Documents Required to Apply for Canadian Temporary Visa

The Canada Temporary Visa is one of the major ways to immigrate to Canada without a job or study offer or any other previous ties in Canada. This visa type can let you live in Canada for six months up to ten years, depending on your reasons for moving into the country. If you are considering immigrating to Canada through this visa, then you are in the right place. This page details all the documents you require to apply for the Canadian Temporary Visa.

We have also taken our time to explain the temporary visa, how it works, the different types available, and other eligibility criteria you must meet when applying for one.

What is the Canadian Temporary Visa?

The Canadian Temporary Visa, fully known as the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or the Visitor Visa, is an official immigration document in Canada. A visa officer issues the Temporary Resident Visa and places it directly inside your passport. The document shows that you have met the criteria for admission to Canada as a temporary resident.

The border services officer determines how long your visitor visa will last when you arrive in Canada. This is generally a six-month period, although the officer may decide you would stay for a longer or shorter period depending on specific requirements.

Generally, the Canadian Temporary Visa is valid for six months, beginning from when you step your foot in Canada. However, the validity of your passport ultimately decides how long you can stay. Therefore, if your passport will expire before your first six months of stay, you will have to vacate Canada right before it does.

Obtaining a TRV before you travel is important as you cannot get one when you arrive in Canada. In fact, you will not be allowed admission into Canada without a Temporary Visa or any other kind of visa/travel authorization.

Note that the Canadian Temporary Visa does not provide the right to work or study in Canada. This is because you will need a work or study permit to do either of both, and you cannot obtain such permits with a visitor visa. However, you may be able to enroll in a program whose duration is six months or less, as such programs do not require a study permit.

Types of Canadian Temporary Visa

There are two types of visitor visas in Canada. These are:

• Single entry visa
• Multiple entry visa

Single Entry Visa

A single entry visa grants you one-time access to Canada without the six-month eligibility period. This means that if you travel out of Canada before the six months end, you will have to apply for another visitor visa to gain entrance into Canada again. You are exempted from this only if you are travelling to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Multiple Entry Visa

The multiple entry visa permits you to travel to Canada for as many times as you wish, six months at a time. The multiple entry visa can be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, depending on which happens first.

You do not have the option of choosing which temporary visa type you can apply for. The IRCC determines which visa is most applicable for you based on your situation. Usually, the single entry temporary visa is the most common. You will get the single entry visa if:

• Your purpose of entry to Canada is limited. For example, a one-time official or business visit
• You are participating in a one-time special event in Canada
• You are visiting Canada as a tourist

Documents Required to Apply for Canadian Temporary Visa

When applying for a Canada visitor visa, it is important that you have all the needed documents at hand, or your application may be delayed or even disqualified. This section will explain all you need to know about submitting specified documents for a temporary visa application in Canada.

At a glance, these are all the documents you need to apply for a Canadian temporary visa:

• A valid passport
• Birth certificate
• 2 passport-sized photographs (white background)
• Documents to prove ties to your home country
• Invitation letter from your relatives in Canada or sworn affidavit
• Proof of clean criminal record or immigration-related convictions
• Medical Clearance Certificate
• A photocopy of your return document or travel itinerary (you can also submit both)
• Bank statements
• Additional documents demanded by the local visa office

Valid Passport

We recommend that you ensure your passport is not expiring any time soon – at least in the next six months before preparing to travel to Canada or apply for TRV. We also recommend that you factor in application time and any other situation that could cause a delay before you can obtain the visa.

Passport Sized Photographs

The IRCC requires you to submit two passport-sized photographs. They should be very recent photographs of yours, taken within the past 90 days. Also, the pictures should have a white background without any borders.

Proof of Ties to your Home Country

These are essential documents in a temporary visa application. They show you have a high chance of returning to your home country once your TRV expires.

It is crucial that you submit documents like employment letters or detailed contract letters. These documents should contain details of you being a recognized employee, including the length of your employment, your role as an employee, and when you are expected to return to work.

You can also provide documents like lease agreements to properties and title deeds. For all documents not written in English, you should provide translations by a certified English translator.

Sworn Affidavit or Invitation Letter from your Relatives

This is a document required for Canada visitor application if you plan to live with any relative already residing in Canada. If that is the case, inform them to provide an official invitation letter or sworn affidavit that they would want you to come over.

The letter should include your full name, date of birth, and the exact dates you will be travelling to Canada. Also, the letter should be signed by your relative with the appropriate contact address (phone number and physical address) added.

Note that the invitation letter should not be too brief. Instead, it should clearly detail how the relative will be responsible for your lodging, feeding and other essentials during your stay in Canada.

Medical Clearance Certificate

This is also known as a medical report. The essence of the certificate or medical report is to prove that you are free of any medical conditions that are excessively demanding or that could cause potential danger to public health.

Copy of Return Ticket and/or Travel Itinerary

Any or both of these are necessary to show that you will leave Canada once your temporary visa has expired.

Bank Statements

You will provide very recent copies of your bank statements to prove you have sufficient funds to live in Canada for your desired period of stay. The bank statements should go back by at least six months, detailing transactions including savings, fixed deposits, property purchases, foreign slips, and so on.

The IMM 5484 is the PDF Document Checklist for obtaining a Canadian Temporary Visa. We recommend you use it as a guideline when preparing to apply.

Other Eligibility Requirements for Canada Temporary Visa Application

Already, we have explained in detail the documents required to apply for the Canada Visitor Visa. Next, we’ll be exploring other eligibility requirements for the Temporary Resident Visa in Canada.

According to the IRCC, you must satisfy these requirements to apply for Canada TRV:

• Have no intention to work or study in Canada unless you have the authorization to do so
• Satisfy a visa officer that you will leave Canada once your visa expires
• Be at no risk to Canada’s security
• You must also be law-abiding with no criminal record.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada states that entry into Canada is a privilege and not a right. Therefore, you must meet all requirements and provide supporting documents to obtain a Canada temporary visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can I Stay in Canada with a Canadian Temporary Visa?

The TRV or visitor visa allows you to stay in Canada for six months from the day you entered Canada or just before your passport expires (if it will expire before the end of your first six months in the country). However, you may be able to apply for an extension 30 days before the end of your six months period of stay.

How Much does it Cost to Apply for Canada Temporary Visa?

It costs $100 to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa per person. A family of five or more, when applying at the same time, will pay $500 for their temporary visas. There is also an $85 biometrics fee per head. Extending your stay as a visitor, that is, extending your temporary visa, would cost $100.

What is the Processing Time for Canada Temporary Visa?

It takes about 16 to 20 days to process Canada Temporary Visa.

What are the Documents Required to Apply for a Canadian Temporary Visa?

• A valid passport
• 2 passport-sized photographs
• Proof of ties to your home country
• Letter of invitation from a relative in Canada
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Medical clearance certificate

Conclusion

Now that you know what documents you need to apply for a Canadian Temporary Visa, the next step to take will be applying for the visa. For details on how to do this, visit our page on how to apply for the Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).