Canada tightened its immigration policies in 2024, rejecting 2.36 million temporary resident applications, including visitor visas, study permits, and work permits The government introduced these measures to reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services while addressing concerns about visa overstays and fraud Stricter eligibility criteria and caps on study and work permits have significantly impacted international students and foreign workers seeking entry into the country Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian Government announced significant changes to its immigration policies aimed at reducing the number of temporary residents entering the country.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 2.36 million temporary resident applications were rejected in 2024. The measures, which include stricter eligibility criteria and caps on certain visa categories, are part of efforts to alleviate pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services. Visa categories affected by rejections The rejection rates impacted three major visa categories:

Canada turned down 1.95 million applications in 2024, a sharp increase compared to previous years. Study Permits: 290,317 international student applications were rejected, with a refusal rate of 52%. Work Permits: 115,549 applications were denied, reflecting tighter controls on foreign labour entry. Reasons behind policy changes The IRCC stated that the surge in temporary residents following the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased pressure on housing, healthcare, and public services. The new policies aim to stabilise population growth and ensure resources are allocated effectively. Officials also cited concerns over visa overstays and fraud, particularly within the International Student Program, where nearly 50,000 students were found not actively enrolled in schools. Impact on International students and workers International students have been particularly affected by reforms, including caps on study permits and stricter financial requirements. Applicants must now provide proof of income and undergo rigorous verification processes to prevent fraud. Similarly, work permits are being limited to address labour shortages in key sectors like healthcare, construction, and tourism.

Economic and social implications Experts have noted both positive and negative impacts of the policy changes. On the one hand, reducing temporary residents is expected to ease the burden on housing and healthcare systems, improving service delivery. On the other hand, Canada’s ageing population and economic realities may pose challenges in the long term, particularly in sectors reliant on foreign workers.
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area, located in North America and bordered by the United States to the south. Known for its stunning natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, and lakes, the country also has vibrant multicultural cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Canada is recognised for its high quality of life, progressive policies, and a welcoming attitude towards immigrants, making it a popular destination for international students, workers, and travellers alike. UK government to increase passport fee, mentions new price

Canada announces new policy to help Nigerians, others to study without a permit Legit.ng earlier reported that the UK Government confirmed changes to passport application fees set to take effect on April 10th, 2025, pending parliamentary approval. According to the Home Office, these adjustments will impact both domestic and overseas applications, affecting adults and children alike. The fee increases are part of a broader initiative aimed at making the passport system financially self-reliant, thereby reducing its dependence on general tax funding. Read

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South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile has assured Japanese business leaders that measures have been put in place to address the challenges foreign expatriates face in acquiring work permits in South Africa.
Speaking during a working visit to Japan that ended on Wednesday, Mashatile pledged the Pretoria administration’s commitment to expediting the visa application process, which has been a source of frustration for expatriates and investors alike.

The deputy president’s remarks were made amid concerns raised by the Japanese business community regarding the bureaucratic hurdles that have hampered foreign professionals’ ability to work in South Africa.

Mashatile reported significant progress in reducing the backlog of visa applications and pledged that efforts to streamline the system would continue.
He also highlighted South Africa’s favourable business environment, skilled workforce and strategic location as key attractions for investment.
Foreign expatriates in South Africa have long grappled with delays and inefficiencies in obtaining work permits, a situation further compounded by challenges such as intermittent power cuts and security concerns.

By addressing these bottlenecks, Mashatile aims to foster a more conducive environment for international partnerships and investment.
Mashatile’s working visit to Japan, which coincided with the 115th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and parliamentary diplomacy.
“We are motivated and will do everything it takes to make sure another 115 years, with sustainable economic, cultural and people-to-people benefits for the people of both our countries.” he said.

During the visit, the deputy president held discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and representatives of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League.
He also engaged with key Japanese business organisations, including the Japan External Trade Organisation and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security.

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Dirco's deputy director-general for public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela. (@DIRCO_ZA/X formerly Twitter)
• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has come out in defence of its missions across the world.
• According to the department, there were minor technical challenges - most of which had been resolved.
• The department reiterated there is no crisis.

There is no crisis at South Africa's embassies abroad, and despite limited funding, the country remains an influential global player.
This according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation which responded to recent reports of several technical and, in some instances, operational challenges at embassies in Asia.

Earlier this month, News24 reported South Africa's missions in parts of Asia have no money for overseas travel or exhibitions and visas cannot be printed because of broken printers.
But department spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the issues raised by individual missions did not apply everywhere.
He also reiterated problems with printers was the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs which dealt with visas and other travel and identification documents.

