Visitor Visa Duration: Exploring Your Stay Limits in Canada

Every year, millions visit Canada to reunite with loved ones, explore its wonders, or consider it for permanent residency. With a Canadian visitor visa, tourists can enjoy stays of up to six months.

How Long I Can Stay in Canada as Visitor

Understanding the permitted duration of stay is essential for adhering to immigration laws and preventing overstays, which could impact future visits and immigration endeavours. With a clear grasp of visitor status and stay duration, individuals can strategically plan their visit, maintain legal compliance, and make the most of their time in Canada.

Prior to deciding on your stay duration in Canada, it's imperative to comprehend the array of visas and permits accessible for visiting. Canada provides diverse entry documents such as tourist visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), and visitor records. Each document type has distinct eligibility criteria, application procedures, and sanctioned stay durations.

Countries exempt from visa requirements

Visa-exempt countries have agreements with Canada permitting their citizens and permanent residents to visit without a visitor visa.

Visa-exempt Countries

Visitors from nations exempt from visa requirements do not need a visitor's visa in order to enter Canada. However, international nationals without a visa who are flying into Canada must have an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Generally speaking, you are allowed up to six months of stay in Canada every visit with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). However, the precise duration of stay permitted by your eTA may differ based on a number of variables, including the reason for your visit and the border officer's judgment at the point of entrance. To guarantee adherence to Canadian immigration laws, it is crucial to verify the expiration date of your eTA and follow any instructions provided.

The eTA has a five-year validity period, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It is electronically connected to the traveler's passport. It's crucial to remember that admittance into Canada is still subject to meeting admissibility standards upon arrival; possessing an eTA does not guarantee access.

Take note:
Without an eTA, US residents can enter and exit Canada using only their valid US passports.

Visitor's Visa

To enter the country if you are not from a country where visas are not required, you must have a visitor's visa, often known as a temporary resident visa or TRV. The TRV will be a part of your application if you're requesting a work permit or study permit. On the other hand, you will need to apply for your own visitor visa if your intention is to visit Canada exclusively.

There are two types of visiting visas available in Canada: multiple-entry and single-entry. Foreign nationals will be able to enter Canada once with the single-entry visa. Within the terms of a valid visa, holders of multiple-entry visas are free to enter and depart as frequently as they please. A six-month maximum stay is permitted with a visiting visa. But the immigration official working on your case will determine how long the visa will last.

Should you be eligible for the super visa for parents and grandparents, you may be able to live in Canada with your children or grandkids. You can stay in the nation for up to two years at a time with this multiple-entry visa, which enables you to spend more time with your loved ones.

If your temporary status is still in effect, you can renew your guest visa from within Canada. It may be risky to continue living in Canada after your tourist visa has expired if you haven't applied for an in-process extension. You can stay in Canada under implied status until your application is processed if you completed the extension application prior to the expiration of your visa.

You might need to apply for a business visitor visa if you are visiting Canada on business. However, it should be emphasized that temporary foreign workers are not eligible for this visa. To directly participate in the Canadian labor market, you must have a different kind of work authorization.

What Is the Difference Between Visitor Records and Visitor Visas?

A document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows a person to enter the nation lawfully and remain there as a visitor for a predetermined amount of time is known as a visitor record.

The visitor record is usually provided to people who are already in Canada and want to stay longer than what was initially permitted or to people who are temporarily residents of Canada and need to modify their terms, like going from visitor status to worker or student status.

The main distinction between a visitor record and a visitor visa is what they are used for and how they are issued. A visitor visa, often called a temporary resident visa (TRV), is a document that allows people from specific countries to enter Canada as visitors for a set amount of time, usually up to six months. It is given by Canadian immigration offices overseas. It is acquired before departure and recorded in the person's passport.

However, if someone is already in Canada and needs to extend their stay or modify their terms of stay, they usually get a visitor record. It is requested and acquired from within Canada, typically by submitting an application to the IRCC. Although both certificates authorize a person's visitation status in Canada, they are not the same in terms of how they are issued, why they are needed, or when to get them.

The primary distinction between Visitor Records and Visitor Visas, with regard to the duration of stay in Canada, is not the length of stay they authorize, but rather the issuing procedure and purpose of each document.

Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs), sometimes referred to as visitor visas, are normally granted to citizens of specific nations before they arrive in Canada. They grant travelers a short stay in Canada, typically little more than six months. Conversely, Visitor Records are issued to people who are already in Canada and require an extension of stay or modification of their terms of stay. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) determines the length of stay permitted by a Visitor Record depending on the particular circumstances of each individual and takes into account things like the reason for the visit and adherence to immigration laws. Consequently, the period of stays in Canada authorized by Visitor Records and Visitor Visas depends on the granting body and the specific circumstances of each individual.

Understanding Your Stay in Canada

As visitors explore Canada's diverse landscapes and cultural attractions, it's essential to stay informed about visa regulations to avoid any legal complications. Moreover, understanding the nuances of stay duration allows visitors to plan their itineraries effectively, making the most of their time in the country. Whether it's experiencing the vibrant city life or immersing in the tranquility of nature, Canada offers endless possibilities for memorable experiences during your stay.

How Pelican Migration Can Help Secure Your Tourist Visa to Canada

Embarking on a journey to obtain a tourist visa for Canada can be daunting, but Pelican Migration Consultants is here to streamline the process. Here's why you should choose us:

1. Expert Guidance: Our team of immigration experts provides personalized guidance throughout the visa application process.
2. Document Preparation: We assist in preparing all necessary documents, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
3. Application Submission: Pelican Migration Consultants handles the submission of your visa application, minimizing errors and delays.
4. Timely Updates: We keep you informed at every step, providing updates on the status of your application.
5. Ongoing Support: Even after your visa is approved, we offer ongoing support and assistance to ensure a smooth transition to Canada.

Are you curious to find out more about immigration to Canada? After you finish our free online assessment, a member of our staff will be in touch with you to go over your options.