Canada VISA Types

The Canadian visa system is divided into two main categories: Temporary Residence and Permanent Residence.

Below is a full list and explanation of the main types of Canadian visas:

1. Temporary Resident Visas (TRV)

These visas are intended for individuals who wish to visit Canada for a limited time (tourism, visiting family, business meetings).

• Visitor Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Tourism, visiting friends or relatives.

  • Validity: Usually issued for the duration of your passport's validity (maximum 10 years).

  • Condition: You can stay in Canada for a maximum of 6 months per visit. The border officer determines the exact duration upon arrival.

  • Types:

    • Single Entry: Allows entry only once.

    • Multiple Entry: Allows multiple entries (the most common type).
      

• Super Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Exclusively for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

  • Advantage: Allows you to stay in Canada continuously for up to 5 years (unlike the standard visitor visa, which limits stays to 6 months).

  • Requirement: Mandatory private Canadian health insurance and proof of financial support from the child/grandchild (meeting the Low Income Cut-Off - LICO).
    

• Transit Visa:
  

  • Purpose: When you are flying through Canada to another country and your stop in Canada is less than 48 hours.

  • Cost: This visa is free.

• Business Visitor:
  

  • Purpose: International business activities, conferences, training, meetings with partners.

  • Condition: You are not allowed to enter the Canadian labor market (you cannot be employed in Canada).
    

2. Permits – Study and Work

Technically, these are not just "visas"; they are statuses that grant you permission to engage in specific activities.

• Study Permit:

  • Purpose: Studying for more than 6 months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

  • Process: You must first receive a Letter of Acceptance from the university/college.

  • Bonus: Most students are eligible to work part-time (20–24 hours per week) while studying.

• Work Permit: Divided into two main types:

  1. Open Work Permit: You can work for any employer in Canada (often issued to spouses of students or recent graduates – PGWP).

  2. Employer-Specific Work Permit: You are authorized to work only for a specific employer who has obtained government approval (LMIA - Labour Market Impact Assessment).
     

3. Permanent Residence (PR) Visas

These visas are for those who wish to live in Canada permanently.

• Express Entry: The most popular system for skilled workers (a points-based system based on age, education, and language proficiency).

• Start-up Visa: For entrepreneurs who want to launch a business in Canada.

• Caregiver Visa: For caregivers (caring for children or the elderly).

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): When a specific province (e.g., Alberta or Ontario) nominates you to live there based on their local economic needs.
  

4. Important Details for Applicants

• Biometrics: Giving fingerprints and a photo (Biometrics) is mandatory when applying for a visa.

• Passport: The visa validity will never exceed the validity of your passport.