Temporary Visas
VISITOR VISAS
To visit Canada, you must:
- have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- be in good health
- satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
- satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
You may also need:
- a Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your citizenship
- a medical examination
- a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
STUDY PERMITS
To be eligible to study in Canada:
- You must have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada.
- You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your:
- tuition fees
- living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada and
- return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada.
- You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.
- You must be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary.
- You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when you have completed your studies.
If you wish to study in Québec, you also need to get a “Certificat d’acceptation du Québec” before applying for a study permit.
WORK PERMITS
To be eligible to work in Canada, you must submit the following documents:
- a job offer from a Canadian employer
- a completed application
- written confirmation from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive labour market opinion.
You must also do the following:
- Satisfy a visa officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your work permit.
- Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family while you are in Canada.
- Respect the law and have no criminal record. (You may have to provide a police clearance certificate.)
- Show that you are not a risk to the security of Canada.
- Be in good health. (You may have to have a medical examination.)
If you wish to work in Québec, you also need to get a “Certificat d’acceptation du Québec” before applying for a work permit.
