Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa
In general, visitor visa is issued to tourists, travellers, people who want to visit family and friends, or people who are on a business trip to Canada for up to six months. As a visitor, you must leave by the date that the border service officer put on your passport or by the end of six month after the date you enter Canada. If you want to extend your stay as a visitor, a visitor record should be applied for at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.
Visitors are not allowed to study or work in Canada unless they are authorized to do so. However, there are some exceptions, for example, visitors can study without a study permit if they are taking a language course for the duration of less than six months.
eTA
Beginning from September 29, 2016, visa-exempt travelers who fly to or transit through Canada must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) through the IRCC website before entering Canada. The document is valid for five years or till the expiry date of the passport linked to it, whichever comes first.
Transit Visa
Transit visa is a document that allows a traveler to transit through a Canadian airport for up to 48 hours before going to another country. Transit visa is required if you are from a visa-required country and traveling through a Canadian airport without holding a visitor visa. Travelers can be exempted from applying for a transit visa if their destination or their departure country is the United States and their passport they travel with is issued by the following country:
- China
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Taiwan
Super visa
Super visa is a multi-entry visa that allows parents or grandparents visit their child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada for up to 5 years per visit. There’s a chance to extend the stay for 2 more years.
The special requirement of super visa application vs. a visitor visa application is
- The super visa applicant, i.e. the parent or the grandparent, must get a Canadian medical insurance coverage of at least $100,000 for at least one year from the date of entry, and the insurance should be purchased before the submission of the super visa application.
- The super visa applicant must undergo a medical examination.
- The child or grandchild must meet or exceed the minimum income threshold set out in the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO).
Use the following LICO table to calculate how much minimum income is required for the child or grandchild. The number of persons in the family unit should include the child or grandchild, his/her spouse and dependants, the visiting parents and/or grandparents, and the number of people the child or grandchild is currently sponsoring.
| Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary gross income |
|---|---|
|
1 person (the child or grandchild) |
$25,921 |
|
2 persons |
$32,270 |
|
3 persons |
$39,672 |
|
4 persons |
$48,167 |
|
5 persons |
$54,630 |
|
6 persons |
$61,613 |
|
7 persons |
$68,598 |
|
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add |
$6,985 |