published on 16 December 2025 @ 4:27 pm · COMMENT

Canada Tests Digital Visas in New Pilot Program

The Government of Canada has launched a pilot project to test the use of digital visas, reflecting an ongoing shift toward modernizing immigration processes. For this pilot, a small group of Moroccan citizens who have already been approved for a visitor visa may be invited to receive a digital version in addition to the standard physical counterfoil. The initiative is intended to explore how digital formats function in real travel scenarios and to gather feedback from participants.

Digital visas are being examined for their potential to make travel more efficient and secure. They can reduce the need to mail or surrender passports for visa printing, streamline verification procedures, and limit the amount of personal information travelers need to share. These features may also contribute to greater operational efficiency by lowering printing and mailing costs associated with traditional visas.

The pilot involves collaboration between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and other federal departments to ensure digital travel documents comply with Canadian and international privacy and security standards. Early findings from this test are expected to inform future decisions about how digital immigration documents might be designed, implemented and integrated into broader travel systems.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE