While Canada remains a popular destination for Indian migrants, it provides more than a fresh start. Its towns, recreational activities, and natural beauty stand out on the global tourism map.
Even though the Great White North welcomes everyone, applying for a Canada visa can be time-consuming.
There is no need to worry, we have streamlined the process so that you can soon immerse yourself in the beauty of Niagara Falls and savor the taste of maple syrup.
What is a Canada Visa?
A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport that authorizes you to enter Canada.
It opens up a world of possibilities, granting you the freedom to explore the country and the opportunity to stay there, either temporarily or permanently.
Obtaining a visa to Canada is a testament to your eligibility and compliance with the requirements set by the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country.
However, it is up to the authorities to determine if you are eligible to enter after you arrive at the Canadian border and customs.
You will be let in if you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer’s (BSO) questions honestly and correctly.
Otherwise, if they believe you are unqualified to enter, they may refuse you and request that you return to your home country, even if you have a Canadian visa. This is known as ‘visa refusal’ and it can have serious implications, such as a ban on future travel to Canada. It’s important to answer the Canadian Border Services Officer’s (BSO) questions honestly and correctly to avoid this situation.
Who Needs a Canadian Visa?
People from countries without a visa exemption or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada must obtain a visa to enter the country.
More specifically, people from approximately 148 nations require a visa to visit, work, or immigrate to Canada.
If you are one of these applicants and you require a visa for Canada, you must apply for one. The application process, which we will guide you through, will vary depending on the visa you desire, but there are a few common stages. These include gathering the necessary documents, filling out the application form, paying the application fee, and submitting your application.
What are the Canada Visa Types?
Before applying for a Canadian visa, you must determine which visa you wish to obtain.
The following are the categories of Canada visas:
- Visitor visas.
- Student visas.
- Work visas.
- Permanent Residence visas.
- Business Immigrant visas.
- Express Entry Program visas.
You must choose the one that best fits your reason for visiting Canada.
- Temporary Canada Visas
Temporary Canada visas allow people to stay in Canada for a set time, determined by the Canadian Consulate or Border Services Officers (BSO).
This period often lasts up to six months. On the other hand, a temporary visa can be issued for one or numerous entries.
A single entry visa allows a person to enter Canada once, remain for six months, and then return to their native country.
A multiple-entry visa permits a person to enter Canada and stay for a specific time before their visa expires.
Here are the types of temporary Canada visas:
- Canada tourist visa: The Visitor Visa, often known as the Tourist Visa, allows the holder to enter Canada solely for tourism purposes.
- Canada Super Visa: The Canadian Super Visa permits parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to spend prolonged periods visiting their children or grandkids.
- Diplomatic and Official Visas: Diplomatic and Official visas allow foreign officials and diplomats to enter Canada for official purposes.
- Courtesy visa: Courtesy visas are issued to those who do not qualify for Diplomatic or Official Visas but are regarded as necessary due to their ranks and positions. This includes, for example, members of trade missions or diplomats with a touristic agenda.
- Canada Business Visa: The Business Visa is granted to travelers traveling to Canada for business purposes, either alone or in groups.
- Visa to Give Birth in Canada: This visa is granted to those who meet all of the requirements for a temporary stay in Canada, are pregnant, and intend to give birth in the country. Giving birth in Canada instantly grants the baby Canadian citizenship.
- Requesting an Organ Donor Visa: This visa is issued to anyone traveling to Canada to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Canada Facilitation Visa: Facilitation visas are issued to Canadian individuals with dual nationality who do not have a Canadian passport but do have a passport from another country. Due to the extreme difficulties in obtaining a Canadian passport, the facilitation visa is stamped on the individual’s other nationality visa.
- Canada Student Visa: A Canadian student visa is issued to people admitted to a Canadian university to complete their studies. If you are going to Canada to study for less than 6 months, you can only obtain a TRV visa; however, if you study for more than 6 months, you will require a Student Visa.
- Canada Temporary Work Visa: Temporary work visas are issued to those who have a job offer in Canada and want to work for up to six months. To obtain this visa, the person must produce a legitimate job offer letter from an employer and be eligible for a temporary visa.
- Temporary Residence Permit: This visa is for those who need to travel to Canada for various reasons but are not eligible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This permission is only valid for the amount of time the individual needs to be in Canada, such as two weeks for a workshop.
- Working Holiday visa: Young individuals from 30 countries are eligible for the Canada Working Holiday Visa, allowing them to work in Canada while traveling. It is a random selection visa, which means that applicants submit their applications and then are randomly selected to apply for a work permit.
- Permanent Canada Visas
Permanent Canada visas, also known as immigrant visas, allow the holder to settle in the nation permanently. They come in various categories.
- Immigrant Investor Program: The Immigrant Investor Program is designed for individuals with a net worth of at least CAD$800,000 who intend to invest in the Canadian economy. They must invest at least CAD$400,000, and the government will repay them in 5 years with no interest.
- Startup Visa Program: The Canada Startup Visa is intended for those planning to contribute independently to the economy. In addition to agreeing to own and manage at least one-third of a Canadian company and generate and maintain jobs within three years of arriving in the nation, they must have a net worth of at least $300,000.
- Self-employed Persons Visa: The Self-employed Persons visa is intended for those with skills in business, athletics, culture, or farming who want to start their enterprise. These people must demonstrate how they will finance the firm and their skills in those specific areas.
