Canada Visa | Step by step guide to apply

 Canada is a well developed nation that is situated directly above the United States on the North American continent. The number of visitors to Canada using Canadian Visa has been rising significantly over the past few years, but many people are unsure of how to get there.

What is Canadian Visa?

Canadian Visa
CANADA


A visa for Canada (Canadian Visa) is a stamp in your passport that grants you entry to the nation.

It gives you the legal right to enter the nation and remain there for however long you choose. 

Obtaining a visa to enter Canada signifies that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence has determined that you are qualified and meet entrance conditions. 

At the border the authorities will decide if you are fit to enter once you reach the Canadian border and customs, though most countries are granted visa on arrival.

The immigration officers will let you in if you answer to the Canadian Border Services Officers (BSO) questions truthfully and appropriately. 

Otherwise, even if you have a Canadian visa, they may refuse you entry if they believe you are ineligible andwil deport you immediately.


Who Needs a Canadian Visa?

Visas are required for entry into Canada for citizens of nations without an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or visa exemption agreement. 

To be more precise, Canadian visa are required for visitors, employees, and immigrants from 148 or so different nations.

You must submit an application if you fall under this category and require a Canada Visa. 

There are a few standard stages you must follow, but the manner you use to apply will depend on the sort of visa you want.



What types of Canadian visa exist?

You must first decide which type of Canadian visa you wish to apply for before you do so. 

These are the several kinds of Canada visas:

  • visas for guests.
  • Student visas.
  • work permits.
  • visas for permanent residence.
  • visas for business immigrants.
  • visas under the Express Entry Program.

Choose the option that best suits your motivation for visiting Canada.

(A) Temporary Visas for Canada

The duration of the stay in Canada is regulated by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO) and is made possible by temporary Canada visas . 

Usually, this period lasts up to six months. The temporary visa, however, might be either a single entrance or a multiple entry visa.

A single entry visa enables the holder to visit Canada just once, remain there for six months, and then leave again for their country of origin. 

A multiple entrance visa enables the holder to briefly enter Canada on several occasions up until the expiration of the visa.

Canadian temporary visas come in the following varieties:

  • Visa for travel to Canada. The holder of a visitor visa or tourist visa is permitted entry into Canada for the purpose of traveling there.
  • Super Visa for Canada. Parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents are able to travel to see their children or grandkids for an extended period of time thanks to the Canadian Super Visa.
  • Diplomatic and Official visas Foreign officials and diplomats are permitted entry into Canada for business and official purposes with the Diplomatic and Official visa.
  • Welcome Visa. All persons who are deemed important due to their ranks and positions but do not qualify for a diplomatic or official visa are issued courtesy visas. Members of trade missions or diplomats traveling on official business are two notable examples.
  • Business visa for Canada. Individuals or groups of business travelers to Canada on official business are eligible for the Business Visa.
  • Birth authorization for Canada. People who meet all requirements to temporarily reside in Canada and who are pregnant and intend to give birth there are granted this visa. When a baby is born in Canada, they are automatically citizens.
  • Applying for an organ donor visa. A person who is coming to Canada in order to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident will be granted this visa.
  • Facilitation Visa for Canada. Dual-national Canadian citizens who do not have a Canadian passport but do have a passport of another country are granted facilitation visas. Due to the great difficulties in obtaining a Canadian passport, the facilitation visa is stamped on the person's other nationality visa.
  • Student visa for Canada. Those who have been accepted to a Canadian university to complete their studies are granted a student visa for Canada. You can only obtain a TRV visa if you are traveling to Canada for less than six months of study; however, if you plan to stay for more than six months, you will require a Student Visa.
  • Temporary Work Permit for Canada. People with a job offer in Canada who want to work there for up to six months are granted temporary work visas. The applicant must meet the requirements for a temporary visa and produce a legitimate employment offer letter from an employer to obtain this visa.
  • Permit for Temporary Residency. People who need to travel to Canada for various reasons but are not otherwise eligible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) might do so with the help of this permission . Only the time that the person needs to be in Canada is covered by this permit, such as two weeks for a workshop.
  • Work permit for vacation. Young people from 30 different countries are granted the Canada Working Holiday Visa so they can visit and work there. Because it is a random selection visa, candidates must submit their applications and wait to be chosen at random before applying for a work permit.


(B) Permanent Visas for Canada

The holders of permanent visas for Canada are able to live there indefinitely. 

