Those who want to move to Canada should quickly check the Canadian visa requirement 2022, to enable you to know the right documents and how to go with your visa application.
Canada is a country in the North American continent located right above the United States and is known as a highly developed country.
The demand for people to travel to Canada has been steadily increasing in the last few years, but most people wonder how they can get to Canada.
In this article, we will show the guidelines and requirements you need to acquire your Canadian Visa. Read on to find out more.
Do You Need A Canadian Visa To Canada?
In order to be allowed into the country of Canada, Foreigners must first acquire a Canadian Visa.
A Canadian Visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada.
It is permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently.
Getting a Canadian Visa means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible, and you fulfill the requirements for entry.
However, once you are at eh Canadian border and customs, it is up to the officers at the border to evaluate whether you are fit to enter.
If you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) questions honestly and correctly, they will allow you to enter. Otherwise, if they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they can deny you and ask you to go back to your home country even if you have a Canadian Visa.
Eligibility For Canadian Visa
You must meet some basic requirements to get a visitor visa. You must:
- Have a valid travel document, like a passport
- Be in good health
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets, or family—that will take you back to your home country
- Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- Have enough money for your stay
- The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.
You may also need a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
Canadian Visa Ineligibility
Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:
- Criminal activity
- Human rights violations
- Organized crime
You can also be inadmissible for security, health, or financial reasons. Find out more about inadmissibility.
Types Of Canadian Visa
Before you apply for a Canadian visa, you must first know which visa you want to apply for. Here are the types of Canada visas:
- Visitor visas.
- Canada student visas.
- Work visas.
- Permanent Residence visas.
- Business Immigrant visas.
- Express Entry Program visas.
You must pick the one that fits the motive of why you want to go to Canada.
Required Documents For A Canadian Visa
Here are the documents required for a Canada visa:
- Your passport.
- Appropriate Canada visa application form.
- Proof of paid Canada visa fees.
- Proof of clean criminal record.
- Proof of being in good health through a medical exam.
- Photographs in accordance with the photo requirements for a Canada visa.
- Proof of financial means.
- Proof you will return to your home country once the Canadian visa expires.
- Identity and Civil Status Documents.
- A cover letter that explains the purpose of your travel to Canada.
- Letter of support/invitation to Canada.
Age
The requirements may differ based on whether the applicant is an adult (over 18) or a minor (17 or under). Only adults can be primary applicants on an application. The minors must be attached as dependents.
If a minor is traveling alone, there are different requirements.
Passport
You must have a valid passport and any other travel documentation. When you apply for a Canadian visa, you have to provide photocopies of the information page of your passport. It must include:
- Your passport number.
- The date of issue and expiry.
- Your personal information: name, photo, place of birth, and date of birth.
Documents And Forms
When you apply for a Canadian visa, you will have to download an Application Package from the IRCC website. There, you will find an instructional guide, a document checklist, as well as all the forms you have to complete and submit.
You have to submit all the documents and forms that are on the checklist. These documents include (but are not limited to) passport copies, pictures, fee receipts, and other identity documents.
In addition to the documents listed on IRCC’s checklist, different countries may require specific documents. You will have to ask the visa office responsible in your country whether you need additional documents.
Proof Of Paid Canadian Visa Fees
In order to apply for a Canadian visa, you will have to pay the necessary fees and attach the receipts to your application. The fee prices change depending on the purpose of travel.
There are two types of fees:
- Application processing fees
- Biometric fees
Canadian Visa Photos
You have to provide two passport pictures based on Canada’s requirements. If the pictures do not match the requirements set by Canada’s Government, your application could be rejected.
You may want to bring the photo requirements when you go to take the picture and show them to the photographer.
Identity And Civil Status Documents
You need to attach photocopies of identity and civil status documents with your Canadian Visa application. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce/annulment certificates.
In some cases, you may be required to provide national IDs or family or household registries.
You will have to contact the visa office in your country for more information.
Proof Of Financial Means
You have to provide evidence that you can financially support yourself and any family members that may be coming with you for the duration of your stay. You can do this through the following:
- Bank statements.
- Letter of employment showing annual earnings.
- Evidence you have arranged to receive financial support from friends/family to cover the duration of your stay.
- Evidence of income of your Canadian host or family member.
Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list, and different countries may require other types of proof.
- Proof You Will Return To Your Home Country Once The Visa Expires
- You will need to convince your visa officers that after your visa expires, you will return back home. There are several ways you could do that, including:
- Proof of employment. You have to provide copies of your employment contract, a letter of employment that identifies you as a permanent employee, states when you are expected to return to work, and your role at the company.
- If you own property in your home country, you have to provide evidence of it, such as title deeds or lease agreements.
- If you have familial ties in your home country or people that you need to take care of, such as elderly family members or children, you need to get evidence of your responsibilities.
Medical Exam
You have to be in good health in order to obtain a Canadian visa. In order to prove that you may be required to enter a medical examination and include the results in your application.
However, if you plan to stay for less than six months, a medical exam is usually not necessary, unless you will be working closely with people.
However, your usual doctor cannot perform your examination. It will have to be a Panel Physician. Panel Physicians for each country can be found on IRCC’s website.
Purpose Of Travel
You need to provide a purpose for your travel to Canada when you apply for a Canadian visa. The requirements depend on the country, but it could include:
- An invitation letter from your sponsor or the family member/friend you will visit.
- Contact information of the people who can support your stated purpose of visit.
- Any documents that support your purpose of travel.
Letter Of Support/Invitation
In some cases, you may need to provide a letter of invitation from someone in Canada. That person has to be either a Canadian citizen or hold a Permanent Residence.
The person who writes the letter is not legally responsible for you. He or she has to give you that letter, and you must include it in your application.
Study In Canada without a Study Permit
The letter has to include this information about you (the person applying for the visa):
- Name
- Birthdate.
- Phone number and address.
- The relationship you have with the person who is writing the letter.
- How long you will stay in Canada, where you will stay, and when do you plan to leave.
- How do you plan to support yourself financially?
The letter also has to include the following information about the writer:
- Their complete name and date of birth.
- Their Canadian address and phone number.
- Their residence status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) and a photocopy of a document that proves it.
- Their job title.
- Their family details (names and dates of birth for his/her spouse and dependents).
- How many people are in their household?
Police Clearances
You will have to prove that you do not have any previous criminal records and are not a danger to Canadian society.
You can do this by obtaining a police certificate or clearance in your home country. In some cases, you may have to provide police clearances from any country you have lived in for longer than six months.
Kindly visa the official Canadian Visa portal to apply
