Temporary Resident (Visitor) Visas

Citizens Of The Republic Of Korea

Citizens of the Republic of Korea do not need a visitor visa to travel to Canada as tourists. A visa exemption does not guarantee automatic entry into Canada. You must still satisfy an immigration officer at the port of entry that you are admissible to Canada. If you do not, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.

If you are allowed entry to Canada, the officer will stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. The period is usually six months. In some cases, the officer may limit this period to cover only the intended purpose of your visit.

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; and
• 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.

Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including a criminal conviction, involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime. You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons. If you are not sure about your admissibility, please contact the Immigration section at Seoul-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca or send a fax to (82-2) 3783-6114.

You are not permitted to study or work in Canada without the necessary immigration authorization. The exception is for any course of study that does not last longer than six (6) months. (For more information please see Study Permits and Work Permits).

Minor Children Travelling To Canada

Persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by their parents or legal guardian(s), or by just one parent or legal guardian, should have a letter from the non-accompanying parent(s) or legal guardian(s), giving them permission to travel alone or with a representative or relative. Children traveling by themselves must have their own passports; they cannot use the passport of their parents even if their details are endorsed in that passport.

Immigration Officers are particularly vigilant about missing or runaway children. They may question you about children who accompany you to Canada or question a child traveling alone. Make sure that the child is properly documented.

Different rules apply in different situations:

1. If a minor child is traveling alone or with a person other than his parents or legal guardian:
   
   He should have a copy of his birth certificate as well as a letter of authorization, preferably in English or French, signed by both his parents or by his legal guardian. The letter of authorization should give the parents’ address(es) and telephone number(s). It should also include the name, address and telephone number of the adult who will be responsible for the child in Canada.
   
   It is not necessary for the letter to be certified, but a certified letter is also acceptable. A photocopy of the parents’ passports or national identity cards bearing their signatures should be attached to the letter.
   
   If the parents are separated or divorced and one of them has sole custody of the child, the letter of authorization may be signed by that parent only and a copy of the custody decree attached. If one of the child’s parents is deceased, a copy of the death certificate should be attached. If the child has been adopted or is under guardianship, a copy of the adoption or guardianship papers should be attached.
2. If a minor child is traveling with only one of his parents or with a legal guardian:
   
   He should have a copy of his birth certificate as well as a letter of authorization, preferably in English or French, signed by the parent who is not traveling with him. The letter of authorization should give the address and telephone number of the non-accompanying parent. It is not necessary for the letter to be certified, but a certified letter is acceptable.
   
   A photocopy of the passport or national identity card of the non-accompanying parent, with the bearer’s signature, should be attached.
   
   If the parents are separated or divorced and the parent who is accompanying the child has sole custody, a copy of the custody decision should be presented. If one of the child’s parents is deceased, a copy of the death certificate should be presented. If the child has been adopted or is under guardianship, a copy of the adoption or guardianship papers should be presented.

Note: These documents are not always requested upon entry to Canada, but they may be. We therefore strongly recommend bringing them in case they are required by the immigration officer at the point of entry (airport or border crossing). A minor child will not be admitted to Canada if the officer is not satisfied that his parents or legal guardian have authorized his stay.

Common sense must prevail. The younger the child, or the more distant his relationship with the persons with whom he is traveling or visiting, the more reliable and complete the documents must be.

Citizens Of Other Countries

If you are a citizen of a country other than the Republic of Korea, you may require a visitor visa in order to enter Canada. Please check Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors to find out if you need a visa before entering Canada.

Applications for Temporary Resident Visas will only be accepted in Seoul from those individuals who have been lawfully admitted and are physically present in South Korea. If this does not apply to you, please check Canadian visa offices page to find out which visa office is responsible for the country or region where you live.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and accompanied by full and relevant information. An incomplete application form and/or the absence of required or relevant information with an application may result in delays in the processing of the application or in the application being refused.

You must satisfy the visa officer that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations and that your stay in Canada will be temporary. Before issuing a visa, the officer must be satisfied that you do not intend to work or study in Canada unless authorized to do so, that you will abide by the law and that you are not a risk to the security of Canada. You must also convince the officer that you have the financial means for your travel and that you have sufficiently strong ties to ensure your return to your country of origin.

Warning: Failure to provide truthful and accurate information will result in your application being refused. If you or someone acting on your behalf, directly or indirectly, submits false information concerning your temporary resident visa application, your application will be refused and you could be declared inadmissible to Canada.

Transit Visa

If you need a visa to visit Canada, then you will need a transit visa to travel through Canada without stopping or visiting. You will need a transit visa even if you stop in Canada for less than 48 hours. To obtain a transit visa, you still must complete all the forms and include the documents required for a Temporary Resident Visa in order to satisfy the visa officer that you meet all the requirements for visa issuance to Canada. In addition, you must provide specific evidence of your travel arrangements from your transportation company or travel agent and show proof that you are entitled to travel to your country of destination (e.g. visa for your final destination country if applicable). If your return travel is also through Canada, you should request a transit visa valid for 2 entries. There is no fee for a transit visa.

