Canada Visitor Visa 2023 ❤️ Conditions

Canada Visitor Visa

Millions of visitors visit Canada annually for different purposes such as visiting families and friends, tourism, or business trips. If you wish to come to Canada for a temporary purpose like a vacation or to visit family or friends, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa, unless you are a citizen from a visa-exempt country such as the USA or Australia.

About Canada Visitor Visa

A Canadian Visitor or Tourist Visa is a temporary resident visa (TRV). It is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office that is placed in your passport to demonstrate the applicant meets the requirements needed to enter Canada as a temporary resident (either as a visitor, a student, or a worker).

Most travelers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada or if they are transiting through a Canadian airport on their way to their final destination.

You can apply for a visitor visa online or on paper. Of course, paper applications are not being accepted at this time.

The best time to apply for your Canada visa is 1-2 months before your travel date.

Types of Canada Visitor Visa

1. Multiple Entry Visa

A multiple-entry visa is considered automatically for all visa applicants.

If you plan to travel between Canada and other countries, or have a short trip to Canada, travel back to your home country, and re-enter Canada later, you may benefit from a multiple-entry visa.

While valid, a multiple entry visa will let you travel to Canada for 6 months at a time as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever is shorter. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date of your visa.

2. Single Entry Visa

If you are visiting Canada and staying there for the duration of your trip and not traveling outside of Canada or the United States, a single-entry visa is all you would need.

A single entry visa lets you travel to Canada only one time. It is granted for a period of up to 6 months. In most cases, once you have left Canada, you will need a new visa to enter Canada again.

You won’t need a new visitor visa to return to Canada if you are traveling directly to the United States (including its Territories and Possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

There are some benefits and drawbacks to each type of Canadian visitor visa which can be amplified by your situation, as well as your personal preference.

Different Purposes for Canada Visitor Visa

• Visit / Tourism
• Study
• Work
• Temporary Resident

How Long Can A Visitor Stay in Canada?

Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.

At the port of entry, the border services officer will put the date you need to leave by in your passport, or s/he may give you a document, called a visitor record, showing the date you need to leave.

If you don’t get a stamp on your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires.

In some cases, the officer may limit or extend your time in Canada to cover the planned purpose of your visit. Ask questions if you’re not sure about something.

If you want to stay longer than your authorized stay, you should apply for an extension at least 30 days before the authorized end of your stay. If your application to extend your stay in Canada is approved, you will receive a visitor record. A visitor record is a document that says how long you can stay in Canada and includes an expiry date by that you must leave Canada.

A visitor record does not guarantee entry to Canada. If you plan to travel outside Canada or the United States, you need a valid entry document to return to Canada.

Who Needs a Canada Visitor Visa?

Visitors are persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and are legally authorized to visit Canada on holiday (vacation), enter Canada to visit family, conduct business, etc. Visitors are restricted in length of stay and subject to various conditions.

All about Canada Business Visa 2023 | Click now!

You may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada.

The entry document you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you plan to travel with
• the country that issued your travel document
• your nationality
• your method of travel to Canada for the trip

You won’t need an eTA if you’re entering Canada by car, bus, train, or boat, although you will need the right travel documents.

The eTA is the equivalent of a visa; however, no stamp or label is placed in the passport.  Some people may only need a valid passport. It is recommended that travelers entering Canada by air obtain the eTA before traveling via email within minutes. Each family member must apply separately for an eTA. You cannot apply for more than one eTA at a time.

Before a traveler from a visa-exempt country board an airplane, an eTA is required including those going through Canada. The eTA is valid for up to 5 years or when your visa expires, whichever is earlier.

Visa-exempt countries include:

• United Kingdom
• Australia
• France
• Japan
• Chile

Some specific travelers need or don’t need an eTA:

Travelers who need an eTA:

• Visa-exempt foreign nationals
• US lawful permanent residents (a valid Green Card and a valid passport is needed)

Travelers who may be eligible to apply for an eTA:

• Citizens from select visa-required countries (instead of a visa)

Travelers who cannot apply for an eTA and need to carry other identification:

• Canadian citizens including dual citizens (must carry a Canadian or US passport)
• Canadian permanent residents (must carry a valid PR card or permanent resident travel document)

Travelers who are exempt from the eTA requirement:

• U.S. citizens (must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport

 Eligibility for Canada Visitor Visa

To get a visitor visa, you must:

• have a valid travel document, like a passport

• be in good health

• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions

• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets, or family—that prove you will return to your home country
• prove that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• have enough money for your stay which depends on where and how long you will stay

You may also need a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada. A letter of invitation does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. Visa officers assess you to decide whether you meet the terms of Canada’s immigration law.

In most cases, you now need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply. The medical exam is to make sure you are not inadmissible for medical reasons. Your own doctor cannot do the medical exam. You must find a panel physician who has been approved to do medical exams.

