So I was helping my cousin plan her trip to Canada, and she asked me how long her multiple-entry visa would last. Honestly, I thought it’d be straightforward—like “boom, here’s the expiry date”—but nah, it got messy real quick.
The Head-Scratching Part
First, I jumped on Google typing stuff like “Canada multi-entry visa validity.” Big mistake. Government sites threw words like “discretionary issuance” and “validity tied to passport” at me. Felt like decoding alien language. Even forums had folks arguing:
- “Mine expired in 3 years!”
- “Nah, mine’s good for 6!”
- “Bro, I got 10 somehow!”
No consistency anywhere. Super annoying.
My Detective Mode
Grabbed my own passport—my visa sticker’s sitting right there—and stared at the dates. Issued 2023, expires 2033. Wait, ten whole years? But my friend’s visa only matched her passport expiry. So I called up Immigration Canada’s helpline. After 45 minutes of elevator music, a guy finally picked up.
I asked point-blank: “Is there a fixed rule?” He chuckled like I’d asked if snow melts in Alberta. Said it’s all about the officer’s mood that day plus these things:
- Your passport’s expiry date (they won’t go beyond it)
- Why you’re visiting (tourists often get longer)
- Your travel history (they check if you bounced back fast last time)
The Lightbulb Moment
Basically, there’s ZERO standard duration. My visa’s 10 years ’cause my passport’s new and I’ve gone there twice already. My cousin? First-timer with a passport expiring in 2026. Her max would be like 2-3 years unless she renews her passport first.
Simplified it for her like this:
- Step 1: Check passport expiry. Write that date down.
- Step 2: The visa won’t outlive your passport. Ever.
- Step 3: If you’ve visited Canada/US before? Might snag extra years.
Done. No jargon, no headaches.
Moral? Government rules love being sneaky. Always assume your visa’s shorter than you hope—unless you’ve got passport years and travel stamps stacked in your favor.
