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Temporary Resident (Visitor) Visa

GETTING STARTED

Read the information found on the CIC website carefully before you submit your application for a Temporary Resident Visa: Do you want to visit Canada?

If you are from a country whose citizens require Temporary Resident Visas to enter Canada, you must apply for the TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA before you appear at the Port of Entry to Canada. Persons lawfully admitted to the United States or Canada may submit TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA applications, either in person or by mail, at any of the six Canadian Visa Offices in the USA.

If you are from a country whose citizens require visas to enter Canada and are taking a cruise that stops at any Canadian ports for any length of time, you will require a temporary resident visa - whether you intend to go ashore or not.

If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country, we recommend that you review the Guide "Applying for a Temporary Resident Visa Outside Canada" regardless. This Guide provides important information on your status while in Canada, your permitted length of stay, documentary requirements for travelling with children, etc.


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CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE US

Citizens and permanent residents of the US (Green Card holders) do not require a TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA to enter Canada as tourists. They may travel directly to a Canadian port-of-entry to seek admission. They must present proof of their status in the United States.

For US citizens travelling by land, acceptable documents to prove this status would include:

  • US passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Naturalization Certificate

Please note: US citizens travelling by air will be required to show valid US passports to re-enter the United States.

For permanent residents, acceptable documents to prove this status would include:

  • Valid Green Card
  • Valid I-551 endorsement in their passport

It is also advisable to bring a valid picture ID, such as a Driver's Licence.

Canada Border Service Agency Officers at the Port-of-Entry will determine if you will be allowed to enter Canada. They may prevent the entry of persons:

  • who fail to establish their identity and/or status in the USA
  • who fail to establish that they will be able to support themselves and their dependants while in Canada
  • whose willingness and means to return to the USA are in doubt
  • who have a criminal conviction - including DUI/DWI convictions

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APPLICATION GUIDE AND FORMS

Electronic submission of the application form is not yet available. You must print the application form and submit it by mail or in person. We do not offer pre-assessment or counselling services. Submit your completed application with all your supporting documents and the appropriate fees and an Immigration Officer will assess it.

Application for a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA APPLICANTS

Documents not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation

  1. Application form for a Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257 PILOT PROJECT) (PDF* 214 KB)

  2. All applicable items indicated on this webpage along with those shown on the Document Checklist (PDF* 28 KB) (The Guide "Applying for a Temporary Resident Visa Outside Canada" will help you to complete the application form properly. The Guide also contains important information on such issues as your status while in Canada, your permitted length of stay, the issuance and use of single-entry and multiple-entry temporary resident visas, documentary requirements for travelling with children, etc.)

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA APPLICANTS WITH TEMPORARY STATUS IN THE US

You must provide proof of lawful temporary status in the United States

If you are in the United States with temporary status, please provide:

  • Your US Non-Immigrant Visa, (whether it is in your current passport or an expired passport)
  • The original I-94 card issued by US authorities at the time of your entry into the US

If you are in the United States with B1/B2 status, please provide:

  • Proof of ties to your country of usual residence.

This should include (but is not limited to):

  • Proof of intention to return to that country (e.g.: airline tickets, travel itineraries),
  • Proof of employment (e.g.: letter from employer, recent pay stubs, tax returns),
  • Proof of studies (transcripts, letter from school) and
  • Proof of funds (e.g.: bank records, property ownership documents).

(If you are visiting a family member in the US, you should also provide proof of that family member's lawful status in the US)

If you are in the United States with F-1 or M-1 status, please provide:

  • Your original SEVIS I-20 form endorsed within the past 12 months by your student advisor for re-entry to the US and
  • Proof of registration for the current term.

(If you are now in the practical training phase, you should also submit your employment authorization document and a letter from your employer or other proof of current employment.)

If you are in the United States with H-1 status, please provide:

  • Your original I-797 approval notice form and
  • A letter from your employer or other proof of current employment.

If you are in the United States with J-1 status, please provide:

  • Your original DS-2019

If you are in the United States and the holder of a blue-covered US Refugee Travel Document, please provide:

  • A letter from your employer or other proof of current employment or,
  • If you are a student, originals of your most recent transcript and proof of current enrolment

If you are in the United States with a diplomatic or official passport, please provide:

  • Anote verbalefrom your office stating the purpose and duration of your travel to Canada

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REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA APPLICANTS WITH TEMPORARY STATUS IN CANADA

You must provide proof of lawful temporary status in Canada.

If you are in Canada with a study permit and need to apply for a TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA to travel abroad, please provide:

  • A photocopy of your current permit and
  • Originals of your most recent transcript and
  • Proof of current enrolment

If you are in Canada with a temporary work permit and need to apply for a TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA to travel abroad, please provide:

  • A photocopy of your current permit and
  • A letter from your employer or other proof of current employment.

The validity of your temporary resident visa (TRV) may not exceed the duration of your study/work permit or visitor record. If you intend to have your Study/Work Permit or Visitor Record extended you should do so before you apply for a TRV.

FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS

You may pay fees in Canadian or US dollars. See the Fee Schedule

PASSPORT VALIDITY

Passports should be valid for at least 3 months from your intended date of arrival in Canada. If your passport is nearing expiration, you should obtain a validity extension or a new passport prior to submitting your TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA application. The validity of a TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA cannot be longer than the validity of a passport.

LETTERS OF INVITATION / SUPPORT

If the purpose of your travel is to visit close friends or family in Canada, you should provide a letter of support from the individual(s) you will visit.

BUSINESS TRAVELLERS

Persons travelling to Canada on business should provide, as appropriate to their circumstances, either a letter from their employer identifying the activities they will perform in Canada and the duration of their visit or a letter of invitation from a Canadian business outlining the reasons for the visit.

MANDATORY WAITING PERIODS

Citizens of the following countries are subject to a mandatory wait period. The usual wait period is 10 working days (not including US and Canadian statutory holidays) but may be longer depending on the case.

  • Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sudan, and Syria. The same waiting period also applies to holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Wait periods may also be required for individuals from countries other than those identified above.


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VISITS TO US CONSULATES IN CANADA

Persons who are applying for a TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA in order to visit a US Consulate in Canada must arrange for an appointment with that Consulate and present that appointment letter with their TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA application.

WHERE TO APPLY

Persons lawfully admitted to the United States or Canada may submit TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA applications, either in person or by mail, at any of the six Canadian Visa Offices listed below:

It is advisable to choose the office nearest your current place of residence.

You may be required to attend an interview at the Visa Office where you submit your application.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview to allow time for security screening. Unless you can demonstrate extenuating circumstances, your interview may not be rescheduled if you are late or miss your appointment Your application may be refused.

An interview with a Visa Officer is neither a right or a requirement. In most cases, the Officer will make a decision based on the information contained on the application form and in the documentation submitted. It is your responsibility - and in your own self-interest - to ensure that you complete the application form fully and submit all requested documentation with it.

For Visa Office Specific instructions, visit the webpage of the office where you will submit your application.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION

For information on Canadian Customs requirements, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency webpage.

PROCESSING TIMES

Please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for processing times. Most applications are processed within 1 - 28 days.

Mail-in applications will face longer processing times than in-person applications.

TRAVEL AND CHILDREN

Please refer to the Travel with Children website for important information.

*If you require a plug-in or third-party software to view this file, please visit the alternative formats section of our help page.

Date Modified: 2009-10-05

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