Are you planning your trip to Canada and want to save money on a visa? There is always an alternative but many don’t know they exist. A Temporary Resident Visa is far cheaper but you must make an application at the Canadian Embassy in your country of origin at least 3 months beforehand.
Taking your dream trip with your loved ones has always been one of your admired dreams. However, settling down for too long to one place does not feel right and neither does getting a permanent resident visa. You want something that gives you freedom without causing you too much trouble in the process. Temporary residency visas are exactly what you are looking for. They give you a green card without reducing your mobility.
There are many temporary visa programs available for countries wishing to visit Canada. We will look at the main purpose of a temporary visa to Canada, eligibility, and frequently asked questions about visiting Canada through a temporary visa.
Eligibility Criteria for Temporary Resident Visas
To be eligible to apply for the Temporary Resident visas for Canada you must be able to fulfill the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old to apply as the primary visa applicant.
- Have a valid governmental issued passport with at least one blank page that is not the last page of the passport.
- Translate and certify all the documents that you have that are in another language other than English or French.
- Gave a clean criminal history and submit court documents to prove it.
- Be ready to pay the necessary visa application fees and visa processing fees.
- Sign and date the appropriate documents where necessary.
- Fill and sign a Visa Application Center (VAC) Consent Form.
- Submit copies of your current immigration status in another country or in Canada.
- Have enough funds to cover your stay in Canada.
- Be ready to attend and interview or give biometric information.
- Go through a medical examination if the Canadian Consulate asks you to.
- Prove that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your visit is over.
- You must prove that you do not plan to work or study in Canada.
However, depending on the type of TRV visa that you are applying for, you might have to comply to additional criteria.
Single Entry Visa
You can only enter Canada once with a single entry visa.
When you arrive at a Canadian border crossing, a Canada Border Services Agency officer will check to see if you fulfill the entry criteria. The officer will stamp your passport or provide an extra document, or both, to approve your stay.
Your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you landed in Canada if there is no stamp, handwritten date, or document in your passport. If you were handed a visitor record, a student permit, or a work permit, the document will have an expiration date on it.
Multiple Entry Visa
A multiple entry visa permits you to visit Canada several times throughout the validity length of your visa.
A multiple entrance visa is valid for 10 years or until one month before the passport or re-entry visa expires, whichever comes first.
If your application for a multiple entry visa is accepted, you will be able to enter and exit Canada several times within the visa’s validity period. You must arrive in Canada on or before the visa’s expiration date. A multiple entry visa cannot be obtained for a term that extends beyond the expiration date of your passport. If your passport is about to expire, you should renew it before applying for a visa.
Conclusion
Canada offers a lot of interesting and exciting opportunities for international travellers who are visiting from abroad. However, there are some requirements that you must be aware of before even thinking about going to Canada. At Touriago, we help make the planning process easier by providing information on how to go about obtaining a temporary visa.