With an open and friendly nature, Canada welcomes more than 35 million temporary residents, such as tourists, business visitors, temporary foreign workers, and international students each year. Individuals, who wish to enter Canada for a short period of time, need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as eTA. This will depend on the person’s citizenship or situation.
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VISITORS
TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA (TRV)
The TRV is a document showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements to enter Canada as a visitor. TRVs are usually required for citizens of certain countries and may be issued for a varying periods of time, based on the purpose of the visit. For example, if a foreign national decides to come to Canada as a tourist, he or she will be admitted for a period of six months. Extensions may be applied for within Canada.
Note: The possession of a valid Temporary Resident Visa does not necessarily mean that the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. All visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is on temporary basis.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (eTA)
As of March 15, 2016, citizens from visa-exempt countries are not required to obtain a TRV, but will be expected to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before they may enter Canada. The authorization will be electronically linked to the passport and valid for five years or until the passport expires. United States citizens and travelers with a valid Canadian visa are exempt from obtaining an eTA. To find out if you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa, please visit the IRCC website.
Foreign nationals may have number of reasons to visit Canada for a short period of time, they may:
- Visit as a tourist
- Visit on business
- Visit children or grandchildren
- Transit through Canada
Subject to the purpose of a visit, all foreign nationals must meet basic eligibility requirements and obtain a permission to enter Canada by applying for TRV or eTA. In addition, applications for visas, processing times and fees may vary under visitor categories. It is strongly recommended to determine the purpose of a visit before obtaining a permission to enter Canada.
