TRV, eTA, Study & Work Permits: Canada’s 2025 Rule Changes and Their Impact
TL;DR
- Canada has introduced stricter immigration rules, effective February 1, 2025, giving border officials the power to cancel Temporary Resident Visas (TRV), Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA), study permits, and work permits.
- The changes aim to prevent misuse and ensure only eligible individuals enter the country. Grounds for cancellation include providing false information, failing to meet visa conditions, or changes in personal circumstances.
- If a study or work permit is revoked, affected individuals may appeal through the Immigration Appeal Division. To avoid rejection, applicants must provide accurate information, maintain compliance with visa conditions, and keep their records updated.
- This guide explains the new rules, appeal processes, and how to minimize the risk of permit cancellations for students and workers.
| Travel documents, study, and work permits: Understanding Canada’s amended rules | |
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Canada requires travelers to have either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). A TRV can be valid for up to 10 years An eTA remains valid for up to 5 years. During these five or ten years, a holder’s circumstances may change in a way that affects their eligibility for TRV or eTA. In the past, it was found that cancellations were sometimes made in arbitrary ways. A policy has to be consistent: if a person’s travel document is canceled for some given reason, then that same reason should apply equally to all similar cases. Moreover, the reasons for cancellation must be transparent and easy to understand. These are the considerations that have led the Canadian government to amend its Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and explicitly state when and how immigration documents can be canceled and who is authorized to do it. The new regulations went into effect on February 1. The major change is that now Canadian border officials are authorized to not only bar an individual from entering Canada but to cancel their travel documents, including work and study permits. A traveler may hold a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), but the final decision on entry rests with a Canadian border officer at the port of entry. Box 1 details the specific grounds under which immigration officers can cancel previously issued TRVs and eTAs The new regulations also authorize border and immigration officials to cancel studies work and permits under specific circumstances. Box 2 details the specific grounds under which immigration officers can cancel previously issued study or work permits. The worst-case scenario is arriving at a port of entry and being turned away. A disappointing, but less costly, possibility is being notified via their Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account or email that travel documents or permits have been canceled. Every new rule or rule change is an invitation to scamsters. Bear in mind that only immigration and border authorities have the authority to cancel travel documents. It is not in the hands of police or magistrates, employers, university officials, or agents. A person who receives notice of cancellation from any source other than the actual, authentic IRCC should immediately inform the IRCC and the Canadian embassy, A traveler who is concerned that his/her TRV or eTA may be canceled should consult an authorized immigration representative to discuss options BEFORE traveling. Persons holding work or study permits who worry that their permit was issued because of an administrative error, should seek legal advice on what to do. The border or immigration official’s decision is NOT final. A person whose travel documents or permits have been cancelled is entitled to appeal the decision. Box 3 details the process of appeal While one can appeal the decision of a border or immigration officer, it is preferable to ensure that documents or bona fides will not be questioned or rejected by border officials.
Box 4 tells how to minimize the risk of rejection of TRV or eTA or cancellation of study or work permits. The criteria set out as grounds for cancellation are reasonable and one should have faith that individual border or immigration staffers are reasonable too. The amended rules are not intended to deter persons who want to visit Canada and return home, persons who have been admitted to Canadian institutions of higher education, or persons who have been issued work permits that comply with Canadian government rules. The only intending travelers, students or workers who are likely to wind up in trouble are those intending to game the system. | BOX 1 Grounds for canceling TRV/eTA ● An individual’s status or circumstances change, making them ineligible or inadmissible. Included in this category are people who… 1. Provide false information, 2. Have a criminal record, 3. And whose documents are those of a dead person. 4. Seek to enter Canada without renewed or valid study or work permits ● The officer suspects that the individual will overstay the authorized period of stay. ● The person is … 1.Without documents, claiming that they have been lost, stolen, or destroyed. Passport loss results in automatic cancellation of TRV and eTA. 2. The documents have been issued based on an administrative error. ● Subsequent refusals: If the holder is refused another immigration document after the issuance of the original TRV or eTAs. ● A temporary resident has become a permanent resident. A person whose permits are canceled will not be allowed to enter Canada. |
BOX 2 Grounds for canceling study/work permits ● The permit was issued due to an administrative error, including processing mistakes, or clerical errors, or if permission was granted based on incorrect information. Examples: a study permit was mistakenly issued to someone who applied for a visitor record; an open work permit was issued to a person who was eligible for a closed permit only. ● Passport loss does NOT automatically cancel study or work permits. ● If the holder becomes a permanent resident of Canada, his/her study or work permit is automatically canceled. ● Death of the holder automatically cancels a study or work permit. ● If a permit is revoked while an individual is already studying, working, or residing in Canada, they will be issued a notice to leave the country by a specified date. | |
BOX 3 The appeal process ● File a Notice of Appeal: Within 30 days of receiving the cancellation, the appellant must file a Notice of Appeal with the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). ● Accompanying the Notice of Appeal, the appellant must provide A copy of the refusal letter, Any additional documents supporting the appeal. ● Await the Minister’s Record: After some time, the appellant will receive a document called the Minister’s Record. This document will spell out the reasons for the refusal and will inform the appellant of the time and place designated for the hearing of his/her case. ● Prepare for the Hearing: Analyze the reasons for refusal Gather any additional documents or evidence to present at the hearing. The appellant is entitled to counsel (lawyer, paralegal, notary, or immigration consultant. They should be in good standing with their professional organization.) ● The Hearing Attend the hearing and respond to all IAD queries and requests The IAD decision based on this hearing will be final. The appeal process can be complex, and it may take several months to a year or more, depending on the case. For detailed information see: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/making-immigration-appeal/Pages/immapp-a2.aspx https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/making-immigration-appeal/Pages/immapp-d2.aspx https://chaudharylaw.com/how-to-appeal-an-immigration-decision-in-canada/ | |
Box 4 How to sail through… ● Provide accurate information: Ensure that all information provided in the application is accurate and truthful. Any false information can lead to the cancellation of documents. ● Maintain a clean record: NEVER engage in any sort of illegal activity or behavior that could make you inadmissible to Canada. ● Demonstrate Financial Stability: Show proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses. This can include bank statements, scholarship letters, or Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs). ● Adhere to Visa Conditions: A student must adhere to the conditions of his/her study permit, such as maintaining full-time student status and making progress in your studies. ● Plan for Departure: Canadian border officials must have reason to believe that a person entering Canada will not overstay the authorized period of stay. Show that your family remains in India, you have property in India or you have a a job offer in India. ● Maintain a well-documented record, and keep documents safe and organized: Ensure that your documents are not lost, stolen, or destroyed. If any documents are lost/stolen/destroyed, report it immediately and follow the necessary steps to get replacements. Keep the FULL record of all your application forms, supporting documents, correspondence with immigration authorities, and key timelines. Keep copies of your visa or permit approvals, proof of compliance with conditions (such as enrollment in studies or employment records), and correspondence ● Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with any changes in immigration policies and regulations to ensure compliance. | |