The number of temporary resident and visitor visas issued to international visitors to Canada has increased in recent months, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has announced.

With the busy summer season just having ended, 2014 has so far been a record year for the number of visitors from countries such as China (272, 608 visitors up the end of September), Mexico (59,863) and Brazil (55,730). Canada has made efforts to make the visa process easier and quicker for visitors byreducing costs and automatically considering applicants for multiple-entry temporary resident visas, and these efforts are now beginning to bear fruit. Most visas issued to visitors for the purposes of travel (as opposed to work or study permits) are issued for a period of six months.

"Our government's top priority is to help create jobs and economic growth. That's why, in visa offices around the world, we are pulling out all stops to increase legitimate trade and travel which, in turn, ensures economic growth and long-term prosperity here at home," said Mr. Alexander.

In 2014, the number of visitor visas issued to Chinese citizens has increased by 225 percent since 2006. In 2013, CIC issued 974,711 Temporary Resident Visas. This figure is expected to exceed the one million mark for 2014.