- Quebec Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP): If you have one of the occupations necessary in the Canadian province of Quebec and speak French fluently, you can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which allows you to relocate and work permanently there.
- Family Sponsorship Program: The Family Sponsorship Visa permits Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents to bring their spouses and dependent children to Canada permanently.
- Live-in Caregiver Program: This visa is issued to caregivers who are qualified to care for the elderly, disabled, or children and reside in a private home in Canada.
- Express Entry Visas
The Canada Express Entry scheme is an electronic immigration scheme developed by the Canadian government.
It enables people worldwide to apply for immigration to Canada based on their unique skills.
The program includes the following:
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) visa is for certified tradespeople in occupations like
- Carpenters
- Aircraft Mechanics
- Crane Operators
- Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics
- Electricians
- Machinists
- Ironworkers
- Welders
- Plumbers, etc.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) visa is granted to individuals with vocations that are necessary in Canada.
You must determine what types of occupations Canada requires when you plan to apply and get the requisite points.
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs)
This visa is given to semi-skilled or low-skilled people who can use their labor to support the Canadian economy through the Provincial Nominee Program.
In Canada, workers are assigned to various provinces based on the demand for their abilities.
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class permanent visa is granted to persons who hold a temporary student or temporary worker visa and wish to convert to permanent resident status.
They have integrated into Canadian culture and either received their education or professional experience here.
How to Apply for a Canada Visa
A Canada visa application can be submitted online or offline through a travel agent (who will also submit it online on the applicant’s behalf).
Previously, applications were accepted by the visa application center, VFS; however, the whole process is now conducted online.
To apply online, please create an account on the IRCC portal. After registering, log in to the portal. Click on ‘Apply for a visitor visa, transit visa, or study permit’ under the Start an Application section.
Keep the documents nearby to scan and produce electronic copies of them. The applicant must also have a credit or debit card available to make the payment.
To complete the application, follow the steps outlined on this page. The application will include questions on the purpose of the visit, travel dates, and the applicant’s situation.
It is essential to know that once the online application procedure begins, the visa seeker has only 60 days to complete it.
If no action is taken within this time frame, the system will clear off the data automatically.
In the Unique Client Identifier (UCI) field, enter the number provided during any previous applications to Canada (even if refused) and the last visa. The UCI is valid for ten years.
Suppose the visa candidate is applying for the first time. In that case, they can enter N/A in the section provided for UCI or leave it blank and save the application to proceed to the next step.
The portal will display the papers required to complete the application depending on how the questions in the application are answered.
Here are the specifics about which the applicant will answer questions in the application.
- Personal details
- Travel document details
- Finances
- Education History
- Criminality and security
- Medical background
- Family information
After filling out the form and scanning the appropriate documents (including a copy of the passport), the site will instruct the applicant to pay the visa and biometrics fees.
Biometrics will not be required if you completed the process within the last ten years, even if your visa was denied.
The applicant is only required to visit the visa application center for biometrics after the application has been evaluated by the embassy and approved.
According to the embassy, the application will be processed within 14 to 30 working days.
Suppose an applicant prefers to apply through a travel agent. In that case, they must provide the necessary paperwork to the agent and only attend for biometrics at the visa application center.
What Happens Next After a Successful Canadian Visa Application
Once you get your visa, you can go to Canada. You will be required to present your passport and documentation upon admission.
Officials will inspect them and inquire as to why you are traveling to Canada. After you respond, they will decide whether or not to let you enter the nation.
Officials at the border can deny you admission into Canada if they believe you will commit crimes or violate your visa restrictions.
A Canadian visa does not guarantee that you will go to Canada; only border officers are permitted to do so.
FAQS
How long does it take to get a visa to Canada?
The processing period for a Canada visa varies depending on the unique circumstance. It can take anything from two to four weeks or even more.
Your Canadian visa will be processed only after the Canadian authorities receive your application.
If they require you to obtain additional papers, the processing time will be prolonged.
What is the fee for a Canada visa?
The Canada visa fee varies depending on the type of visa you are seeking. There are also several types of costs, such as a processing fee and a biometric fee.
The standard Visitor Visa charge is $CAN100.
What if My Canada Visa Is Rejected?
If your Canada visa application is rejected, you may reapply at any time as long as the refusal letter does not prohibit you from doing so.
However, you can only reapply if your circumstances have changed or if you have new information that will assist you obtain a Canada visa.
There needs to be a formal appeals mechanism for a Canada tourist visa determination. Appeals are only accepted for refugee and permanent residency applications. They are handled by the Immigration Appeals Division (IAD).
Will I get refunded if my Canada Visa application is rejected?
Canada visa payments are non-refundable, even if your application is denied. This is because you are paying a charge to complete the visa application rather than the visa itself.
If you withdraw your application before it is processed, you may qualify for reimbursement in certain circumstances. However, once it starts processing, a refund will not be given.
Conclusion
The charge for a Canadian visa may also vary depending on the type of visa filed for. In 2023, a Canadian visiting visa will cost $100 Canadian.
Fees for other visa classes may differ. The processing period for a Canadian visa application might also vary.
When you apply for a Canadian visa online, you must wait. How long you wait depends on the number of days it takes to get a Canadian visa.
Application processing time might vary depending on the type of application, its intensity, and other factors.
Companies that offer Canadian visa consulting services can shorten this time frame. The average processing period for a Canadian visa application is 15 to 30 days.
Good Luck!
