Canada welcomes millions of visitors every year on a visitor visa. If you are planning to come to Canada, you may need a visitor visa unless you are from a visa-exempt country. In these cases, you may need an electronic travel authorization.

A visitor visa in Canada is legally known as a temporary resident visa. A visa is a document issued by the Government of Canada which grants permission for you to travel to Canada temporarily. A temporary resident visa can be acquired for one or more of the following reasons:

• Tourism
• Work
• Study
• Business
• Visiting family, friends, or religious places

An important aspect of the temporary resident visa is that it is a document placed on your passport and allows you to visit Canada. Permission to enter Canada remains with the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) and it is only when you are granted access to enter Canada that you become a temporary resident.

If you are allowed to enter Canada, normally you will be provided 6 months of residence. You may extend this period; otherwise, you must leave Canada before the expiry of the period authorized for your stay.

Requirements for Temporary Resident Visa

Entry into Canada is a privilege and not a right for foreign nationals. If you are planning to apply for a visitor visa, ensure you can demonstrate the following:

• You must be admissible in Canada
• You must have a valid passport or travel document
• You have a good reason to come to Canada
• You will leave Canada and return to your home country
• You have valid reasons to return to your home country
• You can financially support yourself while you are in Canada

Visitor Visa Programs

Super Visa Program

Super Visa is a temporary resident visa that allows parents or grandparents to visit their children in Canada. Under this program, you may visit and live with your children for a period of 5 years at a time. The visa also allows multiple entries into Canada for a period of up to 10 years.

To qualify for a Super Visa, you must demonstrate the following:

• An invitation from your child or grandchild in Canada
• Your relative must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Your relative must meet the low-income cut-off for the most recent tax year
• You must have medical insurance coverage for $100,000
• You must undergo an immigration medical exam
• You have a valid reason to come to Canada and will return home at the end of your stay
• Super Visa can only be applied for outside of Canada

Tourist Visa

A tourist visa is one of the most popular visitor visas for Canada. It allows foreign nationals to visit Canada for sightseeing, visiting religious shrines, attending events, and visiting loved ones.

Applicants are subject to temporary resident visa rules and must establish that they will abide by Canadian laws and return to their home country at the end of their stay.

Extend Your Visitor Status in Canada

If you are already in Canada and wish to extend your stay, you may apply to extend your status as a visitor, student, or worker. It is important to apply as soon as possible, generally 30 days before your immigration status expires.

An application to extend your status is subject to requirements for temporary residents. You must abide by the terms of your stay and leave Canada before your status expires.

Restore Your Visitor Status in Canada

If you are a foreign national in Canada and your status has expired, you may restore your status. You must file the application within 90 days.

An IRCC officer may restore your status if you can demonstrate the circumstances which led to losing your status and meet the following criteria:

• You must apply within 90 days of losing your status
• You must meet the initial requirements for your stay
• You must remain in Canada until a decision on the restoration is reached
• You must not have breached conditions of your status unless an exemption applies
• You must continue to meet requirements of your status in Canada

At Parush Mann Law, we can help you with your visa application. Our Canadian immigration lawyer(s) have knowledge and experience with these applications and have worked on very difficult temporary resident applications.

We can be your pathway to a new life in Canada. Call us today and get your journey to Canada started.