Canada, with its many alterations, nice-to-visit cities, and friendly people has remained top of every traveller’s “places to visit” list.
In 2019, the World Tourism Organization reported that the country welcomed an impressive total of 22.1 million international tourists.
To visit Canada as a tourist, you need to obtain a tourist visa, you have to meet the eligibility requirements, apply and get approval before you will be allowed into the country.
The process of applying for and getting Canada’s tourist visa is straightforward, however, its simple process does not shield you from rejections.
Meeting the eligibility criteria does not also guarantee that you will get approval. Your application can be rejected pretty fast.
As a tourist who wishes to visit Canada, it will be in your best interest to know from this guide, why most Canada visitor visa gets rejected and how to avoid it.
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Is it difficult to get a visitor visa to Canada?
No, it is not difficult to get a visitor visa to Canada if you as an applicant meet its criteria from documentation, financial stability, ties to your home country, travel history, and the purpose of your visit.
If you meet these requirements, then you are almost certain to visit Canada but rejection rates for visa applications are not uncommon.
Why Canada visitor visa gets rejected
The Canada visitor visa, which was previously called the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is issued by the Government of Canada and it allows foreign nationals to enter Canada temporarily for tourism, to visit family or friends, or to conduct business activities.
While the process of getting this visa seems straightforward, there are lots of factors that will contribute to the approval or rejection of your application.
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Canada visitor visas can get rejected for incomplete or inaccurate documentation, insufficient funds, a lack of strong ties to your home country, inconsistent travel history, failure to demonstrate a genuine purpose of visit, inadequate travel itinerary or accommodation arrangements, and previous immigration violations or criminal history.
Also read: Can I look for a job in the UK with a tourist visa?
All or any of these factors can raise concerns among Canadian immigration authorities about your intentions and eligibility to enter the country.
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Inadequate documentation
One of the most common reasons for Canada visitor visa rejection is incomplete or insufficient documentation.
Out of every 10 rejections, you are going to find this in at least 5 of the applicants.
It is that common.
Canadian immigration authorities want every applicant to submit a comprehensive set of documents – nothing left out.
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If this is not the case with your application, it will be rejected.
You need to submit everything from a valid passport, proof of financial means to support your stay, a letter of invitation (if applicable), and a detailed travel itinerary.
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Any missing or incorrect information will certainly lead to the rejection of your application.
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Lack of strong ties to your home country
Canadian immigration authorities are concerned about the likelihood of you overstaying your visa and potentially immigrating illegally.
They don’t trust you enough to head back home once your visa’s validity ends and you can’t blame them – they have seen folks do that many times.
Therefore, you must demonstrate that you have strong ties to your home country.
You must prove to them that you have a reason to return home once your stay ends in Canada.
You can use evidence of stable employment, property ownership, family relationships, or other significant commitments, to convince officials of your intention to return home after your visit.
Failure to establish these ties can lead to visa rejection.
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Insufficient proof of funds
Another frequent cause of visa rejection is the inability of the applicant to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover their expenses during their stay in Canada.
Get this straight, Canada doesn’t want you to come into the country if you cannot sponsor yourself or have someone to sponsor you.
They don’t want you to come and become a burden to the country’s social services.
So, immigration officials assess whether you have enough funds to support yourself without resorting to employment or public assistance.
If you fail to provide adequate proof of financial stability, your visa application will be rejected.
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Inconsistent travel history
Immigration officers closely examine every applicant’s travel history to assess their credibility and the likelihood of complying with visa conditions.
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Any applicant with a history of visa violations, overstays, or irregular travel patterns will raise suspicions about their intentions, which will lead to visa rejection.
As an applicant, you have to make sure that you always obey immigration rules, no matter the country you are visiting.
Your Canada visitor visa can be rejected if you have a history of visa rule violations even if it happened in another country.
In addition, if you have a criminal record, it can make you deemed inadmissible to Canada, leading to visa refusal.
To stand a chance, you need to disclose any relevant information about your past immigration or criminal issues during your visa application process.
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Lack of genuine purpose of visit
One of the primary criteria for visa approval is demonstrating a genuine purpose of visit to Canada.
As an applicant, you must provide compelling reasons for your trip, it can be for tourism, visiting family or friends, attending a conference or event, or conducting business activities.
Also read: What to do if Canada student visa is rejected
If you provide vague or implausible explanations for your visit, it can raise doubts about your intentions and can result in visa refusal.
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Inadequate travel itinerary or accommodation arrangements
You must provide a detailed travel itinerary, including information about your intended destinations, duration of stay, and accommodation arrangements in Canada.
If you fail to give the immigration authorities a coherent and realistic itinerary, it will raise concerns about your travel plans and may result in visa rejection.
Before you apply for a visa, you need to plan your trip thoroughly and provide an accurate itinerary to support the itinerary.
What about tips on how to increase your chances of approval?
Great, you can find some below but first, don’t get caught up with any of the points we already listed above.
Tips to improve visa approval chances
- When applying for your visa, ensure that you thoroughly review and accurately complete the visa application form.
- Provide all required documents and ensure they are authentic and up-to-date.
- Demonstrate ties to your home country using employment, property ownership, or family relationships.
- Ensure that you present a detailed and realistic travel itinerary and make sure that you outline your purpose of visit and planned activities.
- Be transparent and truthful when communicating with immigration officials.
If you follow everything here thoroughly, your Canada visitor visa application will certainly be approved.
Also read: What happens after 801 visa is granted
Can I apply for a visitor visa after refusal?
Yes, you can apply again for a visitor visa to Canada even if your previous application was rejected, a rejection means your current application does not meet the requirements, but it does not mean you should not apply again.
Conclusion
If you don’t want your Canada visitor visa to be rejected, ensure that you are eligible for a visa before you apply for one.
When applying, make sure you follow the visa application guidelines thoroughly and provide every necessary document.
Also read: How to convert a Canada visitor visa to a work permit
Whether you are visiting for leisure, family reunification, or business purposes, present everything as stated in the application guidelines and be truthful with your details.
You will increase your chances of getting approval.