Canadian visas for 2.9 million temporary residents expire in 2025 and 2026

Nearly three million people living in Canada on temporary resident, worker, or visitor extension permits have visas that expired last year, or will expire this year, not including student visas.

New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada highlights the far-reaching impact of changes to Canada’s immigration rules. By June, more than 800,000 permits will expire this year alone.

Edmonton immigration lawyer Eric Shawar says he’s never seen so many people desperate for help.

“I have tissue paper in my office because you don’t know the tears, genuine tears that people will cry and tell the harshest stories. Okay? This is real life. These people are going to pay a heavy price,” Shawar said.

Only a fraction of the 2.9 million ​living in Canada will ultimately have their permanent residency applications approved. Canada’s permanent residency admission target for 2025 was 395,000. 

The Canadian government expects everyone with an expired permit to exit the country. Shawar doesn’t think that will happen.

“It’s not because they’re thumbing their nose at the system; they simply have no choice,“ explained Shawar, who has nearly two decades of experience in immigration law,” he said.

Many who will see their permits expire came to Canada legally, hoping to follow a legal pathway to citizenship.

But with that opportunity no longer available, he thinks many will take the risk of staying because they would be worse off elsewhere.

“You’re going to have people living in the shadows. There is no doubt about that — always scared,” he said. “You’re not going to have any access to healthcare. So what they’re going to be doing is living on the fringes of society.

“So we may be facing a situation like we have in the United States, where we have ICE officers grabbing people in the U.S., we’ll have (Canadian Border Services Agency) officers grabbing people here. Whether or not that’s a good look for Canada is something we have to look at as a nation and think about.”

Canada Border Services Agency data shows there were more than 30,000 active removal warrants as of December, and more than 22,000 people were removed from Canada within the last year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spokesperson Remi Lariviere said in a statement that Canada’s immigration plan is to keep permanent resident admissions below one per cent of the population starting in 2027.

“It is important to note that Canada is regaining control of its immigration system in order to restore balance and sustainability,” Lariviere stated. “Our approach puts immigration on a responsible path that allows Canada to respond to the needs of communities and fulfill its promise to offer opportunities to those who consider this country their home.”

Canada’s immigration plan aims to keep permanent residency admissions below one per cent of the population, and to reduce the total number of temporary residents to less than five per cent by 2027. It aims to lower the total number of temporary residents to less than five per cent of the population by the end of 2027.

-With files from the Canadian Press