Visas for Visitors

A visiting visa, commonly known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an immigration authorization that permits foreign individuals to enter and travel to Canada. Unless you are from a visa-exempt nation, you will require a visitor visa to enter Canada, whether you are a student, a temporary worker, or just visiting.

Single entrance visas and multiple entry visas are the two categories of Canadian visiting visas. A single entry visa permits foreign nationals to visit Canada only once. A multiple-entry visa permits holders to enter and exit Canada as many times as they like for the duration of the visa. You do not need to specify which type of visa you want; applicants are automatically evaluated for multiple entry visas and only receive single entry visas in exceptional situations.

Multiple entry visitor visas allow the bearer to visit Canada for up to six months period as many times as they like as long as the visa is valid. They can be valid for up to ten years, but the precise duration is at the discretion of the immigration officer who issues them. If you have another type of status documents, such as a study or work permit, and are not technically visa-exempt, you will be awarded a visiting visa that will allow you to enter Canada to get your permission. This is usually a multiple-entry visa. If you opt to leave Canada momentarily for studies or a temporary job, you will not have to apply for a new visitor visa to re-enter the country as long as your permission and visa are still current.

Who Requires a Visitor Visa?

A visiting visa is required for anybody entering Canada who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise visa-exempt. Even though their permanent residence card has expired, Canadian inhabitants are not eligible to apply for a guest visa. Instead, they must apply for a permanent resident travel permit (PRTD). Canadian citizens, including dual nationals, are likewise barred from obtaining a visiting visa. They must have a current Canadian passport. A business visitor visa may be required if you are traveling through or visiting Canada for business purposes rather than as a temporary foreign worker.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants who want a visiting visa to enter Canada can apply online, via mail, or in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC). If you’re traveling as a family, each member of the family, including dependent children, must fill out their individual application. You may, however, submit all of the applications collectively. Depending on their nationality of citizenship, applicants may be asked to provide biometric information and features in their application. If biometrics are necessary, the applicant must submit their fingerprints and a photograph to a biometric collecting service point. When asked, biometrics can be gathered after completing the visitor visa application, or at the same time if submitted in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC).

Obtaining a Visitor Visa Extension

Visitor visas, whether single or multiple entries, allow foreign citizens to stay in Canada lawfully for up to six months. Your legal status will expire at the conclusion of this term, and you will be required to leave Canada. Foreign nationals who want to stay longer than six months must apply while their temporary residence status is still valid. You must apply for an extension at least 30 days before your current status expires. If your existing visa expires whilst your extension application is being reviewed, you may stay in Canada until a decision is made. This is known as inferred status.

Super Visas

A super visa is a multiple-entry visiting visa designed expressly for Canadian citizens and permanent residents’ parents and grandparents. It permits holders to remain in Canada for as long as two years without the requirement to renew their status.

The super visa permits qualifying parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for a limited time. G randparents and parents must be sponsored for permanent residency by their Canadian child or grandchild in order to stay permanently.

Visitor Visa vs. Super Visa

Super visas are a special sort of Canadian visiting visa issued solely to grandparents and parents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The most significant distinction between a super visa and a guest visa is the amount of time you are permitted to stay in Canada. A visiting visa is typically good for up to six months. To extend your stay in Canada, you must apply for a visa extension.

How to Obtain a Super Visa

A super visa can be obtained online or by completing a paper application. You must verify that you are either the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in any situation. Your application must contain an invitation letter from your child or grandchild, as well as details about the number of individuals living in their family in Canada. You will also be asked to show proof of private health insurance from a Canadian insurance carrier that is valid for at least one year.

Visitors Who Do Not Need a Visa Can Apply for a Super Visa

Some foreign persons do not need a visiting visa to visit Canada, based on their country of citizenship. These are known as visa-exempt visitors. Visa-exempt tourists can only stay in Canada for up to six months without having to renew their status. As a result, visa-exempt grandparents and parents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may still choose to apply for a super visa. This will let them to stay in Canada for as long as two years at a time, allowing them to spend more time with their loved ones.

Parents and grandparents who are not visa-exempt must follow the same application process outlined above. Instead of a visa, successful applicants will be granted a letter to submit to a border services officer when they enter Canada, which approves their stay. Even if they have successfully filed for a super visa, visa-exempt tourists who come to Canada by air must register for an electronic travel authorization (eTA).