• Made $354m Revenue From Denied Applications
Canada has set a new benchmark in its immigration policy as it rejected 2.36 million temporary resident applications in 2024 alone.
This marks the highest refusal rate in the recent history of Canada. The figure, representing 50% of all temporary resident submissions, is a sharp increase from the 35% rejection rate recorded in 2023.
The surge in denials, encompassing visitor visas, study permits, and work permits.
Non-refundable application fees, averaging $150 per applicant, generated an estimated $354 million from refused applications alone in 2024.
According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the 2.36 million rejections break down into three key categories:
- Visitor Visas: Approximately 1.95 million applications were denied, a rejection rate of 54%, up from 40% in 2023. This category bore the brunt of the tightened regulations, with officials citing concerns over visa overstays and insufficient proof of intent to leave Canada.
- Study Permits: Around 290,317 international student applications were turned away, reflecting a 52% rejection rate compared to 38% the previous year. This spike follows the introduction of a cap on study permits and stricter financial and institutional requirements.
- Work Permits: Some 115,549 applications were rejected, equating to a 22% refusal rate, a slight decrease from 23% in 2023. Despite the dip, new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) rules have made it harder for employers to secure foreign workers in certain sectors.
The increase in refusals comes after the Canadian government announced its objective to reduce the temporary resident population from 6.5% of Canada’s total population in 2023 to 5% by 2026.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has repeatedly emphasized the need for “sustainable levels” of newcomers, pointing to the strain on housing, healthcare, and public services exacerbated by rapid population growth post-COVID-19.
In 2023, temporary residents accounted for 60% of Canada’s population increase, pushing the total population to 41 million by April 2024.
The government’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, announced in October 2024, introduced specific targets for temporary residents, alongside reduced permanent resident quotas.
The government introduced measures such as a cap of 360,000 new study permits in 2024, tightened eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), and stricter LMIA requirements for low-wage foreign workers.
The IRCC has also ramped up efforts to combat fraud, another factor said to be contributing to the high rejection rates.
According to the report, instances of misrepresentation in applications surged from 26,956 in 2019 to 110,808 in 2024, driven by both increased scrutiny and a higher volume of submissions.