These are also referred to as immigrant visas and come in a variety of forms, including the following:

  • Program for Immigrant Investors. The Immigrant Investor Program is for individuals with a net worth of at least $800,000 CAD who intend to invest in the Canadian economy. They must put up a minimum of $400,000 CAD, and the government will give them their money back interest-free after five years.
  • Startup Visa Initiative. The Canada Startup Visa is intended for individuals who plan to actively participate in the economy. Within three years of moving to Canada, they must promise to own and manage at least one-third of a Canadian company, generate and keep jobs, and have a net worth of at least $300,000.
  • Visa for Self-Employed People. The Self-employed Persons visa is for those who can launch their own firms and have abilities in business, athletics, culture, or farming. These individuals must demonstrate both their capacity for financing the company and their expertise in the relevant fields.
  • Selected Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP). You can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which would allow you to move and work permanently in the Canadian province of Quebec, if you have one of the occupations necessary there and you speak French fluently.
  • Program for Family Sponsorship. The spouses and dependent children of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently through the Family Sponsorship Visa program.
  • Live-in Caregivers Program (LCP). Caregivers who are qualified to care for the elderly, the disabled, or children and reside in a private home in Canada are granted this visa.


Read Also: How to apply for Ireland visa

Visas for Express Entry

The Canadian government created the automated immigration scheme known as Canada Express Entry. 

Based on their unique skills, it enables people from all over the world to apply for immigration to Canada.

These are included in this program:

  • Government program for skilled trades (FSTP)
  • Program for Federally Skilled Workers (FSWP)
  • Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
  • Class with Canadian Experience

Government program for skilled trades (FSTP)

Tradespeople who meet the requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) visa may work in positions such as:

  1. Carpenters
  2. Aviation mechanics
  3. Operator of cranes
  4. Mechanics of Heavy-Duty Equipment
  5. Electricians
  6. Machinists
  7. Iron workers
  8. Welders
  9. Among others.

Federally Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) grants visas to individuals with occupations that are in demand in Canada. When intending to apply and earn the required points, you must determine the kind of jobs that Canada is now seeking.


Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

Workers who are semi- or low-skilled but have the potential to make a positive impact on the Canadian economy are eligible for this visa under the Provincial Nominee Program. The workers are assigned to various Canadian provinces where there is a greater need for their services.


Class with Canadian Experience

For those who want to go from a temporary employment or student status to a permanent residence status, the Canadian Experience Class permanent visa is available. They have assimilated into Canadian society and either have Canadian schooling or professional experience.


Canadian Visa Request

The method for applying for a visa to Canada mostly relies on the type of visa you require.

You must follow these easy procedures in order to apply for a visa to Canada:

  • Find out if you qualify for a visa to Canada.
  • Create a profile online.
  • Put the document file together.
  • Cover the costs.
  • Wait for your Canadian visa to be processed.
  • Passport and processing costs must be submitted.
  • Find out if you qualify for a visa to Canada.

The Canadian government has made it quite simple to learn how to obtain a visa. They have developed various assessments that determine an applicant's eligibility by having them respond to an online survey. 

You will be required to respond to a series of questions based on the type of visa you desire, and the system will then inform you if you are eligible to apply or not. 

Additionally, it will offer you the necessary guidelines and directions you need to follow in order to meet all the requirements.


(A) Find out if you qualify for Canadian Visa.

  • You must go to their website here to be able to access these surveys and determine your eligibility for the Canadian visa. You can choose from a variety of tabs and information on the website, but you must select the Immigration tab.
  • You will be presented with a drop-down menu of choices when you hover over or click on the Immigration tab. My Application will be the top tab, followed by tabs for Visit, Immigrate, Work, Study, and other options. 
  • Choose the option that best fits the type of visa you want to apply for. In keeping with the example we provided before, you must select the Visit tab if you want to obtain a tourist visa.
  • You may find further details there after selecting the option that corresponds to the purpose of your trip to Canada and the type of visa you wish to apply for. 
  • One of the options will state "Find out if you can apply" or "Find out if you are eligible," depending on which tab you have selected. This link must be clicked.
  • You must complete a questionnaire after clicking the link, which will direct you there. Your personal information, the reasons you desire to visit Canada, and your past travel experiences are just a few examples. 
  • The system will display the findings after the questionnaire has been completed.

Getting the Results

Different types of results, each of which will mention one of the following, will be displayed for you:

You are qualified for the visa that you have chosen.

The algorithm will match you with a different sort of visa if you are qualified for one.

You are not qualified to receive the visa.

The system will ask you to enter your contact information (often your email), and they will give you a set of documents whether you are qualified for the visa you have chosen or for a different kind of visa.

In addition to instructions and information on how to apply, the documents will include a description of the visa. They will also provide you a reference code.

One of the most crucial pieces of information in that collection of documents is the reference code, which you must use to launch your application. 

You can't apply until you have a reference code. Your reference code will have the type of visa you are asking for and will notify the system of the data you provided during your questionnaire.

You must therefore save both the email and those documents. The reference code may be written in a variety of places, including on paper, your computer, or a piece of mail, but you must not misplace it. If you do, the questionnaire process will need to be started afresh.


