How Long Does It Take To Get A Canadian Visa In South Africa
Applying for a Canadian visa in South Africa can be a tedious process. To know exactly when you will get your Canada visa, it’s necessary to understand how long does it take to get a Canadian visa. This article discusses multiple steps that help you determine how long does it take to get a Canadian visa in South Africa and also provide tips on how long do visas usually take in general. Visas are very important to anyone who wants to study abroad or work in Canada. The Visa application process involves many steps such as education qualification check, language test and etc. Below, I am going to share with you how long does it take to get a Canadian visa in South Africa?
How Long Does It Take To Get A Canadian Visa In South Africa
Can a Canadian visa application in South Africa be rejected? It’s a question that first stage applicants and the people who assist them regularly ask. The answer is no, not usually. But there are practical problems and vulnerabilities in the process that make it easy to get wrong, with potentially serious consequences for all involved. In this article, after giving some background information, I will provide tips on how to fill out a Canadian visa application form in South Africa, and also suggest ways to improve the process and help prevent rejection errors.
Canada Visa Requirements for South Africans
If you’re South African then you need a visa to visit Canada – sorry! That’s the bad news, the good news is that you can apply online if you have a credit card and a camera to make digital copies. Click here to create an account or to sign in, to apply online.
You do not need a visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit Canada if you are:
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident,
- A US citizen or permanent resident
- Students/workers/visitors who want to re-enter Canada, after going to the US or Saint Pierre & Miquelon.
- A citizen of France resident in Saint Pierre and Miquelon who want to enter Canada Directly from there.
- The Queen of Canada or a Royal Family Member.
- Transit passengers using a “China Transit Program” or “Transit Without Visa” program.
- Foreigners who are on a flight’s 1-stop from the US, or on a 1-stop to the US (provided they have/had proper documents to enter the USA.
- There are a number of other situations, which are unlikely to apply to you, as a normal tourist.
Note that even if you don’t need a visa, if you’re not from the US or Canada you’re going to need an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
As a traveller on a South African passport, you need a temporary resident visa (TRV) to enter Canada on a temporary basis – this is the visa you’d apply for as a tourist. The TRVs are generally for 6 months, but ultimately the border services officer you ecounter when you enter Canada will tell you how long you can stay in the country. Visas may be single entry or multiple entry (multiple entry is more common).
This article assumes you are a South African citizen without dual Canadian citizenship or the right to live in the Canada; and that you are wanting a Tourist Visa to Canada.
Visa Application Centres
Canada has visa application centres in Cape Town as well as Pretoria. They have outsourced the visa application process to VFS Global. VFS Clobals offices are at:
- Cape Town: in the city centre at 30 Waterkant Street (5th floor); on the corner of Loop Street and Waterkant Street.
- Pretoria/Tshwane: 114 Fehrsen Street, at the Cherry Lane Office Park – a beige coloured building.
You can phone them for assistance at 012-425-3002.
Canadian High Commission in SA
The High Commission itself is physically present at 1103 Arcadia St, Pretoria/Tshwane, Gauteng; within walking distance (one large block) from the Gautrain Station in Hatfield. Their phone number is 012-422-3000.
Time to process
Canada Immigration takes some 23 days to process a visitor visa (TRV) application made in South Africa (this information was last updated on: 2017/11/13).
| Globally, the Australian, Canadian and New Zealand immigration processes are the best at identifying and recruiting skilled immigrants who meet their country’s labour force needs. |
Emigrate to Canada
Canada has a reputation for opening its doors to immigrants. The country has a merit-based immigration system, which scores points based on your usefulness or skills. Since 2014 Canada has not had an investor-program of immigration (some other countries will allow you to immigrate to them if you invest a certain amount of money).
You’re spoiled for options – there are more than 60 different programs under which you could emigrate to Canada. The first thing to do is assess which of the following options you are interested in:
- Family sponsorship – for sponsorship of your children, spouse, common-law partner or parents or grandparents.
- Business emigration – for business owners or those with management experience, and who are wealthy.
- General emigration – if you’re a skilled worker or professional.
Click here to get a rough estimate of your points.
| CORE HUMAN CAPITAL (460 maximum) | |
|---|---|
| Factor | Maximum points |
| Age | 100 |
| Education | 140 |
| 1st Official Language | 128 |
| 2nd Official Language | 22 |
| Canadian work experience | 70 |
| ACCOMPANYING SPOUSE OR COMMON-LAW PARTNER (40 maximum) | |
| Factor | Maximum points |
| Education | 10 |
| With language | 20 |
| Canadian work experience | 10 |
| SKILL TRANSFERABILITY COMBOS (100 maximum) | |
| Factor | Maximum points |
| Education (50 Maximum) | |
| With language | 50 |
| With Canadian work | 50 |
| Foreign Work (50 Maximum) | |
| With language | 50 |
| With Canadian work | 50 |
| Trade certificate (50 Maximum) | |
| With language | 50 |
| ADDITIONAL FACTORS (600 maximum) | |
| Factor | Maximum points |
| A Provincial nomination certificate | 600 |
| A Qualifying offer of arranged employment | 200 |
| Previous Education in Canada | 30 |
| ADDITIONAL FACTORS AS OF JUNE 6, 2017 | |
| Factor | Maximum points |
| Sibling in Canada | 15 |
| Additional points for strong French | 30 |
| (Lighthearted) Tips for when you arrive in Canada:Do not take selfies with the bears. They’re not quite as friendly as the bears one sees in cartoons.Everybody does not spend all day playing ice hockey.US dollars are not a usable currency for shopping in Canada.The locals do not know every other person living in the country. |
As can be seen above, the single biggest thing you can do to improve your score is get a provincial nomination certificate. Each province of Canada (there are 10) has its own program, in which it tries to attract appropriate skills for its development.
Express Entry Immigration Selection System
Step 1 : Check whether you meet the entry requirements. You will be scored a maximum of 1200 points, depending on your skills and those of your spouse/partner, french language skills, and resource requirements – this is not comprehensive, it’s best to immediately go to this page and get an assessment done. You’ll be asked inter alia:
- Country of residence
- Whether you are married
- Your children and their ages
- English and French language skills
- Details of your educational level
- Details of your work experience
- Whether a Canadian company has offered y