Canada Plans Powers for Mass Visa Cancellation, Flags India Over Rising Asylum Claims

In a move that has triggered diplomatic and public concern, Canada’s immigration department has sought expanded powers to cancel visas on a large scale, with internal documents reportedly identifying India and Bangladesh under a new “country-specific visa holder” category. The proposal, first reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), comes amid rising asylum claims and scrutiny of temporary resident visa (TRV) applications from Indian nationals.

According to the leaked briefing note, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) flagged “country-specific challenges” associated with Indian applicants. Data cited in the memo shows a sharp increase in asylum claims from Indian citizens — from fewer than 500 per month in May 2023 to around 2,000 by July 2024. The department also recorded a significant slowdown in visa processing, with average timelines rising from 30 days in mid-2023 to 54 days a year later. Approval numbers similarly fell — from over 63,000 TRV clearances in January 2024 to about 48,000 in June.

Officials noted a spike in “no-board” cases — applicants approved for travel but denied boarding — involving Indian travellers. By July 2024, as many as 1,873 Indian nationals had received procedural fairness letters due to irregularities or concerns about their travel purpose. The memo suggested the increased fraud detection measures and tighter scrutiny were responses to a surge in “misrepresentation” and asylum abuse among TRV holders.

However, the IRCC has rejected claims that India was being “singled out,” clarifying that the new powers would not target any particular nationality. It said the intent was to strengthen Canada’s ability to manage visa misuse and ensure that temporary entries align with national security and immigration integrity standards. The department stressed that mass cancellations, if introduced, would be subject to due process and would not be exercised unilaterally.

Canadian officials have pointed to tangible results from stricter enforcement, including a 97% decline in illegal crossings by TRV holders by mid-2024 and a 71% drop in asylum claims over the same period. At the same time, visa refusals citing fraud rose by 25%.

The development comes against the backdrop of strained India–Canada relations, following diplomatic tensions over Sikh separatism and alleged interference claims. Analysts say the move reflects both internal political pressure on Ottawa to tighten immigration controls and growing caution over high-volume source countries like India, which remains Canada’s largest pool of international students and temporary visa applicants.