A trip to Canada only requires a visitor visa and your luggage. A visitor visa is a type of Canada visa that will permit your entry into the country. A Canadian visitor visa is also known as a temporary resident visa. It provides an individual with enough time to spend with their families and friends in Canada or to explore new places in the country.
Types of Canada Visitor visa
Below are the types of Canadian visitor visas:
1. A single-entry visitor visa
- This allows the entry of the individual into the country only once.
- It is only valid for 6 months, allowing the holder to stay for that period only.
2. Multiple-entry visitor visa
- This allows the entry of the individual into the country for a couple of times and only for the period of validity.
- It is valid for a total of 10 years, depending on the situation.
3. Transit visa
- This is specifically for travelers passing through Canada to get to their final destination.
- It is valid for only 48 hours.
4. Business visitor visa
- This is mainly for business purposes and is designed for business owners who enter Canada, solely to attend business seminars, meetings,etc.
5. Courtesy visa:
- This is specifically for foreign citizens who do not need a visa, but they are required to travel to Canada for a particular purpose.
6. Diplomatic visa
- This is for officials from foreign countries who are travelling to Canada for official duties.
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Eligibility Criteria and Requirements of a Canadian visitor visa
Below are the eligibility criteria and requirements for a Canada visitor visa:
General requirement
- Valid ID passport: You must have a valid ID passport which is at least 6 months away from the expiration date.
- Strong Health and Fitness: You must also be in good and vibrant health or present your recent medical exam result.
- Criminal record: You must have no criminal record and neither should your name be attached to any crimes. This can be proven with a police clearance report from your local country.
- Intention to leave: You must be able to prove that you will leave the country after your visa expires.
- Financial capability: You must be able to prove that you have enough money to stay in the country to support your needs and pay your bills.
- Biometric Identification: You will provide the Canada immigration officer with your fingerprints and passport.
- Travel history: You may have to provide several travel documents in the past, like return ticket, reservation, etc.
How to apply for a Canadian visitor visa
To apply for a Canada visitor visa, you must follow the steps below:
STEP 1: CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY
- You can visit the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada) website to check your eligibility and choose the best suitable visa for your purpose.
- Ensure to check the requirements before applying for the visitor visa.
STEP 2: GATHER ALL THE DOCUMENTS
The list of documents that will be considered for a visitor visa is:
- Valid ID passport
- Medical exam certificate
- Police clearance certificate
- Proof of Financial capability, e.g, bank statement.
- Completed application form (IMM5257)
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STEP 3: PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION FORM
- You can get your application form from the IRCC website/portal.
- You must fill in the application form with corrections and details.
STEP 4: SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION FORM
- Ensure to review your application before submission
- You can then submit your application form via the IRCC website after thorough review.
STEP 5: UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS
- Be sure to upload all requested documents, including your ID passport, proof of financial capability, etc.
STEP 6: PAY THE PROCESSING FEE
- After successful submission of the form, you must pay the application fee to process your application.
STEP 7: BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION
- You will provide your biometrics, i.e, your fingerprints and photo.
STEP 8: THE PROCESSING TIME
- While you wait for your application to be processed, make sure to respond to all messages, notifications received from the IRCC.
STEP 8: VISA APPROVAL
- If your application is approved, you are due for a visa at the Canadian embassy.
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Top Ten Tips for a Canada Visitor Visa Application
To increase your chances of success in the application process, these are the top 10 tips you can apply:
Tip 1: Early application
- Apply for your visa application for at least 2-3 months in advance. Applying this will give you the chance to skip the long processing period, meet the target time for take off, and avoid the risk of being delayed.
Tip 2: Accurate Documentation
- Ensure you review your application and make sure it is correct and perfect.
- Checklist your qualifications and skills with the IRCC to make sure you have all the required documents.
Tip 3: Proof of relationship to your Home Country
- Providing a link to your home country, like your job, family, assets, company, will increase your chance of success in the application process. A valid passport may not be enough.
Tip 4: Good travel history
- Include all past documents of your journey to Canada, like hotel reservation, confirmation letter of return from your employer.
- Having a good travel history will increase your chances of success in your application process.
Tip 5: Always be prepared
- Be prepared for requests from your employers, like additional documentation or details.
Tip 6: Get the right application form
- Be sure to download the recent and correct application form on the IRCC website.
Tip 7: Pay the application fee
- Make sure to read to verify the application fee on the IRCC/
- And pay the correct application fee online.
Tip 8: Get an Immigration lawyer
- If you are new to the system of Canada visa, it is recommended that you hire a Canada lawyer who will guide you from the onset of the application to the approval stage.
- Your hired Canada immigration lawyer must be a licensed one to represent you in addressing issues.
Tip 9: Check for updates
- Ensure to reply to all notifications, messages from the IRCC website.
Tip 10: Be patient
- While you await visa approval from the IRCC website, you must be patient and persistent enough.
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Why choose a Visitor visa?
Canada has been a great place for relaxation, family unity, tourism purposes, etc. Individuals, friends, families, and tourists chose Canada because of:
1. Family reunion
- Canada has connected many families together via visitor visa. This allows the visiting family members to spend more time and reconnect emotionally with their family in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Visitor visas also allow them to attend special events organised by family members in Canada, such as: weddings, birthdays, etc.
2. Business and Work Purposes
- Business owners can attend meetings with their partners or clients, negotiate deals and execute business deals via visitor visa.
- Business owners can also attend economic or business conferences, seminars, or shows via a visitor visa.
3. Tourism
- Canada is a city of many cultures, norms, and religions with historical museums, landmarks, and festivals.
- Tourists apply for a visitor visa to explore the country’s beautiful scenes, natural places, and the culture of the people in the country.
4. Medical treatment
- Patients around the world who need urgent medical treatment like surgery, also apply for a visitor visa and be granted quick access into the country.
5. Research/Study
- Researchers who wanted to conduct research, survey, and do a quick assessment of necessary information. They utilize the visitor visa to enter the country.
Conclusion
A Canada visitor visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is important for foreign nationals who are willing to visit the country for different purposes. The temporary resident visa is useful for business owners, tourists who want to achieve a temporary goal, and they are only staying for a particular period. A Canada visitor visa has its specific eligibility criteria and requirements. Every visitor visa applicant must be able to meet the requirements, follow the application guidelines to be successful. One of the significant challenges faced by most applicants is the complexity of the application process.
You can hire an immigration lawyer to oversee the whole process and ensure a successful application. A visitor visa is one of the most sought-after visas in Canada after a work visa. This is due to the numerous benefits offered by the visa. Foreign workers sometimes use the visitor visa as an entry to Canada and later apply for a proper work visa in the country. When you are applying for a Canada visitor visa, it is best that you keep yourself updated about the immigration policies and other developments before applying.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Canada Visitor Visa
1. How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor?
A Canada visitor visa only allows the holder to stay in Canada for 6 months from the day of entry into the country till the date of expiration. The date of expiration will be written on the stamp in their passport and the document issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
2. What’s the difference between a single and multiple-entry visa?
A single-entry visa allows the holder of the visa to enter Canada only for a time only while a multiple-entry visa allows the entry of the holder of the visa for multiple times.
3. Can I extend my stay as a visitor?
Yes, you can extend your stay as a visitor in the country as a:
- Visitor: extending your visitor visa card.
- Foreign Worker: Changing your visitor visa to a work visa to work in the country for more years.
Student: You can change your visitor visa to a student visa to study in Canada.