Visitor/Tourist Visa Overview

A Visitor VISA is also referred to as a Temporary Residence VISA. This document allows individuals to travel and enter Canada. Until you are from a VISA-exempt country, you need a Visitor’s VISA to travel to Canada. Whether you are coming as a student or worker or merely visiting, you need a visitor VISA.

Types of Visitor VISA

There are two types of Canada Visitor VISA- Single Entry VISA and Multiple Entry VISA. The single entry visa allows the individual to enter Canada one time only, whereas the multiple entry visa allows the individual to enter Canada multiple times. The latter can visit, enter and leave the country as many times as they want.

You do not have to choose the kind of VISA you are looking for. You are automatically considered for the multiple entry VISA. One is issued a single entry visa only under a particular circumstance.

As long as the VISA is valid, the multiple entry visa holder can visit Canada for about 6 months at a time as many times as they want. The visa can be valid for 10 years too, but the exact period is under the officer’s discretion who issues the VISA.

On the other hand, if you are issued any other status document, like a study permit or work permit, and are not exempt from Canadian VISA, you automatically get the visitor VISA. And, if you study in Canada, and want to leave Canada for a while, then you do not need to have a new visitor VISA- you are already allowed to re-enter Canada as long as the permit you hold is valid.

Who Needs a Visitor VISA?

Anyone who wants to enter Canada, who is not a citizen of Canada or a permanent residence, for a visit can have a visitor VISA. Those holding a Canadian permanent residency (PR) do not have to apply for the visitor VISA, even when their permanent residence for Canadian citizenship has expired. Instead, they must apply for a permanent resident travel document. Even more so, dual citizens are also not permitted to go for a visitor visa. They must have a valid Canadian passport. However, if you are visiting Canada quite often for your business but not as a temporary worker- you will need to have a business visitor visa for yourself.

How to Apply for a Visitor or Tourist VISA?

Do you need a VISA to enter Canada? Go for the Visitor or Tourist VISA. You can apply for it online or via paper application in person at the appropriate center. If you are traveling with someone, you must complete their VISA filing processes before they can visit Canada.

Applicants will be asked to provide biometrics while submitting their visitor’s VISA application. It depends upon the citizenship they carry. If biometric information is requested, the applicant has to offer their fingerprints and photograph at the collection point. The biometrics can be Later collected after submitting the application for visitor’s VISA as and when asked to do so.

One can even extend their visitor’s VISA by applying for the temporary residence VISA is valid. You must apply for your VISA extension within 30 days before the expiration. And, if your VISA expires while you are in Canada and you have used it for the extension, then you may continue to live there waiting for the extension.

Contact the Blue Dot Immigration experts to guide you through the entire process of Visitor VISA application.