World Access Immigration

Visitor Visa

A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document that is fixed in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada.

How long you can stay

Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.

At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they’ll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document, called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave by.

Visa Free Entry

If you don’t get a stamp in your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you need a stamp, you can ask a border services officer for one.

Types of Visitor Visa Applications

Visitor Visa can be issues for various activities of which the more popular one is “for Holiday purposes”. A Visitor Visa can also be issued for Visiting Family, Attending an event, as well as for business purposes. You can also get Visitor Visas for Working or Studying for short periods less than 90 days.  

Qualifying Criteria

Like with any visa, you need to qualify for this visa. Certain countries qualify for automatic entry into Canada. Citizens of these countries will be issues with a stamp at the border which indicates the timeframe allowed for them to stay. Most people will need a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. This required that an Application be submitted online with IRCC Canada on the Governments Immigration Website. 

There are basic requirements that must accompany an application for a Visitor Visa to Canada.

  • Passport Copy
  • Proof of Financial Means
  • Purpose and Duration of Travel
  • Ties to your Country of Origin/Residence

These requirements you will find in almost every Visitor Visa Application. In the case where an applicant has provided an Invitation Letter that covers his/her accommodation, meals and transport, most of the required documents will be replaced with this invitation letter.

Fees

Application processing fees for visitor visas are $100 CAD per person, and $500 CAD for a family (five or more people).

Biometrics fees on the other hand are $85 CAD per person, and $170 per family (two or more people).

These fees may be subject to change and cannot be refunded regardless of the decision reached on your application. In addition, the only accepted method to pay these fees is online.

After following the given instructions and completing the process, you must wait until an official IRCC receipt is issued with a barcode. Applicants are advised to save this file and attach a copy of it to their application.