"For example, in Singapore, one of the switches had died when this oversight [visit] took place. That was replaced the very next day. One can't then say because there was this issue raised by Singapore, what is the department doing in other missions where there's similar issues. It's wear and tear. If you use something for a long time, at some point, you need to replace it. It doesn't mean that there is a crisis," Monyela added.
He added in diplomacy, there was a sacrosanct principle called reciprocity.

"Now, South Africa is an influential global player. This year, for example, we hold the presidency of the G20. The G20 is the richest, most industrialised countries in the world. These are the big, heavy hitters.
"You can't be a G20 country like South Africa, the only African country in the G20, and be thinking about closing embassies when other countries are increasing, because when you don't have a presence in a country, it robs you of an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen political relations with that country, but also to unlock trade and investments and run campaigns to attract tourists," Monyela said.

He added: "So, there is no consideration of any more closures of any missions because if you do that, you are significantly reducing this country's influence in global affairs when you should be doing the opposite, when you should be funding embassies to run campaigns to continue to spread this country's influence."
DA MP Darren Bergman served on the National Assembly's portfolio committee during the Sixth Parliament.

Bergman had conducted several virtual oversights of South African embassies.
He said part of the problem was that South Africa paid huge amounts of money for rental.
"We should be looking at better and cheaper areas to house missions. We should look at the suburbs that are just a little further from the major city centres. Some of the missions are in a terrible state and they are not doing anything for the South African flag. It's not a great advert for tourism or the image of our country. This needs urgent attention," Bergman added.

According to him, there was an internationally accepted standard of having 80% career diplomats and 20% politicians serving as diplomats.
"We send people abroad as an appeasement or redeployment or as punishment for some of our ministers. We have cases of assault, mismanagement and a lot of time you cannot deal with it as an HR [issue], because there are politicians involved.
"Around the world, there are around 20% politicians as diplomats and 80% career diplomats. In South Africa, you would see that reversed, where there are less career diplomats and more politicians as diplomats," he said.

Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said an assurance had been given the issues raised by his committee would be attended to.
"It's not the responsibility of the ambassadors and those who are representing us, so the department will attend to those particular issues," he added.

"We are the first ones to acknowledge, as the portfolio committee, the department is highly, highly underfunded. We understand the budget constraints that are ravaging the country, but we hope that in the augmentation which is going to happen now and in October in the adjustment budget, we can just improve a little bit because of those embassies," he added.

Mahumapelo stressed the embassies represented South Africa far beyond just diplomacy.
"Those offices are the face of South Africa, so we hope that some little budget can be given to the department to give attention to those particular issues," he said.

International relations expert Patrick Kadima added South Africa had signalled its intention to grow bilateral relations across the world.
"It does become extremely expensive for South Africa and several other countries in the south. But there are many countries who are represented everywhere in the world and still manage to keep their costs down. We should be centralising some of our missions to save on costs and be more efficient.

"We should look at one ambassador for more than one country. Let's put up a mission in one country serving three or four neighbours. The other option is to increase the budget, but that does not look like viable situation because of our fiscal position," he said.
Several European countries have centralised their embassies with one ambassador serving for example South Africa, Lesotho and other southern African states.

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While the department works on a solution, Schreiber said some assistance is currently available to affected individuals, though with limitations.
The Department of Home Affairs is working to resolve issues preventing naturalised citizens from obtaining Smart ID Cards (SIDC), according to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.
The technical challenges have left many foreign-born citizens unable to access the more secure identification documents that South African-born citizens routinely receive.

Home Affairs smart ID challenges
In response to a recent parliamentary question from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Wayne Thring, Schreiber acknowledged the difficulties faced by many naturalised citizens in the country.

“Home Affairs is acutely aware of, and regrets, the insecurity and distress this issue is causing,” Schreiber said.
“Since assuming office, I have directed that work be sped up to enable all qualifying persons to obtain the more secure Smart ID Cards (SIDC).”
The minister identified technology as the primary obstacle in resolving the situation.
“Severe IT constraints have emerged as a major obstacle in this regard, and urgent work is ongoing to resolve the challenges,” he explained.

Home Affairs smart ID service under investigation
Schreiber confirmed that an investigation has been conducted into the matter, revealing significant problems with the department’s technology infrastructure.

“Failures by the current IT service provider have emerged as a serious obstacle infringing on the department’s ability to deliver the required changes to enable naturalised citizens and permanent residents to obtain SIDCs, and is being addressed with the necessary urgency,” said Schreiber.

