The department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a program delivery update concerning temporary entry to Canada. This update notes that multiple-entry visas should now be considered the standard, and any single-entry visa issuance requires officers to provide an explanation recorded in the application notes.

'The issuance of multiple-entry visas should now be considered the standard, and any single-entry visa issuance requires officers to provide an explanation recorded in the application notes. For example, a single-entry visa could be considered where an applicant is participating in a one-time special event in Canada for a very short duration. If a valid multiple-entry visa is affixed in an expired travel document, the holder must also be in possession of a newer and valid travel document and must present both travel documents to the airline carrier in order to travel to Canada and to the border services officer in order to seek entry into Canada.'

A multiple-entry visa:

• allows the holder to seek entry into Canada from any country as often as necessary during the validity of the visa;
• is issued with long-term validity to facilitate entry into Canada for legitimate travelers;
• has a maximum validity date of up to ten years, or one month before the expiry date on the travel document;
• can still be valid but affixed in an expired travel document (in this case, the holder must also be in possession of a newer and valid travel document and must present both travel documents to the airline carrier in order to travel to Canada and to the border services officer in order to seek entry into Canada).

To learn more, visit this page on visitor visas to Canada.