Canada Seeks Ability to Track Exit of Temporary Residents

On this page you will find

• Why Canada wants to track temporary resident exits
• Current limits on exit data collection
• Links between visa expiry and asylum claims
• How new laws aim to deter misuse of the asylum system
• Digital modernisation plans at IRCC and CBSA
• What the changes could mean for temporary residents

Canada’s immigration minister says the federal government wants to build the capacity to track when temporary residents leave the country, as Ottawa works to regain control over the pace and integrity of the immigration system. The proposed change would focus on people in Canada on work permits, study permits and other temporary visas.

Immigration officials say a large number of temporary visas are due to expire in the near term. Millions have already expired in recent years, but the federal government does not have a simple system-wide way to confirm who has actually departed once their status ends.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said she wants her department to develop digital tools that would make it easier to measure how many temporary residents leave Canada each year. She said other countries already track this information and argued Canada should do the same as part of modernising its immigration system.

Why Ottawa Wants Better Exit Data

Currently, the Canada Border Services Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada can collect certain exit information about specific individuals, including travel documents and dates of departure. However, officials say they cannot easily determine at scale whether someone is leaving because their visa has expired.

Senior CBSA officials have told Parliament that while officers can manually check an individual’s status, the process is labour-intensive and not designed for large-scale tracking. That gap has become more significant as Canada has seen a sharp rise in both temporary residents and asylum claims in recent years.

Ottawa believes clearer data would give policy-makers a more accurate picture of how many people comply with visa rules and how many may remain in Canada after their legal status ends.

Link Between Temporary Status and Asylum Claims

Government data show that in 2024, a substantial number of people who were already in Canada on temporary resident visas or study permits made asylum claims. Approval rates for those claims were relatively low compared with earlier years, when fewer such claims were made and a higher share were accepted.

The federal government argues that better exit tracking, combined with recent legislative changes, could help reduce the use of asylum claims as a last resort for people seeking to extend their stay after their temporary status expires.

Part of a Broader Immigration Reset

These measures form part of a wider federal effort to restore public confidence in the immigration system after several years of rapid growth in both permanent and temporary admissions. Recent immigration levels plans have aimed to slow the growth of the temporary population and return overall admissions to more sustainable levels.

Officials say understanding who leaves Canada, and when, is a key piece of managing future intake levels and ensuring the system functions as intended.

Digital Tools and System Modernisation

The push for exit tracking is tied to broader efforts to modernise Canada’s immigration system. The department is already testing new digital services, including limited online passport renewal and pilot projects involving digital visas for certain travellers.

Over time, these digital systems could help link entry and exit information more efficiently, giving authorities a clearer, real-time picture of population flows tied to temporary immigration programs.

What This Means for Temporary Residents

For most people in Canada on valid work or study permits, the proposed changes would not alter day-to-day life. However, the government is signalling that compliance with visa conditions, including leaving Canada when status expires, will come under closer scrutiny.

Temporary residents should ensure their documents remain valid and that they apply on time if they want to extend their stay or change status. Those considering an asylum claim should understand that recent rule changes may limit eligibility depending on how long they have already been in Canada.

In practical terms, clearer exit tracking could mean fewer grey areas in the system. The government wants a better understanding of who is in Canada temporarily, who has left, and who may be out of status. That information is likely to shape future policy decisions affecting international students, foreign workers and other temporary residents.

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