Canada Visa

All you need to know about Canada Visas, the application process, requirements and other useful details

Canada is a country that is located above the United States in North America, and it is a highly developed country. People from all around the world want to visit Canada and the number is increasing steadily. However, most people wonder how they can get to Canada.

This article will help you learn about the following:

  • Who does need a visa in order to enter Canada?
  • What is a Canada Visa?
  • What are the different types of Canada Visa and how to choose the right one for you?
  • How to apply for your visa for travel to Canada
  • How to access Canada visa application forms and instructions about the process
  • What documents, photos, and information you need to apply for your Canadian visa
  • How to pay your Canada visa application fee
  • Other relevant information about applying/getting a visa to Canada and entering the territory of  Canada 

What is a Canada Visa?

When you obtain your Canada visa you basically have a stamp on your passport which will allow you to enter the country of Canada. It will act as permission for you to travel to the country and legally stay there temporarily or permanently.

After getting approved for Canada visa, means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you fulfill the necessary requirements in order to enter the country. However, getting your visa does not guarantee that you will be able to enter Canada, and at the Canadian border and customs, the officers will evaluate whether you are fit to enter.

If you answer the questions that the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) might ask, you will not have any problem. If they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they have the authority to deny your stay and ask you to go back to your home country, even if you have a valid Canada visa.

Do You Need a Canadian Visa?

People that are from countries that do not have visa exemption or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada will require a visa in order to enter the country. More specifically, people from around 148 countries must have a visa in order to visit, immigrate, study or work in Canada.

Canadian Visa Categories

We can divide Canada visa into two categories:

  • Permanent Canada Visas – Allow you to move to Canada permanently to work as well as a path to Canadian citizenship.
  • Temporary Canada Visas – Allow you to stay in Canada for a limited time period for purposes of tourism, family visitation, studying, or working.

What is the Canada Visa Types?

As we mentioned, there are two categories of Canadian visas and each category is specified for people depending on whether they meet the eligibility criteria.

Temporary Canada Visas

This visa allows people to visit Canada for a specific period of time which will be determined by the Border Services Officers (BSO) or the Canadian Consulate? The time is usually limited to 6 months and the temporary visa could be single entry or multiple entry visa.

In the single entry visa, the person is allowed to enter Canada once, and stay up to 6 months and then return to their home country. On the other hand, the multiple entry visas allow the person to enter Canada multiple times until their visa expires.

Specifically, there are four types of Canadian Temporary Visas:

Temporary Resident Visas

The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) has its own sub-categories based on the purpose of the visit to Canada:

  • Tourist Visa

The Canada Visitor Visa known as the Tourist visa allows the holder to enter Canada only for tourism purposes in the country.

  • Super Visa

The Canadian Super Visa allows parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents to visit their children or grandchildren for an extended stay.

  • Diplomatic and Official visa

The Diplomatic and official visa allows officials and diplomats from foreign countries to enter Canada for official duties and purposes.

  • Courtesy Visa

The Courtesy visa is obtained by those people who do not qualify for a Diplomatic and Official Visa but are considered of importance because of their ranks and positions. For example, members of trade missions or diplomats with touristic intent.

  • Business Visa

The Canada Business Visa is given to people who want to visit Canada strictly for business purposes as individuals or as a group of business people.

  • Persons wishing to enter Canada for the purpose of giving birth

This visa applies for people who fulfill all the criteria to stay temporarily in Canada and who are pregnant and want to give birth in the country. The newborn will be automatically a Canadian citizen.

  • Intending Organ Donors Visa

The intending Organ Donors Visa can be obtained by people who are traveling to Canada in order to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

  • Facilitation Visa

Facilitation Visas are given to Canadian citizens that have dual nationalities who do not possess a Canadian passport but have a passport of another nationality. The facilitation visa is stamped on the person’s other nationality visa just because of the hard procedure of getting a Canadian passport.

Other Temporary Canada Visas

  • Student Visa

Canada student visa applies to those who have an admission from a Canadian university to complete their studies. If you want to go to Canada and study for less than 6 months you can obtain a general visa, but if you’re studying takes more than 6 months you must have a Student Visa.

  • Temporary Foreign Workers

Canada temporary work visas are given to those people who want to work up to 6 months and have a job offer in Canada. In order to get this visa, the person must present a valid job offer letter from the employer and qualify for a temporary visa.

  • Temporary Resident Permit

This permit is designed for people that want to travel to Canada for different purposes that are not admissible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This visa is only issued for a period of time that the person needs to stay in Canada, for example, 2 weeks for a workshop.

  • Work Holiday Visa

This visa can be obtained by young people from 30 countries, and they will be allowed to work as well as travel Canada. This is a random selection visa which means that applicants will submit their applications and will be picked randomly.

Permanent Canada Visas

By obtaining a permanent Canada visa you will be allowed to permanently live in the country.  These visas are known as immigrant visas and they can be different types:

Express Entry Visas

Canada Express Entry Program is a program developed by the Government of Canada, it is an electronic immigration program. It constitutes of allowing people from all over the world to apply for immigration in Canada based on their specific skill set. What is part of the program:

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) visa is given to people who are qualified tradespeople in occupations such as:

  • Carpenters;
  • Aircraft Mechanics;
  • Crane Operators;
  • Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics;
  • Electricians;
  • Machinists;
  • Ironworkers;
  • Welders;
  • Plumbers, etc.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) visa is given to applicants which jobs are required in Canada. They must check what occupations in Canada are needed prior to applying.

Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

These workers are placed in provinces throughout Canada where the job demand is high. This visa is for low-skilled workers, but can still contribute to the Canadian economy through their work.

Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class visa is given to people with a temporary student visa or temporary work visa who want a permanent status, but have already settled in Canadian society.

Canadian Business Immigrant Visa

  • Immigrant Investor Program

This program is for people whose net worth is above CAD$800,000. These people are obliged to invest in Canada at least CAD$400,000. The government will return the investment in 5 years’ time with no interest.

  • Entrepreneur Program

This program constitutes that the people under this program will individually be contributing to the economy. The minimum net worth is CAD$300,000 they must commit to manage and own at least one-third of Canadian Business and create and maintain employment within 3 years of stay.

  • Self-employed Persons Program

The Self-employed Persons Program requires people who have skills like a business, farming, athletics and so on and they can start their own business. They must show how they would finance their businesses as well as their skills in that particular area.

Other Canada Permanent Visas

  • Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

The requirements are being fluent in French and have one of the occupations required in the Canadian province of Quebec, you can move and work permanently.

  • Family-Sponsorship Program

Spouses and children of citizens and/or Permanent Residents are allowed to immigrate to Canada permanently.

  • Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP)

This visa is for qualified caregivers for the elderly, children, or disabled people.

What does a Canadian Visa look like?

The Canadian visa is stamped on the passport and has no picture. It includes the following information:

  • The place the visa was issued
  • Date of issuance and expiration
  • Number of entries allowed
  • Document number
  • Visa category
  • Visa type
  • The visa holder’s last and first name
  • Passport number

Examples of Canadian Visas:

Canada Visitor Visa:

Canada Employment Visa:

Canada Immigrant Visa:

Traveling to the US as a Canadian Visa Holder

You have to apply for a US visa in Canada. If by any chance you are a citizen of a country in the Visa Waiver Program, you will have to apply for ESTA.