(B) Create a profile online.

It will be made clear in the email instructions you get whether you must apply for a Canada visa in person or online. 

Considering that the Canadian government is digitizing its data, the majority of applicants will need to do so online. You must set up an account in order to accomplish that.

For the application, there are two ways to register an account:

  • Since the Canadian Government has partnerships with numerous banks, you can use your online banking login; making a GCKey login for the Government of Canada;
  • You can choose whatever option best suits you because you will need to use your banking information in both cases to pay the visa payments. Put the document file together.
  • You can begin your application for a visa to Canada once you log into your account. Apply for the visa you have been approved for using your reference code. 
  • The system will display a list of the required papers for your Canadian visa application after you enter the reference code.


Visit this site for a comprehensive list of documents needed to apply for a visa to Canada.

Before submitting the application, you must complete and submit each of these forms online.


(C) Pay the visa fees

  • The system will direct you to the payment page once it has confirmed that you have provided all the required documentation. 
  • Depending on the type of visa you are seeking for, you must pay the Canada visa fees. Your application will be submitted after that is done.
  • If you apply in person, you only need to take those documents to the Canadian Embassy in your native country. 
  •  will take about 5 working days for you to see the application on your account if you apply online.


(D) Wait for your Canadian visa to be processed.

Depending on the type of visa you need, the Canadian Embassy will then take two or more weeks to process your application. 

They might also request extra paperwork from you or ask for your biometric data and schedule an interview.

Even if you applied online, you will still need to visit the Embassy if they request your biometrics and schedule an interview. 

Either you must schedule an appointment in advance or the Embassy will do so for you. 

You'll be required to present your fingerprints and a photo at your appointment, as well as respond to inquiries from a representative of the Canadian Embassy.

The official will decide whether or not you qualify for a Canadian visa. 

Immediately following your appointment, they can inform you of their choice, or they can wait and send you a notification.

Even if you didn't need to provide biometric data or have an interview, you still need to regularly check your account because all notices from the Embassy on your visa will be placed there.


(E) Passport and processing costs must be submitted.

The next step is to deliver your passport to the Canadian Embassy if your application for a visa to Canada is approved. You can accomplish this by mailing it, along with processing costs, to the Embassy's address in your nation. 

The processing fees, which range from $20 to $50 depending on the type of visa you're applying for, must be paid by check or money order. A passport return envelope is an additional cost.

The embassy staff will receive your passport along with the necessary fees, stamp your passport with the visa, and mail it back to you. 

You will need to pay the processing fees there and obtain the passport right away if you are informed of their decision right away following the visa interview.


Following the approval of a Canadian visa application

You can travel to Canada once you get your visa. You will be required to present your documentation and passport at the point of admission. The authorities will examine them and inquire briefly into your purpose for visiting Canada.

They will decide whether or not to let you into the nation after you respond. If the officials at the border crossing feel you will commit crimes or violate your visa restrictions, they have the right to refuse entry into Canada. 

The only people who can determine whether or not you will enter Canada with a visa are border guards.


The length of time it takes to obtain a visa for Canada

Each individual case has a different processing period for a Canada visa. It might take two to four weeks, maybe even longer.

Only until the Canadian authorities have received your complete application will your visa start to be processed.

The processing period will be extended if they require you to deliver them more documentation.


Can I Aid Someone in Getting a Visa to Canada?

You can send a Letter of Invitation to a relative or friend who resides overseas if you want to invite them to come to Canada.

The following details about the person you are inviting must be included in the letter of invitation:

  • full name and birthdate
  • The justification for their visit to Canada
  • When they plan to depart Canada and how long they plan to stay there
  • Theirie telephone number
  • The connection you two have
  • where they'll be staying
  • How they plan to pay for their travel

Knowing you:

  • Your full name and birthdate
  • Your line of work
  • Your place of residence in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
  • Your family information, including the names and dates of birth of your close relatives (spouse and dependents)
  • How many individuals reside in your home?

The Letter of Invitation does not, however, ensure that they will be granted a visa to Canada. The letter could be helpful, but the visa will be evaluated on its own merits.

NB:Through the Canada Family Sponsorship Program, you can sponsor a relative to immigrate to Canada permanently or for an extended period of time.


How Can I Stay in Canada For Longer?

You must apply for a visa extension if your visiting visa to Canada is about to expire and you wish to extend your stay. This is reffered to as A visitor record.

At least 30 days before your visitor visa expires, you must submit an application for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record).

You have the option of changing your study or work permission to a visitor record in addition to extending your tourist visa. A visitor record, however, is only accessible within of Canada.

You cannot enter Canada with a visitor record if you wish to leave and come back.


