Answering 10 most common questions by visitors to Canada
Here are the answers to the ten most popular inquiries from tourists to Canada. The recent changes to the visitor visa criteria for a few Mexican nationals have prompted certain foreign people intending to visit Canada to ask inquiries about their situation.
Ten (10) most common questions asked by tourists to Canada.
Let us explore some frequently asked questions by tourists to Canada so that they can reflect on them before committing their time and efforts to visiting the country.
What is the average stay duration for travellers visiting Canada?
The majority of examples show that travellers to Canada can stay for six months from the day they enter the country or until their passport expires. However, it will depend on whether the event occurs first. The date the tourist must depart from Canada will be indicated by a stamp in their passport or a document issued by a Canada Border Services Agency officer.
Visitors who wish to remain in Canada for longer than their legal stay must request for an extension.
How can we distinguish between a single and multiple entry visa?
The names single-entry visa and multiple-entry visa reveal a lot about the nature of these visas. For example, a single-entry visa allows the holder to enter Canada only once. A multiple-entry visa, on the other hand, allows the holder to enter Canada more than once, as long as the visa is valid.
In general, all visiting visa candidates are eligible for a multiple-entry visa. However, IRCC thoroughly reviews each application and issues the visiting visa.
Furthermore, the department specifies that single-entry candidates will require a visitor visa to enter Canada after their departure. The sole exception is if they intend to fly directly to the United States or Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
On the other hand, multiple-entry visas are valid for the shorter of the two terms indicated below:
- Ten years or one month before the visa holder’s passport expires.
- A multiple-entry visa allows the holder to stay in Canada for a maximum of six months at a time.
Can my entire family utilize a single application form if we intend to travel together?
All family members must complete their visitor visa applications separately. However, all applications and the total fee payment receipt can be sent in the same envelope. Essentially, each candidate must sign the visitor visa application. The same norm applies to all other forms, except the Family Information Form. Those who are 18 years or older must complete the application form.
Notably, parents and guardians have the opportunity to assist their children in completing the forms. In addition, any visitor visa applicant under the age of 18 must have their parents or guardians sign the forms.
Is it possible to help a friend or family member arrive in Canada?
Typically, your friends and family members should finish their visiting visa applications. It is feasible to aid them by providing a letter of invitation. This document can help the individual go to Canada, but it does not guarantee that their visitor visa will be approved. The letter of invitation will basically include all the specifics regarding how the person will support their family or friends. They may choose to pay for their accommodations.
Will I need to have a medical check to get a visiting visa?
The solution lies in the length of stay allowed under the visitor visa in Canada. Most visitors to the country who stay for six months or less are not required to get a medical examination. However, if they appear to be working in a vocation that requires public health protection, they must undergo a medical examination.
The aforementioned health protection obligation also applies to travellers who want to stay in Canada for more than six months. Furthermore, visitors visiting Canada for six months or more must comply with the medical exam requirement if they meet any of the two circumstances listed below:
- In the case of an applicant staying in a defined territory or province for six months or more consecutively
- When an applicant applies for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
- Common inquiries from tourists to Canada – Are tourist permits and visitor records identical?
If a foreign individual wishes to go to and enter Canada as a visitor, they must present a visitor visa. In most situations, the period lasts up to six months. On the other hand, CBSA officers are required to furnish a visitor record in order to extend or limit the holder’s stay in Canada. The CBSA or IRCC may also send this document to foreign nationals once they have received approval for a stay extension or restoration of status in Canada. As a result, these two documents are not identical.
What should I do if I have a new passport but a valid visa in my old passport? Is it feasible to utilize the visa in the old passport?
According to IRCC guidelines, visiting Canada with the previous passport’s valid visa is possible. Individuals must provide the following documentation upon arrival in Canada:
- Requirements include a valid visa in the old passport and a valid new passport or travel document.
- Those flying to Canada may need to explain to CBSA agents why their old passport is no longer valid.
As a result, the IRCC recommends that everyone entering Canada have a new, valid passport with a new visa. This allows them to lessen the possibility of processing delays at the Canadian border.
The most popular question from visitors to Canada is: How do I prolong my stay in Canada as a visitor?
One of the top ten queries asked by travellers to Canada is about stay extensions. To extend one’s stay in Canada, the person must submit their biometrics, which include a photo and fingerprints. This document allows travellers arriving in Canada to extend their stay depending on three options:
- As a guest or a worker permitted to work in Canada without a work permit.
- Arriving as a student with full authority to study in Canada without a study permit.
What are the options for submitting an appeal in the event of a tourist visa denial?
The IRCC’s guest visa application does not include an appeal process. When a visiting visa application is denied, the applicant can resubmit it. However, the IRCC suggests that they take such action only if their circumstances alter. Also, if they have an update, it may have a beneficial impact on their application’s results.
Will I require a visa to travel through Canada when moving to another country?
The specific circumstances of an individual’s transition to Canada will decide whether they require a visa. Typically, there are roughly two types of travellers, including:
- Travellers from visa-required nations and visa-exempt countries may need to obtain an ETA.
- Specific passengers with visa requirements may be required to possess a guest visa.
This is applicable to the following categories of travellers:
- Those visiting Canada, whether by air or for a stay of less than 48 hours.
- Putting up in Canada for more than 48 hours on their journey to another location.
- Those crossing the Canadian border via any of the five modes of transportation: bus, train, boat, cruise, or ship.
Similarly, certain visa-required passengers may just need a transit visa. This condition applies to the following types of travellers:
- Those with an international flight that stops at a Canadian airport before continuing on to another country.
- Travellers are connecting at a Canadian airport between two overseas flights.
- Those who are going through a change in Canada within 48 hours.
- Those without a valid visitor visa.
To travel to Canada via air, visa-exempt tourists must have an eTA. Those travelling to Canada by bus, rail, cruise, ship, or boat will not require an Electronic Travel Authorization. They must not forget to bring other necessary travel documents.