Here, we will look at general information about visas to Canada, as the details are mostly the same for all the regions in the country. As is the norm everywhere, immigration to Canada requires a visa, either before leaving for your destination or on arrival at your destination (depending on where you are coming from and the international passport you’re carrying.
In other words, visas are required for visitors from countries that do not have a visa exemption or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada. People from about 148 countries, in particular, require a visa to visit, work, or immigrate to Canada.
Obtaining a visa to Canada signifies that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country has determined that you are eligible and meet the entrance requirements.
Visa and Entry
You must note that possessing a visa does not guarantee entry into Canada.
Possession of a visa literally means you’re allowed to travel to Canada. But once you arrive at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the border agents to determine if you are fit to enter. If you answer the questions honestly and properly, the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) will let you in. Otherwise, even if you have a Canada visa, if they feel you are not allowed to enter, they can deny you and ask you to return to your home country.
Now, here are some of the visa types for immigration to Canada:
Visitor visa
Student visa
Work visa
Permanent Residence visa
Business Immigrant visa
Express Entry Program visa
These different types of visas can also be classified into two broad categories, Temporary visa, and Permanent visa. Choosing one of these depends on the reason you want to go to Canada.
TEMPORARY VISAS
– Visitor visa:
The Visitor visa allows the person to stay in Canada for a given period of time that is determined by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO). This period can be up to six months. The temporary visa, however, can be a single or multiple entry.
A single entry visa allows a person to enter Canada only once, remain for the given period, and then return home. A multiple entry visa, on the other hand, permits a person to enter Canada several times before their visa expires and stay in the country for a certain period of time.
– Tourist Visa:
The Tourist Visa allows the holder to enter Canada only for the purpose of tourism.
– Canada Super Visa:
This enables parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to visit their children or grandkids for an extended period of time.
– Diplomatic and Official Visa:
The Diplomatic and Official Visa allows foreign officials and diplomats to enter Canada to perform official tasks and purposes.
– Courtesy Visa:
The Courtesy Visa is granted to persons who do not meet the requirements for a Diplomatic or Official Visa but are considered important because of their rank or position. Members of trade missions or diplomats with a touristic agenda, for example, fall into this category.
– Business Visa:
The Business Visa is granted to individuals or groups of individuals who are traveling to Canada for business purposes.
– Visa to Give Birth in Canada:
This visa is granted to those who meet all of the requirements to stay in Canada temporarily and are pregnant and want to give birth in the country. When a baby is born in Canada, he or she is instantly a Canadian citizen.
– Intending Organ Donors Visa:
A person who is traveling to Canada with the intention of donating an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident is granted this visa.
– Facilitation Visa:
Facilitation Visas are issued to dual-national Canadian citizens who do not have a Canadian passport but do hold a passport from another country. Due to the tremendous difficulty of obtaining a Canadian passport, the facilitation visa is stamped on the person’s other nationality visa.
– Student Visa:
Those who have been accepted to a Canadian university to complete their studies are granted a Canadian student visa. If you’re traveling to Canada to study for less than six months, you can simply receive a TRV visa; however, if you’re planning to study for more than six months, you’ll require a Student Visa.
– Temporary Work Visa:
Temporary work visas are granted to those who have a job offer in Canada and want to stay for up to six months. The person must submit a legitimate employment offer letter from a company and qualify for a temporary visa in order to obtain this visa.
– Temporary Residence Permit:
This permit is for those who need to travel to Canada for a variety of reasons but do not qualify for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This permission is valid only for the duration of the person’s stay in Canada.
– Working Holiday Visa:
The Working Holiday Visa allows young people from 30 countries to work and travel in Canada. It is a random selection visa, which means that applicants will submit their applications and wait to be chosen at random to apply for a work permit.
PERMANENT VISAS
Canada’s permanent visas are visas that allow the holder to remain in the country permanently. They are sometimes known as immigrant visas and come in a variety of forms, including:
– Immigrant Investor Program:
This is a program for people who want to invest in Canada’s economy. It is for those with a net worth of at least CAD$800,000 and who are willing to invest at least CAD$400,000, which the government will refund to them without interest after 5 years.
– Startup Visa Program:
The Canada Startup Visa is for persons who plan to contribute to the economy on a personal level. They must have a net worth of at least CAD$300,000 and pledge to own and manage at least one-third of a Canadian firm, as well as create and retain employment, within three years after arriving in Canada.
– Self-employed Persons Visa.
The Self-employed Person visa is for persons who can create their own businesses. They must have abilities in business, athletics, culture, or farming. These individuals must show how they will finance the company as well as their expertise in those areas.
– Family-Sponsorship Program:
The Family Sponsorship Visa permits Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents’ spouses and dependant children to immigrate to Canada permanently.
– Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
Caregivers who are qualified to care for the elderly, disabled, or children and live in a private home in Canada are granted this visa.
– Express Entry Program:
Express Entry is a Canadian immigration program that allows qualified workers to live and work in Canada.
The Canadian Immigration agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will be able to examine, recruit, and select immigrants who are skilled and/or have the required requirements under federal economic immigration programs using this system. Under the Express Entry category, there are three programs, which are run by Canada’s immigration agency:
. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
. Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
– The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP):
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is becoming a more popular means to immigrate to Canada.
Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and other provinces in Canada have devised their own immigration processes, which typically result in a fast-track process.
Applicants under the PNP category must note that they are required to live in a specific province after they arrive in Canada.
Furthermore, to be eligible for most PNPs, you must have a job offer from a Canadian business or employer.
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