One can travel outside of Canada as a temporary resident upon meeting certain re-entry requirements outlined by IRCC. 

Temporary residents include visitors to Canada along with international students & temporary foreign workers. Each of these groups of foreign nationals will obtain a visitor visa or temporary resident visa to come to Canada. 

In addition, visitors to Canada must meet certain entry requirements to return in case they travel outside of Canada or the US. However, these requirements differ depending on whether the individual is a visa-required traveler, a visa-exempt traveler, or a US citizen. 

Visa-Required Travelers 

A visa-required traveler is an individual who is from a visa-required nation. These travelers require a valid visitor visa every time they want to enter Canada unless they are returning directly from a visit to either the US or St. Pierre & Miquelon. 

Visa-Exempt Travelers 

In order to travel outside of Canada as a temporary resident, visa-exempt travelers are individuals from a country that requires an eTA. These travelers require an eTA in case they are flying to Canada but not if they are entering by land or sea. Travelers entering Canada by land or sea must ensure they have a valid passport or travel document. 

Note: eTAs are valid for five years from the date they were issued or until the passport linked to the eTA expires. Moreover, via-exempt travelers must ensure they travel to Canada using the passport linked to their eTA. 

US Citizens 

US Citizens need a valid passport or travel document to enter Canada. 

However, IRCC notes that NEXUS members can utilize their membership card to enter Canada irrespective of the mode of transport they use. Meanwhile, FAST members can use their membership card to enter Canada when traveling by land or sea. 

In addition, both study permit & work permit holders can travel outside Canada. However, it is vital to note that the permit itself doesn’t serve as a travel document. 

In simpler terms, neither the permit gives you the right to travel to or enter Canada. This implies that along with your permit, you might also require a visitor visa or eTA to leave/ re-enter Canada.

Note: IRCC clarifies that possession of an eTA or visa and a study permit does not guarantee re-entry to Canada. The permit holder needs to prove that they meet all applicable re-entry requirements before they return to the country. 

What Is The Difference Between A Visitor Record & Visitor Visa? 

In order to travel outside of Canada as a temporary resident, you must know the difference between a visitor record & visitor visa. 

Visitor visa enables foreign nationals to come to Canada to visit, study, or work temporarily. However, it is also integral to note that foreign nationals do not get this document confused with a visitor record. 

A visitor visa allows citizens of visa-required nations to travel & re-enter Canada as a visitor for up to six months. This visa is inside the recipient’s passport, proving that they meet the requirements to enter Canada. A visitor visa includes the date by which you must arrive in Canada. However, one must note that this date is not an indication of when the visa holder can leave the nation.   

On the contrary, a visitor record is a document issued by CBSA or IRCC to extend/ restrict the recipient’s stay in Canada. In simpler terms, a visitor record verifies a foreign national’s visitor status in Canada while outlining how long the individual can stay in the nation. 

Unlike visitor visas, visitor records are independent documents that aren’t placed in the recipient’s passport. Well, these documents include an expiry date for a recipient’s stay in Canada, which is the date by which an individual must leave the nation. 

Visitor records must also be provided to foreign nationals when IRCC approves the application to extend their stay in Canada or restore their status. Foreign nationals must apply for a visitor record when: 

  • They first arrive at the port of entry if they already know they wish to stay longer than six months
  • They are already in Canada & have decided that they want to stay longer

Note: Foreign nationals in Canada should apply for a visitor record a minimum of 30 days before the end of their authorized stay in Canada.