Canada Visitor Visa or The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

The Canada temporary resident visa (Canada TRV), sometimes known as a Canada visitor visa, is a travel document required for certain foreign citizens to enter the country.

Many visitors visiting Canada are unclear whether they need a valid TRV, an approved Canadian eTA, or both. This basic information might assist anyone who is unsure about which travel permits they require.

What Is A Canada Visitor Visa Or Temporary Resident Visa?

A temporary resident visa, also known as a Canadian Visitor Visa, is one of the types of visas that non-visa-exempt foreign residents must receive in order to travel to and stay in Canada.

A visitor visa to Canada is given as a single-entry travel document with a maximum stay of six (6) months.

It allows the traveller to stay in the country for tourism, business, study, or job purposes.

How Long Is The Validity Of A Canadian Temporary Resident Visa?

When applying for a TRV to get a visitor visa to Canada, applicants might need to state their desired date of entry. This is the date the visa becomes valid, and it is valid for the length of the traveller's stay, up to 6 months.

Extending a temporary resident visa for Canada may also be available online or through a paper application. This must be completed at least 30 days before the current visa expires.

Is It Possible To Change My Visitor Visa To A Work Visa In Canada?

• While students on a tourist visa do not require additional travel documents if their studies are for less than six (6) months, individuals who wish to work in Canada must also have a valid work permit.
• Visitors who have already arrived in Canada and have a job offer can request a work permit while still in the country.

Who Should Apply For A Canadian Visitor Visa Instead Of A Canadian eTA?

Before they arrive in Canada, citizens of the listed countries must apply for a Canada visitor visa (temporary resident visa):

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Antigua & Barbuda (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Argentina (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Belarus

Belize

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

China

Colombia

Comoros

Congo, Democratic Republic

Congo, Republic of

Costa Rica (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Cuba

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Fiji

Gabon

Gambia

Georgia

Ghana

Grenada

Guatemala

Guinea

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kiribati

Korea, North

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Macao

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Moldova

Mongolia

Montenegro

Morocco (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nepal

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Panama (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Qatar

Russia

Rwanda

Sao Tome e Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

St. Kitts & Nevis (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

St. Lucia (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

St. Vincent (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Sudan

Surinam

Swaziland

Syria

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Togo

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

Ukraine

Uruguay (eligible for conditional Canada eTA)

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Venezuela

Vietnam

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Citizens of these countries who desire to stay in Canada for more than six (6) months must apply for a different visa category at their nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

How To Obtain A TRV Or Canada Visitor Visa?

Applicants who are already located in Canada and looking for a study permit, work permit, or visitor record can now apply online for a Canada visitor visa.

However, the typical procedure for foreign nationals to apply for a Canada visitor visa entails visiting a Canadian visa application centre (VAC). This must take place in either the country where the applicant was legitimately admitted or their country of citizenship or residence.

To successfully apply for a Canada visitor visa, applicants must normally book an appointment at one of these facilities ahead of time and bring a variety of supporting papers, including:

• A valid passport from a qualifying nation is required.
• A completed application for a visitor visa to Canada.
• A passport-sized recent image of the traveller.
• A copy of a confirmed return or onward flight ticket.
• An itinerary for the planned visit to Canada.

Based on the objective of the intended trip, additional papers may be required. Before the application can be finalized, you must additionally pay a Canada visitor visa fee.

After applying, the applicant is usually required to provide biometric data (fingerprints and a photo) within 30 days of visiting the visa centre.

The processing period for a Canada visitor visa application submitted at a VAC varies based on the demand of the individual application centre and whether the applicant must meet any additional conditions.

Learn more about how to apply for Canada Visitor Visa.

What Are The Documents Required For A Tourism-Related Visit To Canada?

The following are the essential conditions for obtaining a visitor visa to Canada:

• You must have a valid passport.
• Have no severe criminal convictions and be in good health.
• Have no convictions for immigration-related offenses.
• Persuade the immigration officer that you have adequate ties in your home country, such as a job, a home, family, or financial assets.
• Persuade the immigration official that you intend to leave Canada at the end of your visit.
• Have enough money to pay the costs of your vacation.
• In some situations, a medical checkup or a letter of invitation from a Canadian resident may be required.