Home Affairs smart ID interim solutions
While the department works on a solution, Schreiber said some assistance is currently available to affected individuals, though with limitations.
“While work is being done to expand access to all through IT system changes, the department does assist naturalised citizens with SIDC through [an] invitation to prospective applicants,” Schreiber noted.

“However, the process entails a manual verification process that limits access. The issue is receiving top priority.”

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Dirco's deputy director-general for public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela. (@DIRCO_ZA/X formerly Twitter)
• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has come out in defence of its missions across the world.
• According to the department, there were minor technical challenges - most of which had been resolved.
• The department reiterated there is no crisis.

There is no crisis at South Africa's embassies abroad, and despite limited funding, the country remains an influential global player.
This according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation which responded to recent reports of several technical and, in some instances, operational challenges at embassies in Asia.

Earlier this month, News24 reported South Africa's missions in parts of Asia have no money for overseas travel or exhibitions and visas cannot be printed because of broken printers.
But department spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the issues raised by individual missions did not apply everywhere.
He also reiterated problems with printers was the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs which dealt with visas and other travel and identification documents.

"For example, in Singapore, one of the switches had died when this oversight [visit] took place. That was replaced the very next day. One can't then say because there was this issue raised by Singapore, what is the department doing in other missions where there's similar issues. It's wear and tear. If you use something for a long time, at some point, you need to replace it. It doesn't mean that there is a crisis," Monyela added.
He added in diplomacy, there was a sacrosanct principle called reciprocity.

"Now, South Africa is an influential global player. This year, for example, we hold the presidency of the G20. The G20 is the richest, most industrialised countries in the world. These are the big, heavy hitters.
"You can't be a G20 country like South Africa, the only African country in the G20, and be thinking about closing embassies when other countries are increasing, because when you don't have a presence in a country, it robs you of an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen political relations with that country, but also to unlock trade and investments and run campaigns to attract tourists," Monyela said.

He added: "So, there is no consideration of any more closures of any missions because if you do that, you are significantly reducing this country's influence in global affairs when you should be doing the opposite, when you should be funding embassies to run campaigns to continue to spread this country's influence."
DA MP Darren Bergman served on the National Assembly's portfolio committee during the Sixth Parliament.

Bergman had conducted several virtual oversights of South African embassies.
He said part of the problem was that South Africa paid huge amounts of money for rental.
"We should be looking at better and cheaper areas to house missions. We should look at the suburbs that are just a little further from the major city centres. Some of the missions are in a terrible state and they are not doing anything for the South African flag. It's not a great advert for tourism or the image of our country. This needs urgent attention," Bergman added.

According to him, there was an internationally accepted standard of having 80% career diplomats and 20% politicians serving as diplomats.
"We send people abroad as an appeasement or redeployment or as punishment for some of our ministers. We have cases of assault, mismanagement and a lot of time you cannot deal with it as an HR [issue], because there are politicians involved.
"Around the world, there are around 20% politicians as diplomats and 80% career diplomats. In South Africa, you would see that reversed, where there are less career diplomats and more politicians as diplomats," he said.

Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said an assurance had been given the issues raised by his committee would be attended to.
"It's not the responsibility of the ambassadors and those who are representing us, so the department will attend to those particular issues," he added.

"We are the first ones to acknowledge, as the portfolio committee, the department is highly, highly underfunded. We understand the budget constraints that are ravaging the country, but we hope that in the augmentation which is going to happen now and in October in the adjustment budget, we can just improve a little bit because of those embassies," he added.

Mahumapelo stressed the embassies represented South Africa far beyond just diplomacy.
"Those offices are the face of South Africa, so we hope that some little budget can be given to the department to give attention to those particular issues," he said.

International relations expert Patrick Kadima added South Africa had signalled its intention to grow bilateral relations across the world.
"It does become extremely expensive for South Africa and several other countries in the south. But there are many countries who are represented everywhere in the world and still manage to keep their costs down. We should be centralising some of our missions to save on costs and be more efficient.

"We should look at one ambassador for more than one country. Let's put up a mission in one country serving three or four neighbours. The other option is to increase the budget, but that does not look like viable situation because of our fiscal position," he said.
Several European countries have centralised their embassies with one ambassador serving for example South Africa, Lesotho and other southern African states.

How can we help you?
Please email us to info@samigration.com
Whatsapp message us on: +27 82 373 8415

Where are you now?
Check our website : www.samigration.com

Please rate us by clinking on this links :
Sa Migration Visas
https://g.page/SAMigration?gm