Recent changes to visitor visa requirements for some Mexican nationals might leave some foreign nationals looking to visit Canada with questions regarding their situation. Well, here are frequently asked questions by visitors to Canada.  

How Long Can I Stay In Canada As A Visitor? 

In most cases, visitors to Canada can remain in the nation for up to six months from the day they enter Canada. The date by which a visitor must leave Canada will be indicated by a stamp in their passport and/ or a document provided to them by a CBSA officer.  

Visitors who would like to remain in Canada beyond their initially authorized stay can apply for an extension. 

What Is The Difference Between A Single & A Multiple-Entry Visa? 

As indicated by the name of the visa, single-entry visas permit the holder to enter Canada one time only. On the contrary, a multiple-entry visa enables repeated entry to Canada so long as the visa remains valid. 

Note: All visitor visa applicants are automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa, but IRCC reviews each application separately & issues every visitor a visa accordingly. 

Moreover, IRCC clarifies that single-entry visa recipients will require a new visa to enter Canada once they have left unless they are traveling directly to either the United States or St. Pierre & Miquelon. 

Meanwhile, multiple-entry visas are valid for the shorter of the following two periods: ten years or one month before the expiration of the visa holder’s passport. Every entry to Canada using a multiple-entry visa enables the visa holder to remain in Canada for up to six months at a time. 

Can I Fill Out One Visa Application For My Entire Family If We Are Travelling Together? 

No. While all visitor visa applications for one group of family members might be submitted in the same envelope, everyone must complete & sign their own visitor visa application. 

This rule also applies to any other required forms, excluding the Family Information Form, which must only be completed by applicants 18 years or older. 

Note: Parents & guardians can help their children fill out their forms & every visitor visa applicant under the age of 18 must have their documents signed by a parent/ guardian. 

Is There Any Way I Can Help A Friend/ Family Member Visit Canada?  

Although your friends & family members must complete their own visa applications, a letter of invitation is a document you can submit to help a loved one to come to Canada. 

It should be noted that this document, which details how you might help the visa applicant, can help but does not guarantee the applicant will be approved for their visitor visa. 

Do I Require A Medical Exam To Get A Visitor Visa? 

This is one of the frequently asked questions by visitors to Canada. 

Well, the requirement for the medical exam depends on the visitor’s length of stay in Canada. In most cases, visitors in Canada for six months or less do not require a medical exam unless they will be working in a job where the ‘protection of public health is vital.’ 

The above public health protection condition also applies to visitors who will be in Canada for longer than six months. Moreover, visitors in Canada for six months or longer will require a medical exam if they meet either of the following two requirements: 

  • The applicant has been residing in a designated nation/ territory for six or more consecutive months. 
  • The applicant is applying for a Parent & Grandparent Super Visa. 

Note: This applies to all visitors, even those who are citizens of visa-exempt nations, who have been in any of the eligible nations ‘in one year immediately preceding the date the visitor sought entry into Canada. 

Is A Visitor Visa The Same Thing As A Visitor Record? 

No. A visitor visa is required by foreign nationals looking to travel & enter Canada as a visitor. 

Conversely, a visitor visa record is provided by CBSA officers to either extend -/ restrict the recipient’s stay in Canada. This kind of document might also be given to foreign nationals by IRCC or CBSA after their application to extend their stay or restore their status in Canada is approved. 

I Got A New Passport, But I Have A Valid Visa In My Old One. Can I Use The Visa In My Old Passport? 

IRCC notes that it’s possible to travel to Canada using a valid visitor visa placed in an old passport. However, travelers in this situation must bring both of the following documents with them to Canada: 

  • The old passport with the valid visa 
  • The new valid passport/ travel document

Note that travelers might need to explain to CBSA officers why their old passport is no longer valid. 

Note: In order to avoid processing delays at the Canadian border, IRCC recommends that all visitors to Canada obtain a new visitor visa in their new, valid passport. 

How Can I Extend My Stay As A Visitor?

Extending your stay in Canada requires that you submit biometrics & apply for a visitor record. This document allows visitors to Canada three alternatives to extend their stay: 

  • As a visitor
  • As a worker authorized to work in Canada without a work permit 
  • As a student authorized to study in Canada without a study permit 

Can I File An Appeal If My Visitor Visa Is Denied? 

This is another one of the frequently asked questions by visitors to Canada. Well, there is no appeal process for a visitor visa application from IRCC.

When an applicant is denied a visitor visa to enter Canada, they might reapply. Still, IRCC recommends that they only do so if their situation has changed or they have new information to submit that might alter the outcome of their application.   

Do I Need A Visa If I’m Just Traveling Through Canada On My Way To Another Nation? 

Documentation for those transiting through Canada depends on an individual’s unique situation. 

Generally, travelers can be broken down into two categories: visa-required travelers & visa-exempt travelers. 

Some visa-required travelers need a visitor visa. This applies to travelers who are: 

  • Visiting Canada 
  • Staying in Canada for more than 48 hours while transiting through the nation to another destination
  • Crossing the Canadian border via any of the following five modes of transportation: bus, car, train, cruise ship, or boat 

Other visa-required travelers might only need a transit visa. This applies to travelers who:    

  • Have an international flight that stops at a Canadian airport on the way to another country.
  • Will be connecting between two international flights at a Canadian airport.
  • Do not have a valid visitor visa. 
  • Will be transiting through Canada in 48 hours or less. 

Vis-exempt travelers require an eTA to transit through Canada by air. Moreover, travelers transiting through Canada by train, bus, boat, or cruise ship are not required to obtain an eTA but must still bring the correct travel documents.