Some people are not allowed to enter Canada. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

• criminal activity
• human rights violations
• organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health, or financial reasons.

Minor children traveling to Canada

Children under the age of 18 are considered minors in Canada. They must travel with the right documents and meet the same entry requirements as adults. The minor children will be traveling with their parents, with someone else, or alone.

If a minor child is traveling alone, s/he should present his or her own passport- a parent’s passport even if the child’s details are included in it cannot be used; a copy of his birth certificate; and a letter of authorization, in English or French, and signed by both parents or by their legal guardian which lists the parents’ (or legal guardian’s) address and telephone number, and the name, address and telephone number of the adult who will look after the child in Canada.

For the children who are traveling to Canada with one parent or legal guardian only, the parent/guardian should present the child’s passport, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and a letter of authorization signed by the parent not accompanying the child with contact details (in English or French if possible).

If the parents are separated, divorced, or have shared custody, the parent traveling with the child will require copies of the legal custody documents as well as a letter of authorization from the other parent/guardian.

If the parents are separated or divorced and one parent has sole custody of the child, s/he should have a letter of authorization signed by that parent only as well as a copy of the custody decree.

If one of the parents is deceased, the traveling parent should bring a copy of the death certificate.

Adoptive parents or legal guardians should have a copy of guardianship/adoption papers.

If a minor child is traveling to Canada with anyone other than parents or legal guardian, the adult should have written consent from parents or guardians to supervise the child (including contact details of parents/guardians) and a copy of parents’ or legal guardian’s signed passports or national identity cards attached to the letter.

Since each person must complete and sign the Application for Temporary Resident Visa, parents or guardians can help children fill out their forms. Parents or guardians must sign the forms for any children under the age of 18.

How to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa

You can apply for a visitor visa online or on paper.

Online applications may be processed more quickly. No courier fees or mail delivery time is needed for online applications. Applying online helps ensure your application is complete before you submit it. Incomplete applications are returned to you.

Applicants who are using an alien’s passport for stateless persons, as well as other refugee travel documents for non-citizens from a visa-exempt country, must apply on paper.

To get an eTA for Canada, you will need your passport, and credit, or debit card. Complete the online form, pay the $7 CAN fee, and then you’ll receive an email regarding your application.

Most applications are approved within minutes but it’s best to get your eTA before you book your flight to Canada because some requests can take several days to process. Once your eTA has been approved, it is electronically linked to your passport and valid for 5 years from the day it is issued or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier.

Make sure you print your eTA receipt as soon as payment is complete. You won’t be able to print it later or receive a copy of it.

After Applying for Canada Visitor Visa

In most cases, you need to give biometrics. There is no fee to give biometrics for a transit visa. After you pay the biometrics fee and submit your application, a letter that says you need to give your biometrics is sent to you. The letter will tell you how and where to give your biometrics. You have up to 30 days to give your biometrics (in person). You need to bring this letter when you give your biometrics. You also need to bring your valid passport.

If you didn’t pay the biometrics fee, we will send you a letter asking you to do this first. You can only get the instruction letter if you pay the biometrics fee.

Where to give your biometrics?

You can go to one of these official locations to give your biometrics:

• visa application centers (VACs) worldwide
• application support centers (ASCs) in the United States and its territories
• designated Service Canada offices (SCOs)

Before you go, you need to make an appointment to give your biometrics.

If you are outside Canada, you should also check the location’s website for its services and fees.

Canada Visitor Visa Application Processing

Your application will be checked to make sure you have all the documents you need. If it is incomplete, we will return your application without processing it. You may also be required to go to an interview with our officials in your country, get a medical exam, and get a police certificate. Visa requests cannot be processed without your original passport.

Most applications will be processed in a few weeks or less. The passport and other original documents will be returned after processing the application. The original bank statements or any documents found to be fake will not be returned. If the application is approved, the visa will be stamped inside the passport and will become one of your passport pages. If the application is refused, an explanation will be sent.

Requirements to Extend a Canada Visitor Visa

• You need to be currently in Canada
• You need to hold a current passport that will stay valid for the duration of your stay
• You will need to pay the associated fee for Form IMM 5708
• You will need to ensure that any other permits that you hold (Study or work) will stay valid and not interfere with your visitor permit.

Measures during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Due to Coronavirus’s impact on Canadian immigration, applications will be prioritized for individuals who are currently eligible to travel based on current travel restrictions.

If you are traveling by air, you need to follow all airline requirements and pass a health check conducted by airlines before you are allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.

When you arrive in Canada, they will assess your health before you leave the port of entry.

You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you do not have a plan, you should not travel to Canada.

Only people who provide essential services, for example, truck drivers who regularly cross the border to maintain the flow of goods, are exempt from the quarantine requirements.

The Canadian government created an app called ArriveCAN to help provide mandatory travel information required for entering Canada. As of November 21, 2020 travelers to Canada will be able to submit their required information digitally through the ArriveCAN app.