What Happens if I Stay in Canada for Too Long?

The next course of action if you overstayed your visa in Canada depends on how long you were there.

By requesting a Visitor Record and choosing "Restore my status as a visitor," you can get your visitor status back if you overstayed for less than 90 days.

You must leave Canada if you overstayed your visa by more than 90 days since you cannot request to have your status restored. You might not be able to obtain another visa for Canada.

But you ought to make an effort not to overstay your Canada visa. Before your visa expires, submit an application for an extension if you believe you might need to stay longer than the allowed time.


What is the cost of a Canadian visa?

Depending on the sort of canadian visa you're asking for, there is a charge for it in Canada. 

You must also pay a variety of fees, including processing fees and biometrics fees.

However, the standard Visitor Visa fee is $100 Canadian.


What happens if my Canadian visa is denied?

If your application for a visa to Canada is denied, you are free to reapply at any time, provided that the refusal letter does not prohibit you from doing so.

However, you can only reapply if your circumstance has changed or if you have new information that might improve your chances of being granted a Canadian visa.

There is no official procedure in place to appeal a decision on a tourist visa for Canada. 

Only applications for asylum and permanent residence are subject to appeal. The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) processes them.



If my Application for a Canada visa is denied, would I receive a refund?

Even if your application is denied, visa application fees are non-refundable. This is due to the fact that you are not paying for the actual visa but rather for the processing of your visa application.

In some circumstances, though, you might be eligible for a refund if you cancel your application before it begins to be processed. You won't get a refund once the processing has begun.

In addition, if your application is approved, the following expenses may be refunded to you:

  • The cost of the right to remain put
  • The cost of obtaining citizenship
  • An Open Work Permit's cost
  • International Experience Canada's cost (IEC)
  • The Employer Compliance Fee

However, you can still use the website for Immigration and Citizenship Canada to request a refund for any of your fees.


Can I Apply for a Canadian Visa from Outside Canada?

There may not always be a Canadian embassy or visa application center in the nation where you now reside. To obtain a visa for Canada in this situation, you might need to fly to another nation.

But you may only apply for a visa at the VAC or Canadian embassy in charge of your region (ie. for the country you are a legal resident of).

You can also apply for a Canadian visa from Country B if you are from Country A and hold a residence permit for that nation.

The Canadian embassy or Visa Application Center in charge of your jurisdiction, whether it be in your home country or elsewhere, must receive your application if you are simply traveling to Country B and do not have legal residency there.

At a Canadian Visa Application center, you can provide your biometric data. You will receive a letter from the Canadian embassy letting you know when you must provide your biometrics. When you submit your Canada visa application, you must pay the biometrics fee in order to receive the letter.

You can submit your biometrics at any of the Visa Application Centers located throughout the world. To learn more about the costs and services they provide, go to the website of the one that is closest to you.


Do I Need to Provide Biometric Information When Applying for a Canada Visa?

Yes, regardless of the type of visa requested, the majority of applicants for Canada visas are required to submit their biometrics (fingerprints and photos).


Exactly how does a Canadian visa appear?

A Canadian visa appears differently than other passport stamps. The following details are typically included instead of a picture:

  • a location where a visa was issued;
  • issuance and expiration dates;
  • number of permitted entries;
  • citation number;
  • type of visas;
  • visa kind;
  • the surname and first name of the visa bearer;
  • number on a passport.

The three categories of Canada visas for tourists, employees, and immigrants are illustrated in the examples below.

  • Canada immigration visa
  • Immigrant visa for Canada
  • Employment visa for Canada


Canadian Work Permit

Canada guest visa

Visitor Visa for Canada


How Do I Travel to the United States With a Canada Visa?

You might need to apply for a US visa in Canada in order to go to the US from Canada. However, if you are a citizen of a nation that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for ESTA from Canada rather than a US visa.


Covid 19 Tips

Many nations still have entry restrictions and closed borders. If you need assistance planning your travels, please visit the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Centre website. 

Before leaving for the airport, you are encouraged to check with your airline or travel agency to make sure that your flight routes are still operating because the measures implemented could cause flight cancellations and a decrease in flight frequency.


For further travel details regarding the locations, you can also consult the MFA Travel Information pages.


Information for Incoming and Outgoing Travellers

  • Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), all countries/regions will be classified under the General Travel or Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual traveller’s vaccination status. Currently, all countries/regions come under the General Travel Category. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category at the moment.
  • Advisory for Canadian students studying overseas can be found on the MOE website and the Travel Advisory on the MOH website. Common concerns pertaining to the advisory have been addressed here. FAQs on the MOH website (under Border Measures) also provide information for students on overseas studies.
  • Updates on Canadian's border control measures in response to COVID-19 can be found on the ICA website. Information on the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration can be found here.

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