There are several reasons why a person may be denied entry into Canada. Some people are deemed inadmissible for the following reasons:

• Serious criminal behaviour (check how to get an eTA with a criminal record).
• Violations of human rights.
• Crime syndicates.

How Do We Process Your Canada Visitor Visa Application?

We'll review your application to ensure you have all of the required documentation.

If it is incomplete, we will return it to you without processing it.

We may also request that you:

• Attend an interview with our officials in your country and email additional information.
• Obtain a medical examination.
• Obtain a police certification.

If you need to perform any of them, we'll tell you what to do.

Most applications are processed in a few days or less. Processing times vary depending on the visa office and whether any additional processes are required.

We will return your passport as well as other original documents to you once your application has been processed. We will not return original financial records or any other documentation if we find that they are fake.

READ MORE:
Certain foreign nationals are allowed by Canada to visit the country without having to go through the lengthy process of applying for the Canadian Visa. Instead, these foreign nationals can travel to the country by applying for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization or Canada eTA Learn more at Canada eTA Requirements.

What Documents Should You Carry On Your Trip To Canada?

When travelling to Canada, you may be required to bring certain documents.

If any of the following conditions apply to you or someone you'll be travelling with, be sure you have the necessary documentation.

You have a child under the age of 18 (a minor child):

A child under the age of 18 is considered a minor in Canada. You may be required to demonstrate:

A letter authorizing the minor kid to travel to Canada, as well as other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decision, depending on whether or not the minor child goes alone.

You were invited to visit Canada:

If you received a letter from someone or a company inviting you to Canada, bring it with you. A border patrol officer may request to see it.

What Happens After You Arrive In Canada?

A valid visa and travel document do not ensure entry to Canada. We check if you meet all of the entrance requirements:

• When you arrive, we will verify your identity to ensure that you are the same person who was granted permission to travel to Canada.
• If you enter Canada through one of the four (4) major Canadian airports, your fingerprints will be immediately examined at a primary inspection kiosk. The system will verify your identity using the information you provided when you submitted your application.
• If you enter Canada through a land border crossing, you may be referred to a secondary inspection, and your fingerprints may be verified by a border services officer using a fingerprint verification device.

How Do You Enter The Country?

• The border services officer may stamp your passport or tell you how long you can stay in Canada if you pass the identity check, health exam, and entrance requirements. Normally, you can stay in Canada for up to six (6) months.
• Depending on the reason for your visit, the officer may limit or extend your time in Canada. If you're unsure about something, ask questions.
• You will not be allowed to enter Canada if you provide fraudulent or incomplete information.
• The officer must be persuaded that: You are eligible to enter Canada, and you will leave Canada after your authorized stay expires.

Is The ETA In Canada The Same As The TRV In Canada?

The primary distinction between a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa and an Electronic Travel Authorization is that people who require a visa for short-term visits in Canada are not eligible to apply for an ETA online.

The Canadian ETA online application system is only available to visa-exempt citizens wanting to visit Canada for durations of up to six (6) months per entry. It is a multiple-entry travel authorization with a substantially longer validity period than the TRV, lasting 5 years after approval.

The supporting document checklist for a Canada tourist visa is substantially larger than the list required for applying for a Canadian ETA. To file an electronic authorization form online, all that is required is a valid passport, a valid email address, and a functional credit or debit card.

Are The Tourist And Visitor Visas The Same In Canada?

In Canada, a visitor visa is the same as a tourist visa. It allows international visitors to enter Canada for tourism, commerce, work, or study.

If they are not eligible for a Canada ETA, most nationalities require a visitor visa.

READ MORE:
International visitors traveling to Canada need to carry proper documentation in order to be able to enter the country. Canada exempts certain foreign nationals from carrying a proper travel Visa when visiting the country via air through commercial or chartered flights. Learn more at Types of Visa or eTA for Canada.

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Check your eligibility for Canada eTA and apply for Canada eTA three (3) days in advance of your flight. Hungarian citizens, Italian citizens, Brazilian citizens, Filipino citizens and Portuguese citizens can apply online for Canada eTA.