The Canadian Visa for your Trip to Canada
Applying for a Canadian visa is necessary when going on vacation trip or to meet a family or residing in Canada or on a business trip.
Usually, you should be able to apply for the required Canadian visa online/ at the nearest Canadian embassy in the country of your residence.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Canadian Visa
Before applying for a visa for Canada, it is recommended you check whether you can apply for the Canadian visa.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the visa for Canada:
- You do not expect to perform unpaid work that would otherwise be performed by a paid employee in Canada.
- You do not mean to participate in an employment relationship in Canada.
- You do not mean to offer services to Canadian organisations (this is allowed with a Canadian work visa or business visa).
- You do not intend to offer or market product or services to consumers in Canada.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the Canada Government.
- You do not pose a threat to the health or safety and security of residents of Canada.
- You are able to show that you have adequate funds to pay for your trip and return from Canada.
Do you need a Canadian visa?
It depends on your citizenship and also the kind of travel document you are using to travel to Canada.Please visit here to check if you need a Canadian visa.
Who exactly can obtain a Canadian visa?
Anybody wishing to go on vacation to Canada can make an application for a Canadian visa.
There are many types of visa for Canada which you can use as a visitor to Canada. If you are unsure which type of Canadian visa you require to apply, please get in touch with the local Canadian visa office to obtain further clarification as goal of this web page is to give you basic guide when looking for Canadian visa.
What type of Canadian visa do I require?
This depends upon three factors:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to Canada or eligible to secure a visa on arrival in Canada, then you may not need to make an application for a Canadian visa prior to departure from your home country. Please go here to check if you need a Canadian visa.
- The timeframe of your trip in Canada – If you wish to remain in Canada for a shorter duration less than 90 days, then you can obtain the Canadian visa. If you like to remain longer, then get in touch with the closest Canadian visa office to find the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you wish to execute in Canada – If your main purpose of taking a trip is for holiday, then you can make an application for all kinds of Canadian visas talked about on this web page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Make An Application For Canadian Tourist Visa
- Visitor visa Form for Canada – Completed Canadian visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into Canada and three months after departing Canada. It should have a minimum of two extra visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo should be no older than six months and should be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Provide a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Canadian visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Canada – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the Canadian visa office may ask for prepaid air travel tickets to Canada.
- Travel insurance coverage – Evidence of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Canadian embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance policy should cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurance provider. If you are thinking of using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Canada, please get in touch with Canadian embassy for additional information and travel insurance requirements for the Canadian visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover stay in Canada. If statements are printed online after that it needs to be Confirmed (marked) by the bank representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in Canada – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, time-span of stay. In a lot of situations, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly income and annual leave. Additionally, please provide your three newest pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of business registration, tax return.
- For students. Please give the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming on-going enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance coverage from Organisation/University– Offer a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance coverage for the whole trip together with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Canadian visa must be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the trip.