Canada Visa Types

Canada's visa application process is not an easy one. There are many requirements to fulfill and many types of visas that travelers may choose between. If you spend some time researching and learning more about travel options, you are more likely to go through the application procedure successfully.

Read the article and find more information about Canadian visa types and conditions you must meet when selecting the visa category. Depending on the purpose of travel, these may be a tourist visa, a student visa, a temporary work visa, a courtesy visa, a business visa, a diplomatic visa, and many others.

Temporary Canadian Visas

Canadian temporary visas are issued to foreign travelers who want to travel to Canada for a usually short period. The Canadian government specifies the maximum stay length, usually not more than 6 months.

Applying for a temporary visa, you may get both a single or a multiple entry visa. Below you can find available subcategories of the temporary Canadian visa.

Tourist Visa

A tourist visa, also called a visitor visa, is addressed to travelers who want to enter Canada for tourism purposes. This document makes spending holidays, visiting family, and sightseeing possible.

eTA

eTA Canada is an electronic visa implemented by the Canadian government to allow travelers from eligible countries to enter Canada by air fast and without long-lasting formalities. This type of visa is intended for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

Super Visa

Applicants for a Canadian Super Visa are parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to visit their relatives. This Canadian visa may be valid for up to 10 years.

Diplomatic and Official Visa

This temporary visa is addressed to diplomatic employees who officially travel to Canada to fulfill the duties of their positions.

Courtesy Visa

The Courtesy visa is granted to visitors who cannot obtain a Diplomatic and Official visa. Still, their position is also important, for example, diplomatic employees traveling for tourism-related purposes.

Business Visa

Those who travel to Canada for business-related activities but do not get involved in the labor market should apply for a business visa. These will be visits connected with making investments, developing business, with Canadian companies outside Canada, looking for clients, etc.

Facilitation Visa

Travelers with Canadian citizenship but without a passport of this country who have citizenship of another nation will obtain a Facilitation Visa. The permit will be issued on the applicant's other nationality because of the difficulty of obtaining a Canadian passport.

Student Visa

This visa type is gathered for students who intend to study at a Canadian University for more than 6 months. When staying in the country for less than 6 months, a Canadian visitor visa will be enough, but after this time, a student must apply for a student visa.

Temporary Work Visa

Travelers who plan to visit Canada for work and will not stay in the country for more than 6 months must apply for a Temporary Work Visa. To obtain this type of permit, applicants must submit a letter from a Canadian company with a job offer to the visa application.

Working Holiday Visa

Working Holiday Visa is another type of visa addressed to young people who wish to arrive in Canada for work and travel purposes. The Canadian embassy may issue this visa only to selected applicants. Randomized selected persons may temporarily work in Canada and combine it with traveling through the country.

Permanent Canadian Visas

Those who want to become permanent residents of Canada and live, work, or start a family in this country should apply for a Permanent Visa (Immigrant Visa). Below you will find different types of Immigrant Visas categorized by the conditions an applicant must meet.

Startup Visa Program

This permanent residence is given only to those who can contribute to the Canadian economy and have a minimum of CAD$300,000. Applicants must be ready to run at least one-third of a business in Canada and employ people for 3 years.

Immigrant Investor Program

This program is addressed to investors who have a capital of a minimum of CAD$800,000 and are ready to invest half of this amount (CAD$400,000). Within 5 years it will be returned by the Canadian government.

Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

The program is aimed at French-speaking people experienced in sectors requested in Quebec province. If your occupation is needed in this area of Canada and you have an excellent French level. In this case, you may go through a Canadian visa application and obtain a permanent visa to this country.

Family-Sponsorship Program

This permanent stay option may be used by Canadian citizens' relatives (parents, spouses, children, etc.) who want to immigrate to Canada and live with their family members.

Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

This program for a permanent Canada visa was implemented to allow qualified caregivers to live and make their duties in this country. These may be people who take care of children, disabled or older persons living in private homes on the territory of Canada.

Express Entry Visas

The Canadian authorities implemented the Express Entry Program visas to allow people of specific qualifications and skills to stay in Canada permanently.

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is addressed to competent tradespeople who are experienced in plumbing, welding, mechanism, ironworking, etc.

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

This type of Canada visa may be obtained by people who are experienced, and qualified employees in occupations wanted in Canada. Canadian needs change, so it is important to check the current status of the Canadian labor market.

• Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

This visa program allows low-skilled and semi-skilled employees to live and work in Canada. These persons are sent to places where a certain person's work may contribute significantly to the situation of the territory.

• Canadian Experience Class

Another Express Entry Visa type is a Canadian Experience Visa, given to students and workers holding temporary visas. Through their work and study experience, they settled in Canada and want to stay there permanently.