing factors to this phenomenon may be the higher… | Not met |
Number of temporary resident visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | ≥ 1,500,000 | 2019 | 1,696,871 In total, almost 1.7 million temporary resident visas were issued to visitors in 2019, meeting the Department's expected outcome of 1.5 million or more, which represents a 12% decrease in temporary resident visa volumes compared to the previous year. | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 1,800,000 | 2020 | 257,330 Travel restrictions imposed by Canada in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a ban on all non-essential travel. In 2020, the total number of visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers decreased to 257,330, representing a significant shift in historic trends (approximately 85% decrease from 2019). Over one third of entry documents issued are accounte… | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 1,800,000 | 2021 | 654,027 In 2021, the total number of visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers increased to 654,027. While this is considerably lower than annual data between 2014 and 2019, the lower total reflects the continued implications of COVID-19 on travel as well as operational pressures on the Department. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 1,800,000 | 2022 | 1,923,148 In 2022, the total number of visas issued to visitors, international students and temporary workers was 1,923,148. This was almost triple the number of visas issued compared to the year prior. The 2022 volumes met the expected target and are higher than pre-pandemic years. The significant increase from 2021 indicates that IRCC is recovering from the impacts of the pandemic as travel restrictions… | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 1,800,000 | 2023 | 2,932,338 The number of Temporary Resident Visas issued to visitors, international students and workers in 2023 increased by over 1 million, far exceeding the target. Visitors made up 59.2% of the 2023 volumes, international students made up 17.8%, and workers made up 23%. | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 2,500,000 | 2024 | 2,103,760 The target was not met due to tighter visa screening and increase in visitor visa refusals for misrepresentation, which require more time to complete, in the context of evolving migration trends and threats. In addition, the number of temporary resident visas issued is based on the existing demand from potential visitors, students and workers which, to a large extent, is beyond the scope of the D… | Not met |
Number of Temporary Resident Permits issued to visitors
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 10,000 | 2018 | 7,132 The number of Temporary Resident Permits issued to visitors declined from approximately 10,600 in 2016 to approximately 7,200 in 2018. While this total does not reflect the expected outcome for 2018, it is plausible that historical fluctuations are a result of the discretionary nature of issuing Temporary Resident Permits and the use of other mechanisms, under immigration legislation, to address… | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 10,000 | 2019 | 6,080 The number of Temporary Resident Permits issued to visitors declined from 7,163 in 2018 to 6,080 in 2019. While this total does not reflect the expected outcome for 2019, it is plausible that historical fluctuations are a result of the discretionary nature of issuing Temporary Resident Permits and the use of other mechanisms, under immigration legislation, to address cases of inadmissibility. | Not met |
Number of eTAs issued to visitors
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 4,500,000 | 2018 | 4,125,909 In 2018, there were a total of 4,125,909 eTAs issued to visitors, a slight increase of 0.4% from 2017. While this represents a lower percentage increase than in previous years, it is plausible that the number of eTA applications stabilized in 2018 due to the eTA program entering into its second year of mandatory enforcement. Although the total number of eTAs issued in 2018 did not meet the target… | Not met |
Number of temporary resident visas issued to visitors
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 1,500,000 | 2018 | 1,898,324 In total, almost 1.9 million temporary resident visas (TRV) were issued to visitors in 2018, meeting the Department's expected operational outcome of 1.5 million or more. This represents a 17% increase in TRV volumes compared to the previous year. | Met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Percentage of Electronic travel Authorization applications processed within 5 minutes (automated decisions) and 72 hours (send correspondence with next steps if no automated decision within 5 minutes)
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 80% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of temporary resident visitor visa applications processed within 14 calendars days
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 80% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of visitor record applications processed within 120 calendars days
Expected result: Travel, transit, and temporary resident status of legitimate visitors are facilitated
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 80% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $125M | $126M |
| 2019-20 | $139M | $142M |
| 2020-21 | $149M | $92.5M |
| 2021-22 | $143M | $123M |
| 2022-23 | $142M | $233M |
| 2023-24 | $179M | $346M |
| 2024-25 | $130M | $187M |
| 2025-26 | $244M | — |
| 2026-27 | $137M | — |
| 2027-28 | $145M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $161M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 676 | 799 |
| 2019-20 | 654 | 770 |
| 2020-21 | 719 | 748 |
| 2021-22 | 679 | 721 |
| 2022-23 | 749 | 898 |
| 2023-24 | 1,238 | 1,323 |
| 2024-25 | 1,121 | 1,108 |
| 2025-26 | 1,487 | — |
| 2026-27 | 518 | — |
| 2027-28 | 419* | — |
| 2028-29 | 409* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $124,877,465 | $138,559,642 | $141,751,690 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $139,277,224 | $141,070,919 | $140,990,542 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $149,307,727 | $130,658,724 | $130,832,514 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $143,030,979 | $138,560,343 | $134,257,749 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $142,258,675 | $143,027,485 | $138,117,219 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $179,412,026 | $196,199,569 | $181,332,322 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $130,338,071 | $120,527,605 | $131,957,046 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $243,927,277 | $215,525,559 | $194,575,879 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $136,796,393 | $144,630,177 | $161,108,700 | ||||||||
| Actual | $125,817,866 | $142,281,381 | $92,522,938 | $123,329,958 | $232,723,890 | $346,088,582 | $187,426,765 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
