Canada has outlined a multi-layered screening process for foreign visitors, with more than 40 national-level criteria used to determine visa requirements for citizens of different countries.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada disclosed the details in its 2026 Deputy Minister transition briefing, shared on its X handle on Wednesday, as the department expects visitor applications to rise to about 5.8 million.
Under the country’s Visa Policy Framework, the criteria used at the national level include security and public safety risks, passport and document integrity, economic and bilateral considerations, as well as migration patterns.
The framework also considers factors such as trade and tourism benefits, diplomatic relationships, asylum claims and previous cases involving visa violations, including unauthorised work or study.
However, IRCC stressed that the more than 40 criteria are used to establish visa policies for countries and do not constitute a point-based system for assessing individual applicants.
For applicants who require a Temporary Resident Visa, immigration officers instead conduct individual assessments based on the circumstances of each case. These include travel history, employment, family ties and other factors that could demonstrate the applicant’s intention to leave Canada at the end of the authorised stay.
Applicants must also demonstrate that they have adequate funds to finance their visit, although IRCC said there is no mandatory minimum bank balance applicable to all applicants.
The screening process also includes health, criminality and security checks, with cases considered high-risk potentially referred to the Canada Border Services Agency or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for further assessment.
To manage growing application volumes and identify potential risks, IRCC has also introduced broader monitoring and verification measures.
One of these is the Global Risk Framework, launched in late 2025 to monitor international migration trends and identify potential integrity risks before they contribute to processing backlogs.
The department also processes nearly 3.5 million biometric records annually through 166 Visa Application Centres worldwide.
The biometric information is used to verify applicants’ identities against security and previous immigration records.
IRCC said the enhanced screening measures are aimed at addressing potential misuse of the immigration system while continuing to facilitate legitimate travel by genuine visitors who contribute to Canada’s economy.
