Tag Archives: Express Entry

Changes to eTA and visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens

Mexican citizens travelling to Canada will need to meet new requirements to travel to Canada.

What’s changing? In (February 29, 2024,)

  • Mexican will need to meet new requirements to be eligible for an eTA
  • If you already have an eTA, it will automatically be cancelled unless you also have a valid work or study permit
  • If you have an eTA application in progress, you will need to apply for a new eTA or for a visitor visa
  • Before you travel to Canada, you will need to apply for a new eTA (if eligible)
  • If you’re not eligible for an eTA anymore, you will need to apply for a visitor visa to travel to Canada

These changes apply even if you already booked your travel. Having pre-booked travel plans or a previously valid eTA does not guarantee you will be approved for a new eTA or a visa. Visitors are temporary residents who don’t have a valid work or study permit, such as tourists, students on a study term less than 6 months, or business visitors. You can stay in Canada for as long as you are authorized to do so. If you have a visitor record, it will remain valid.

However, your eTA will be cancelled. If you leave Canada and wish to return, you need to have

  • a visitor visa, or
  • a new eTA that was issued after February 29, 2024.

If you already have a valid work or study permit, IRCC will not cancel your eTA. You don’t have to apply for a new eTA. You can continue to travel with it as long as it’s still valid. You can keep studying or working in Canada based on the validity and conditions of your permit. Visitor records will also remain valid.

If you’re applying for a new work or study permit, IRCC will automatically issue a visa or an eTA (based on eligibility) when your work or study permit application is approved. You don’t need to apply for a visa or an eTA separately.

An eTA is for air travel only. Even if you have a valid eTA, you need a visitor visa if you plan to travel to Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship (even if you don’t leave the ship).

You may be eligible to have your eTA reactivated. To find out if you are eligible

  • send a web form request
  • complete all required fields
  • include the code “EMVR2024” in the text box

If you are not eligible to have your eTA reactivated, you will need to submit a new eTA application based on the new requirements or a visitor visa application.

Who can apply for an eTA under the new rules?

You’re eligible for an eTA if you meet all of these 3 requirements:

1. You’re using a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada or to transit through a Canadian airport to another destination.

2. You’re coming to Canada for a short visit (normally for stays of up to 6 months).

3. You either

  • Have held a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa) in the past 10 years or
  • Currently hold a valid United States  nonimmigrant visa

Canada invites immigration candidates in general Express Entry draw


Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited more candidates to apply for permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system.
The department issued 1,470 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a general draw for candidates from all Express Entry programs.
Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 534.

Today’s draw follows three others that occurred between February 13-16th. On February 13th IRCC held its second general draw of the month, inviting 1,490 candidates who had a minimum CRS of 535. These were followed by two targeted draws for healthcare and agriculture and agri-food occupations, which required candidates to have a CRS of at least 422 and 437 respectively

Why is a super visa better than a visitor visa?

The Canadian Super Visa is only intended for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, even though it is classified as a visitor visa.

The length of the permitted stay in Canada is the primary difference between the two visas. A visitor’s visa only permits a maximum 6-month stay at a time. Parents and grandparents who meet the requirements can visit family in Canada for up to five years at a time with a Super Visa.

What is a Visitor visa?

To enter Canada, the majority of visitors require a visiting visa. If you are traveling to your final destination via a Canadian airport, you could also require one. The Canadian government will officially stamp your passport with a visitor visa, also known as a temporary resident visa, proving that you fulfill the prerequisites to enter the country.

The typical stay for tourists or visitors to Canada is six months. The border services officer at the port of entry may grant you a stay of up to six months or less.

What is a Super Visa?

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are permitted to visit their family for up to five years in a row without having to renew their visiting visas, thanks to the Super Visa.

Super Visa holders are permitted up to ten years of multiple entries into Canada. The Super Visa is a fantastic substitute for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) because it does not require a lottery, providing families wishing to sponsor their family members with more assurance.

3,737 People Are Invited to Apply for Canada’s New Working Holiday Visa Draw

During the week of February 24, 2024, International Experience Canada (IEC) 2024 distributed 3,737 invitations for open work permits as part of the new Working Holiday Visa invitation rounds.

For the IEC 2024 season, there are still 35,974 open work permit seats under the Working Holiday Visa category, although there are only 29,739 applicants total from more than 35 qualifying nations.

Only 53 closed work permit invites have been sent under the International Co-op category, out of 251 invites under the Young Professionals category.

The IEC 2024 season processing time has now improved to two weeks, per the latest IRCC processing time report.

The invitations received this week, breaking down by country and category, the total number of invites sent in 2024, the number of candidates in the pool, the number of open spots, and the probability of receiving an invitation the following week are all displayed in the tables below.

IEC 2024 Working Holiday Visa Invitations

CountryInvitations this weekAvailable SpotsCandidates in poolQuotaChances of being invited to the next round
Andorra016025Excellent
Australia2020172UnlimitedExcellent
Austria864100Excellent
Belgium2124731750Excellent
Chile1002727,073725Very low
Costa Rica7411,77980Very low
Croatia12544275Excellent
Czech Republic19760151,000Excellent
Denmark52589350Excellent
Estonia12773110Excellent
Finland000TBAExcellent
France1,2123,58716,9577,000Very low
Germany1173,2671204,490Excellent
Greece71123180Excellent
Hong Kong148715200Excellent
Iceland01171120Excellent
Ireland1629,02917110,500Excellent
Italy731,057601,750Excellent
Japan2044,0231566,500Excellent
Latvia431540Fair
Lithuania8758175Excellent
Luxembourg175080Excellent
Netherlands27437430Excellent
New Zealand631,871622,500Excellent
Norway14962135Excellent
Poland1847719635Excellent
Portugal241,513251,750Excellent
San Marino024025Excellent
Slovakia917710315Excellent
Slovenia266180Excellent
South Korea6322,37453110,000Excellent
Spain7128247800Excellent
Sweden144969580Excellent
Taiwan2634022,014940Very Low
United Kingdom4234,8293869,000Excellent
Total3,73735,97429,73961,640

150 invitations for PR in the express entry draw for the Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations category.

In another occupation-based Express Entry draw, Canada has issued 150 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the area of agriculture and agri-food occupations.

The occupational draw on February 14, 2024, had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 422 points; by comparison, the draw on February 16 had a minimum CRS score of 437 points, which was 15 points higher.

In the past, 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a healthcare-focused round of invitations were distributed by an Express Entry draw on February 15. 422 was the CRS cutoff score.

Additionally, on February 13, 1,490 fortunate people were selected in a general draw to receive invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residency (PR).

Similar to previous draws, the general draw was performed using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), requiring a minimum score of 535 or above.

SIIS

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