Visitor Visa

There are two types of Canadian visitor visas: single entry visas and multiple entry visas.

A single entry visa allows foreign nationals to enter Canada for one-time only. A multiple entry visa allows holders to enter and leave Canada as often as they want as long as the visa is valid.

Multiple entry visitor visas permit the holder to travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as they want, as long as the visa remains valid.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated their guidelines in the processing of multiple entry visitor visas to Canada. This update does not affect the visas that have already been issued, but will impact all new applications submitted to IRCC. The update gives visa officers more discretion in determining whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, as well as determining the validity period of those visas. The previous standard of issuing multiple-entry visas with a maximum validity of 10 years is no longer valid; officers will now evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis.

If you have some other status document, such as a study permit or a work permit, and are not otherwise visa-exempt, you will automatically be issued a visitor visa allowing you to enter Canada to receive your permit. Usually, this is a multiple entry visa. If you choose to temporarily leave Canada during the course of your studies or temporary work, you will not need to apply for a new visitor visa to re-enter Canada as long as your permit and visa are both still valid.

Who Needs a Visitor Visa

Everyone who wants to enter Canada who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or otherwise visa-exempt, requires a visitor visa. Canadian permanent residents are not permitted to apply for a visitor visa, even if their permanent resident card has expired. They must instead apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD). Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, are also not permitted to apply for a visitor visa. They must be travelling on a valid Canadian passport. If you are transiting through or coming to Canada for business, not as a temporary foreign worker, you may need a business visitor visa.

Visa-Exempt Countries

The only people, other than Canadian citizens and permanent residents, who do not require a visitor visa to enter Canada are individuals who are visa-exempt. Canada has agreements with several countries that exempt citizens of those nations from requiring a visa to visit Canada for a period of up to six months. If foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries wish to visit Canada by air, they require a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA).

If they choose to visit by land or by sea, they only require their valid passport issued by a visa-exempt country. The only exception is citizens of the United States. The Canada-U.S. border is the longest undefended land border in the world, and thousands of Canadian and U.S. citizens cross that border every day. U.S. citizens are able to travel to Canada on a valid U.S. passport, and do not require a visitor visa or eTA, provided they are not staying for a period longer than six months. U.S. permanent residents, or Green Card holders, are visa-exempt regardless of their country of citizenship. They require an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport, and must present a valid Green Card and a valid passport to enter Canada.  

How to Apply

Applicants who need a visitor visa to enter Canada can apply online, with a paper application, or in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC). If you are travelling as a family, each family member, including dependent children, must complete their own application. However, you may submit all of the applications together. Applicants may be required to include biometric information in their application, depending on their country of citizenship. If biometrics are required, the applicant will need to provide their fingerprints and photograph at a biometric collection service point. Biometrics can be collected after submitting the visitor visa application when you are prompted to do so, or at the same time as submission if submitting in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC).

Extending a Visitor Visa

Visitor visas, whether single entry or multiple entry, allow most foreign nationals to legally live in Canada for up to six months at a time. At the end of this period, your legal status will expire and you must leave Canada. Foreign nationals who would like to extend their stay beyond six months must apply to do so while their temporary resident status is still valid. You should apply for an extension at least 30 days before your status will expire. If your current visa expires while your extension application is still being processed, you may remain in Canada while waiting for a decision to be made. This is called implied status. You can also apply for permanent resident status, if you are eligible for one of Canada’s immigration programs.

Why Visitor Visas Get Denied

Visitor visas are often rejected due to issues like incomplete documentation, financial instability, criminal background, health concerns, unclear travel intentions, weak ties to the home country, past travel history problems, misrepresentation, overstaying records, or illegal status. For an in-depth understanding of these reasons and valuable insights on improving your visa application, we invite you to explore our comprehensive article titled “Top Reasons Behind Canada Visitor Visa Refusals”. There you can find the guidance you need to enhance your chances of a successful visa approval.

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