Millions of people apply for Canada Visitor Visa to arrive in Canada to meet family or friends and for tourism or vacation. Each nation adopts a security protocol for ensuring the safety of its citizens inclusive of Canada.
For keeping track of visitors to the nation, Canada offers Visitor Visas also known as TRVs – Temporary Resident Visas. TRVs have a validity of 6 months to 10 years. These official documents authorize overseas nationals to arrive in Canada lawfully and remain for the specified period with no hassles.
There are two categories of Canada Visitor Visas:
Single Entry Visa
If you possess a Single Entry Visa, mostly you will require a fresh Visa if you wish to exit and re-arrive in Canada. You may return to Canada on the original Single Entry Visa if only:
- You will only be visiting St. Pierre and Miquelon or the US; and
- You will re-arrive in Canada prior to the conclusion of your authorized stay in Canada
Multiple Entry Visa
If you possess a Multiple Entry Visa, you can exit from Canada and arrive in Canada any number of times till the time your Visitor Visa is valid. The maximum validity of a Multiple Entry Visa is ten years but the precise period of validity is determined by the issuing Visa Officer at their discretion.
If you possess any other document for status like a Work Permit or Study Permit and are not from a Visa-exempt category, you will be offered a Visitor Visa automatically to arrive in Canada for receiving your Permit.
If you choose to provisionally exit Canada while on the Work Permit or Study Permit you will not have to apply for a fresh Visitor Visa for re-arrival in Canada till your Visa and Permit are both valid.
Eligibility for Visitor Visa
You will require a Visitor Visa if you intend to arrive in Canada for medical treatment, a business trip, or a short-term course. To obtain the Visitor Visa without any hassles, you have to fulfill the following requirements:
- You must possess a Passport
- Possess an authentic Health certificate
- Have nil criminal records
- Offer documents for proving ties to your home nation like job, family members, and home
- Possess intention to comply with Canadian laws and exit at the expiry of the Visitor Visa
- Offer monetary evidence to demonstrate adequate funds for supporting yourself in Canada
- May have to offer Invitation Letters from relatives residing in Canada
- Have no intent to search for a job
- May have to offer extra documents based on your profile
Documents required for Visitor Visa
You must note that every application is unique according to the circumstances. Nevertheless, to qualify for a Visitor Visa, you have to offer certain essential documents.
- Monetary evidence for staying in Canada such as ITR, Bank Statements, Salary Slips, Annual Income Statement from an Accountant, etc
- Evidence of ties to your home nation
- ID Proof and Passport offered by the Government
- Letter of Invitation from relatives or friends residing in Canada
- Evidence of intention to return to home nation
- Photographs of Passport size not older than 3 months
- Extra documentation can be needed according to your circumstances/case
Visitor Visa Application Process
The application process for a Visitor Visa can be completed offline or online.
You have to follow the below steps for the online application process.
- Visit the official website of the Government of Canada
- On the menu click select Immigration and Citizenship
- Choose the Visit tan to apply for the Visitor Visa
- Click on the tab Apply for Visitor Visa and later How to Apply
- Select if you are applying from within Canada or overseas
- Choose the online mode of application
- Click on the tab Apply for Visitor Visa and register for the creation of an account
- Fill the form with precise details
- Make payment of fees for application via net banking
- Upload scanned copies of all the required documents
- Verify all the information and file your application
- Book an appointment with Canada VAC – Visa Application Centre
- Offer your fingerprints
- Once scheduled appear for the Visa interview
- Visitor Visa will be approved after the successful Visa interview
Visitor Visa Extension
Both Single-entry and Multiple Entry Visas authorize overseas nationals to live lawfully in Canada for a maximum period of 6 months at a time. After 6 months your lawful status expires and you have to exit Canada. If you wish to have an extension of your stay period after 6 months, you must do so within the validity of the status as a Temporary Resident.
Visitor Visa Extension Application has to be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the expiry of the status. If your existing Visa expires during the processing of your extension application you can stay in Canada till the decision on your application is announced. It is also known as implied status. You can also apply for a PR Visa if you are qualified through any of the immigration programs in Canada.
Processing Times
The Canada Visitor Visa application is usually processed within 2 weeks of submission. You can also keep a check on the status of your application processing. You can track the status of the Canada Visitor Visa application online from India.
Reasons for Rejection
Applications for Visitor Visa are refused owing to various reasons. The most common grounds include incomplete documents, criminal background, monetary instability, health issues, unclear intentions for travel, past concerns in travel history, weak ties to the home nation, unlawful status, overstaying records, or misrepresentation. So you must keep your application free of all these errors/lapses.
To apply for Canada PR Visa from India or Canada Visitor Visa or to check your eligibility for a Canada PR Visa or your estimated score under the CRS Calculator connect with CICC-accredited Immigration Experts at Nationwide Visas.