Steps To Apply For A Temporary Resident Visa

1. Download an application kit from:
   Canadian Embassy website
   Citizenship and Immigration Canada
   Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your application is not refundable. Complete the application form in detail. All information must be completed in either English or French. Please include a phone number and mailing address in Korea.
2. Each applicant must provide:
   • Signed and dated "Application for a Temporary Resident Visa" form (IMM 5257B | PDF * (176 KB)) completed in English or French.
   • Signed and dated "Additional Family Information" Form (IMM 5406E | PDF * (133 KB))
   • Two (2) recent passport size photos
   • Original passport or travel document including at least one blank page and valid for at least six months
   • Original payment receipt of the processing fee. Please refer to information regarding visa processing fees on our web site
   • Courrier Service Slip: For faster return of your passport once we have completed our assessment, please include a courier service slip. Forms for courier services may be obtained near the drop box in the immigration reception area. If you do not have a courier service slip but wish to have your passport with visa or refusal letter returned to you via courier, please include you complete mailing address and phone number. The documents will be sent to you by courier and all related costs will be borne by the applicant.
   • A completed form "Use of a Representative" (IMM 5476E | PDF * (52 KB)) if someone has assisted you in making this application
   • Parental letter of Consent authorizing travel for chidren under the age of 18 years (see MINOR CHILDREN TRAVELLING TO CANADA for more details)
3. Each applicant should provide following supporting documents:
   • Proof of your immigration status in Korea (include copies of both the front and the back of the Alien Registration Card)
   • Proof of employment. A letter from your employer written on an official letterhead which includes your employer's name, address and telephone numbers. It should also include your name, position and length of employment. If you are self-employed, information about your business, such as business registration, annual income and tax statements; proof of import/export transactions, sales figures, etc. If you are retired, present your retirement certificate.
   • If you are a student, proof of studies, payment of tuition fees, transcript of courses completed
   • If you are not employed and are supported by a family member (spouse, parent) present their proof of employment
   • Proof of funds and evidence of assets (e.g. bank documents showing financial history over several months; property certificate, etc)
   • Copy of your itinerary including any travel and hotel reservation

   If Visiting Family And/Or Friends

   • A letter of invitation from your host in Canada stating the purpose of the visit and the nature of your relationship. This letter should include complete name and contact details for your host and proof of their status in Canada (e.g. copy of the Permanent Resident Card, Canadian Passport, etc)
   • If your host will be responsible for any of the trip expenses, your host may provide personal information such as proof of establishment, letter of employment, income tax notices of assessment, pay and bank account statements, and statements of shelter costs such as mortgage or rent information, on a purely voluntary basis.
   • A temporary resident visa application will not be refused just because the host's personal information is not provided with the application. The visa officer will assess the application on the basis of the adequacy of the applicant's financial resources and make a determination accordingly.

   If Travelling For Business And/Or Official Meetings

   • A letter of invitation from your host company or organisation(s) in Canada. This document should include the full name and title of a contact person, office address, telephone number and specific purpose for travel, duration of the visit and a statement specifying who will be responsible for all expenses related to the trip.
   • Applicants travelling on Official or Diplomatic passports should also present a Note Verbale from their Embassy confirming the nature of the intended trip.

   Any original document submitted with the application will not be returned. It will be kept on file. The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents when needed. Incomplete applications may delay your processing or result in the refusal. If an applicant has submitted false information, the application will be refused.

   Note: All Documents Not Originally Prepared In English Or French Must Be Accompanied By A Translation.

4. Submit your application:
   • Submit your application package (forms, fees and supporting documents) according to the guidelines for submitting an application at this office.

Processing Times

Every effort is made to process all applications as quickly as possible. The majority of our TRV applications are processed within 4 weeks from the time complete application is received at the Immigration Section. Processing times may vary depending on the volumes of applications received. Processing dalays may occurr if additional information or verifications are required. We therefore strongly encourage travellers to submit their applications at least 4 weeks before their intended travel date.

Enquiries about the status of applications will not be answered if the enquiry is received within the established processing times (4 weeks).

How to receive your Temporary Resident Visa

Your passport and visa will be sent to you by collect courier. A courier slip should be submitted with the application. If your application is refused, the passport will be returned with a refusal letter by courier as well.

Visa officer will determine the validity of the visa and whether the applicant meets all the requirements for visa issuance. The validity date of the visa is the period during which you will have to travel to Canada. Please note, however, that a visa does not guarantee entry to Canada and the decision to allow entry to a foreign national rests with the port of entry officer. The port of entry officer also determines the length of stay allowed. We cannot issue visas with a validity that exceeds the passport validity. If your passport will expire soon, you may wish to renew it before you apply for your visa.

Note To All Travellers

Transport companies, such as airlines, must ensure that all passengers are properly documented for travel to Canada. They are prohibited from transporting to Canada any person who does not hold the prescribed documents required for entry to Canada. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or denied boarding.

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