Applying for Temporary Canadian Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

People around the globe look up for study and work opportunities in Canada due to its safe and rewarding environment.

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a visitor visa, is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office. It is placed along with the passport that depicts you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident. A temporary resident can either be a visitor, a student, or a worker.

Read ahead to learn about the various steps involved to apply for a Temporary Canada Visa.

Step 1: Identify the Canada Visa Needed

This is based on the purpose of your visit to Canada. For instance, skilled workers need to apply for work permits whereas students need to get a study permit.

A work visa allows the applicant to live and work in Canada for a fixed period under specific conditions. These conditions have been laid down by the Canadian government and depend on the nature of work.

There are three main types of work visa:

• Open: With this permit, a foreign national can work anywhere in Canada for any employer. The business need not go through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• Employer-Specific: This allows foreign nationals to work for specific employers who have tried, through the LMIA process, to find Canadians to do those jobs.
• Post-Graduate: The permit is for international students who have studied at a Canadian college or university, graduated, and now want to continue to live and work in Canada. The Post-Graduate Work Program permit (PGWP) allows them to fulfill the same.

Talking of visitors, with the notable exception of those who come from countries that only require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), will also need to get a temporary resident visa.

Step 2: Download and fill out the Requisite Form

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have put the application forms on its website. You need to select an application package under the question, “What are you looking for?” and choose from the options( Immigrate, Visit, Work, or Study) in the drop-down menu.

Followed by it, choose the reason for your visit to Canada under the question “What are you applying for?”

Download the application package. Foreign nationals can fill it out online or on paper.

The applicant should keep a scanner and a valid payment card handy. This is to ensure that documents are uploaded seamlessly and the fee is paid quickly.

Step 3: Take a look at the Processing Time

The applicants for Temporary Canadian Visas should check the current processing times which vary depending on the type of visa and the country in which the foreign national resides.

Getting a temporary work permit can take up to 23 weeks for someone in China while the same kind of visa for someone in the United States would only take eight weeks.

Step 4: Pay the Application Fees

The amount of fee and different payment methods for a  Temporary Canadian visa depends on the kind of visa requested and the foreign national’s current country of residence. The specific instructions for each country can be accessed through the IRCC website.

Following these steps, one can apply for a Temporary Canadian Visa in a hassle-free manner. If you’re still confused, get in touch with Servica. We have been representing our clients in Canada and globally for over 15 Years and can fulfill your dream to visit Canada!