FAQs

Who Needs a Visa to Visit Canada?

Citizens of most countries in the world need a visa to enter Canada. This includes citizens of many countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. For a Complete list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter or transit (change planes) in Canada, click here.

Citizens of certain countries are not required to have a visa to enter Canada as a visitor. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, many countries in Western Europe, Japan, and South Korea. For a complete list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to enter Canada, click here.

What are the basic requirements for a TRV (Temporary Resident Visa / Visitor Visa)?

When visiting Canada, you must prove to the immigration officer that you do not intend to immigrate to Canada or stay in Canada permanently.

You must also show that you:

• will leave Canada at the end of your stay;
• will not work or study in Canada unless that is the purpose of your visa;
• have enough money to support yourself and accompanying family members while in Canada;
• have enough money to return home;
• are not a security risk to Canada;
• do not have a criminal record and are law abiding;
• are in good health.

You can be asked to provide any documentation pertaining to these and other requirements and you may be asked to complete a medical examination if necessary.

When you speak with Immigroup regarding a Visitor Visa to Canada, we will advise you which of these requirements you most need to stress that you meet given your background and circumstances. We will also tell you of any additional requirements that apply to your situation.

What are the requirements for Family Members?

For a TRV (Visitor Visa) application, ‘family members’ means your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and their dependent children (your grandchildren).

‘Spouse’ means your partner with whom you have entered into a legal marriage.

‘Common-law Partner’ means your partner with whom you have been living for at least one year.

‘Dependent Children’ means your children or the children of your spouse or common-law partner who are

• 22 years old or younger and single, or
• financially dependent on you or your spouse since before 22 years old and still in school, or
• financially dependent since before 22 years old due to a medical condition.

Any of your family members who wish to visit Canada must file separate applications for a Visitor Visa (each family member will receive their own visa).

How long is a Visitor Visa valid?

The length of time you can stay in Canada depends on the officer reviewing your visa application as well as the officer granting you entry to Canada when you arrive. Either officer could limit the time you may stay in Canada. A visitor visa could be granted for as long as 2 years or as little as 1 week, although you may only stay in Canada for up to 6 months at a time.

If you do not require a visa to enter Canada, the border officer may still advise you that you may only stay for a certain amount of time such as 14 days. If they do not advise you of any length of time, you may stay for up to 6 months.

Overstaying a visitor visa can cause serious problems for you if you want to apply for immigrant status or even enter Canada temporarily in the future. You can even have problems gaining entry to other countries, such as the United States. If you are not sure how long you can stay in Canada once your visa is granted or once you arrive, contact us for a consultation. We will help you determine the best way for you to move forward.
 

What is a Super Visa?

In 2011 CIC stopped accepting parental sponsorship applications. However, CIC then began offering what’s called a Super Visa to people in this situation. So now parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada may be eligible to apply for a Super Visa.

The super visa allows you to stay in Canada for up to 2 years. Even if you would not normally need a visa to visit Canada, you would still need to apply for the super visa if you wish to stay longer than the standard 6 month timeframe.

Please note: Dependent children may not be included in an application for a super visa.

How do I get a super visa?

The requirements for the super visa are a little different than the regular visa. These include:

• Evidence of your parental or grandparental relationship to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• An invitation letter from your child or grandchild;
• Proof that your child or grandchild can support you and their family while you are in Canada (Your child or grandchild must meet the what’s called the Low Income Cut Off – LICO); Proof of medical insurance.

If you’re thinking of applying for a super visa, you can contact Immigroup for a consultation. We will help you determine your likelihood of success and we will detail the application procedure and types of evidence needed to support your case.

What is the Low Income Cutt Off (LICO)?

The LICO is the amount of money your child or grandchild needs to be making satisfy Citizenship and Immigration Canada that he or she can afford to support you (and your spouse) on a super visa. Unfortunately, the current income ammounts are not publicly available at this time. Contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada to find out the ammounts.

What happens if I overstayed on my Visitor Visa?

If you have stayed longer than the amount of time your visa was valid for, or that the length of time a border officer advised you that you may stay in Canada, this is an issue that could cause problems for your travel plans in the future.

You could be denied entry to Canada if you try to come again in the future, or even denied entry to other countries, such as the United States.

But, there is a solution. If you’ve overstayed your visa, it may be possible to restore your status and minimize any problems you may have.  Contact us for a consultation to determine the best way to help you move forward.

Who needs a Visa?

Citizens of the following countries normally require a visa to visit Canada for any purpose:

*Holders of valid Israeli Travel Document in Lieu of Passport only

^Holders of non-biometric passports only

#Only those whose passport does not contain their personal identification number

Who doesn't need a Visa?

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visitor visa to visit Canada, provided they are carrying valid, correct travel documents:

#Includes holders of passports issued by the Holy See that are not citizens of Vatican City

^Passport must be biometric

*Passport must include personal identification number

Includes citizens of the following territories:

• Anguilla
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Gibraltar
• Montserrat
• Pitcairn
• St. Helena
• Turks and Caicos

And it also applies to

• British overseas citizens
• Citizens of British Overseas Territories not listed above
• British Nationals (Overseas)
• British Subjects - provided the passport notes the "Right of Abode"

^^Includes permanent residents provided they can show their green card and proof of permanent residence

Processing Times by visa office