Types of Temporary Resident Visas Offered by Canada

Tourist Visa

As a tourist or visitor apart from enjoying freedom of travelling anywhere throughout Canada to visit family, friends or enjoy various attractions, the visitor is allowed to register for a short course relating to general interests and self-improvement or he/she may also undertake language course in English or French. Visitors can explore employment opportunities, educational opportunities, business opportunities etc.

Canada offers two types of visitor Visa: Single-Entry visa and Multiple-Entry visa. The temporary resident visa remains valid only for specified period of time. You cannot use the visa after the expiry date mentioned on the visa.

Single-Entry Visa

The single-entry temporary resident visa allows the visa holder to enter Canada just once and to stay in Canada for a longest period of 6 months. The tourist must leave the country by the expiry date of the issued visa. Also if the visa holder holds a study or work permit same expiry date is even stamped on the permit. The tourist will require a new visa in order to re-enter Canada after leaving the country, except for travelling to the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Multi-Entry Visa

Unlike single entry visa the multiple-entry visa permits the visitor to enter and leave Canada multiple times during the validity period of the visa without having to re-apply every time. This visa is generally valid up to 10 years, or one month before the visa holder`s passport expires (whichever happens earlier).

Super Visa

Super Visa is for the parents or grandparents of a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. It is a long term multi-entry visa that allows the visitor to stay in Canada for a period of 2 years per visit and is valid for up to 10 years or one month prior to the applicant`s passport`s expiry date.

Eligibility for Super Visa

• Must full-fill basic eligibility for a visitor visa
• Must prove that you are parent or grandparent of Canada`s permanent resident or citizen
• Must provide a signed letter from your child or grandchild who invites you to Canada that includes:
  • A promise of financial support for the length of your visit
  • The list and number of people in the household of this person
  • A copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
• Must have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is:
  • Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
  • At least $100,000 coverage
  • Have proof that the medical insurance has been paid (quotes aren’t accepted)
• Your child or grandchild must provide proof of possessing minimum threshold income.
• Cannot include any dependents in the application

Diplomatic and Official Visa

Diplomatic and Official Visas are granted by critically determining the purpose of visit of the diplomatic, official or similar passport holders. For this reason, it is important to receive a written request in the form of a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a diplomatic mission, or a consular post, bearing a signature or initial(s) with an official stamp and clearly defining the purpose of the visit to Canada.

The following working definition of “Special Mission” or “Official Visit” should be used in order to consider the request for a diplomatic or official visa; this category of visa is a temporary visa consented to by Canada with the purpose of dealing with:

• Questions of mutual interest,
• Questions pertaining to a diplomatic mission or a consular post of the sending state in Canada, and,
• Questions regarding bilateral or multilateral relations with third states or international organizations, including international conferences hosted by Canada.

Courtesy Visa

According to the Canadian Law, all other persons who are not entitled to diplomatic, consular or official privileges and immunities, traveling to Canada with the purpose of an official visit, for an international organisation or on behalf of a foreign government may be issued courtesy visa. Courtesy visa is issued keeping interest of bilateral relations in mind. The visa may be valid up to a period of 3 years with multi-entry permission.

Facilitation Visa

Canadian citizens residing in foreign nations are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). In case the Canadian citizen do not have a Canadian passport he/she is referred to as Consular. Facilitation Visa is granted by the CIC in the dual national`s other nationality passport, to facilitate his/her travel.

A written confirmation from a consular officer stating that the applicant has a Canadian passport on record or a documentary evidence of citizenship (DEC) must be acquired to verify the status and identity of the applicant before issuing the facilitation visa.

Some circumstances that might warrant the issuance of a facilitation visa include the following:

• When new, replacement or emergency passports cannot be issued in a sufficiently timely fashion and where the travel is urgent:
  • For Canadians in distress (lost/stolen documents);
  • For dual nationals coming to Canada for the first time;
  • For dual nationals who did not obtain a Canadian passport prior to leaving Canada; and
• For children born in Canada to foreign nationals who have returned to their country and do not wish to assert their Canadian citizenship acquired automatically at birth.
• For children who go through the citizenship adoption process overseas and where their country of birth only allows them to leave on that country’s national passport.
• For presumptive Canadians under the age of 18 who are coming to Canada either to reside with their Canadian parent(s) or for humanitarian and compassionate reasons; The person must also be in possession of a valid foreign national passport or travel document in order for the facilitation visa to be issued. Satisfactory evidence (a Canadian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, etc.) must be presented to prove that at least one parent is Canadian and the visa officer must be satisfied of the parent-child relationship.

Facilitation visas should only be single-entry and valid for the period needed to travel. Persons travelling on the passport of biometric-required countries are required to provide biometric information and pay the biometric fee.

Business Persons and Business Delegations Visa

Business Persons and Business Delegations Visa is aimed to foster trade and commerce. In order to grant the visa it is essential for officers to verify the visitor`s background and ensure his/her ability to undertake the proposed business in Canada. At times the organisers of the delegation or supporting companies are asked to provide documentation to confirm their support to the visit.

Persons wishing to enter Canada for the purpose of giving birth

There is no provision to refuse the TRV solely on the basis of the intent of the applicant to give birth in Canada. The assessment of the pregnant applicant focuses entirely on the requirements applied to all other applicants for a TRV. Consideration of the pregnancy and the stated or apparent intent to give birth in Canada relates back to one of these essential requirements for TRV issuance:

• Do applicants have sufficient funds?
• Will they leave Canada at the end of their period of authorized stay?
• Are they admissible?

Intending Organ Donors Visa

This visa is granted to the applicant wishing to enter Canada for the purpose of donating an organ to a Canadian permanent resident or citizen. The initial assessment of the application considers the following criteria:

• Evidence of medical compatibility between the donor and the recipient
• Evidence of satisfactory financial arrangements to cover costs not related to the organ donation, for instance, the applicants travel, accommodation and living expenses.
• Evidence that a sale of human organ is not being transacted

An organ donor has freedom to travel anywhere in Canada. Apart from organ donation, the visitor is allowed to use his/her time of stay in Canada to visit his/her friends, family and experience numerous tourist attractions of the country, if they are medically fit to do so. They are also entitled to meet with prospective employers in order to seek employment opportunities, they can explore educational opportunities to pursue further studies or explore other options to extend their stay in Canada.