Many of us are keen to visit Canada with the hopes and possibilities of a great new beginning. Honoring this intent of people the Canadian Government had introduced Visitor Visa years ago. A Visitor visa is also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). A Visitor visa is a crucial document that allows foreign nationals to travel to, enter and live in Canada for a short duration of time. They can stay temporarily in Canada for school, tourism, business, conference or to meet family and friends. Canada requires the citizens of specific countries to obtain Visitor visa to enter Canada irrespective of the purpose of their visit.

VISITOR VISA AND ITS TYPES:

Visitor Visas can be categorized into mainly 2 types: single entry visas and multiple entry visas. As the name suggests, the single entry visa allows the holder to enter Canada for only one time and is issued under unique and extraordinary circumstances. On the other hand, the multiple entry visa lets the foreign national to enter and exit Canada multiple times until the expiry of the visa and is issued automatically in a majority of the cases.

The holder of a multiple entry visa has the privilege of travelling and living in Canada for a maximum period of 6 months per visit. They can travel multiple times to Canada until the validity of the said visa expires. The validity period of the multiple entry visa is dependent on the discretion of the visa officer who issues it. If you have a study permit/ work permit and are from a non- visa-exempt country, then you are issued a visitor visa automatically. It is important to note that as long as your work permit and visa are valid you can leave Canada temporarily and can re-enter.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Visitor visa is designed for Non-Canadian citizens and Permanent residents. Foreign nationals from non-visa exempt countries are required to apply for Visitor visa.

FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM VISA-EXEMPT COUNTRIES:

Non-Canadian citizens and Permanent residents who are foreign nationals of visa-exempt countries do not require Visitor visa to enter Canada. The only document they require to enter Canada by air is an eTA or an electronic travel authorization.

If these foreign nationals choose to travel to Canada by land or sea, only a valid passport issued by the visa-exempt country is sufficient to travel.

The U.S. citizens require only a valid U.S. passport to enter Canada if they are willing to stay in Canada for not more than 6 months period. Permanent residents of U.S and Green card holders are also visa-exempt and require only valid Green Card and U.S. passport to enter Canada.