Canadian government reduces the processing period for Pakistan

Good news for Pakistanis contemplating a trip to Canada, as the Canadian government has announced that the visa processing time for Pakistanis will decrease on May 5, 2023. According to Canada's Minister of Immigration, the processing period for visas has been reduced from 802 days to 60 days. Read Canada visa fee from Pakistan.

In addition, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Simon Andrew Fraser assured that the processing time for Canadian visas will be reduced to 30 days in the near future. According to Canada’s minister of immigration, TRV (Temporary Resident visa) applications from Pakistan will be processed within 60 days. 

 

The Canadian government announced last year that it intends to increase its immigration targets and welcome a large number of newcomers in order to address the country's labour shortage. 

According to the most recent Canadian government census, one in seven Canadians are between the ages of 55 and 64, indicating that the majority of Canadians are approaching retirement age. In addition, the Canadian immigration website previously displayed a processing time of 802 days due to the pandemic. 

 

According to the Canadian immigration minister, the inventory of Pakistani TRVs has been reduced from 55,000 to less than 15,000. Furthermore, Mr. Sean Simon Andrew Fraser stated that Canada is pursuing new investment opportunities and opening a new processing centre in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. 

The purpose of the new Canadian visa processing centre is to increase "interview capacity and processing" in south Asia. In 2021, Canada welcomed more than 405,000 immigrants, the most ever in a single year. 

 

According to a statement made by the Canadian immigration minister a year ago, the Canadian government seeks to admit at least 60 percent of all economic migrants. Canada is attempting to reunite more individuals living abroad with their families and is less likely to accept refugees. 

Ms. Leslie Scanlon, the Canadian High Commissioner in Pakistan, reassured Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar last month that the Canadian government intends to expedite and simplify visa processing for Pakistan's business community. 

 

The Canadian envoy had invited Commerce Minister Mr. Syed Naveed Qamar last month to discuss boosting trade between Canada and Pakistan, where Mr. Qamar requested visa facilitation for the business community so that they could attend important business events and upcoming exhibitions such as SIAL Canada (food trade show). 

 

Mr. Syed Naveed also discussed and approved the newly launched GPT+ (Canadian General Preferential Tariff) for developing countries, and he anticipated that its implementation in Pakistan would benefit emerging industries such as footwear and apparel. 

 

In addition, the minister of commerce hoped that the Canadian government would include a larger textile business section in the newly proposed scheme. The commerce minister praised Pakistan's trade surplus with Canada, which is a significant economic boon for the country.

Applicants who wish to obtain Canadian visa must fulfill certain requirements listed below 

• Passport that are all original (Old & New) and valid for 8 month validity (4 to 6 travels)

• CNIC copy

• B form if child applicant

• Photo with white background having dimensions 35*45 

• Polio vaccination certificate

• Bank statement from the last 6 moths with minimum closing balance more than Rs.1500000 which is stamp signed by bank staff

• Account Maintenance certificate stamp signed by bank staff

• Company Letter head in the event that the applicant is business owner 

• NTN copy 

• Tax returns (if any)

• Job letter if applicant is employee 

• Salary slips of the last three months

• Bonafide in case of student 

• FRF if applying with family 

• Marriage certificate if applying with spouse 

• Supportive documents 

• Educational certificates, degrees if any 

• Property documents copy if any 

• Vehicle Ownership documents copy if any 

• Consultancy and file preparation charges $ 300*

 

Note: Visa and appointment fee $180 will be paid by the applicant