A visa verifies that the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country has determined that you meet the entry requirements. Some countries’ citizens can apply for a visa to Canada online, but all other nationals must do so in person. Visitors to Canada who stay for more than six months must obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) beginning in August 2015. Most nationals don’t need a visa to visit Canada as tourists for less than 180 days. The Canadian Tourist Visa, also known as the Canadian Visitor Visa or the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), allows you to visit Canada for sightseeing only. Alternatively, they can apply for and receive an eTA for Canada, which is available online. Your Canadian tourist visa will usually attach to your passport (or a valid travel document). This document confirms that you meet the minimum requirements to legally enter Canada. In addition, citizens of certain countries can also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. eTA is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals wishing to travel to Canada by air. Single-entry and multiple-entry visas are the two types of Canada visas available in Canada. Canada Visa Online is a visa waiver document that allows qualified foreign citizens of various countries (visa-free) to visit Canada without first obtaining a visa from a Canadian Embassy.
Types of Canada Visa
- Temporary resident visa
- Study permit
- Work permit
- Permanent resident travel document
What Are the Documents Necessary for a Canada Visa?
The following documents are necessary:
- Your valid ID cards.
- A Valid passport with minimum two blank pages
- A Proper application for a Canada visa.
- A receipt for Canada visa payments.
- Proof of clean criminal record.
- A medical examination certifying excellent health.
- Photographs meeting the criteria for submitting photographs for a Canada visa.
- Proof of financial standing
- Proof that you will return home after your Canadian visa expires.
- Documents proving your identity and marital status.
- A letter explaining why you are visiting Canada.
CANADA VISA APPLICATION ONLINE
A Canadian visa is a stamp on your passport that allows you to enter Canada. This is permission to enter the country and stay legally, whether temporarily or permanently. The Canada visa application has been replaced by the Canada eTA visa, which has the same goals and conditions and provides the same benefits to visitors. In order to speed up the visa application process, the Canadian government introduced Electronic Travel Authorization in May 2016. If you are traveling to or from Canada and come from a visa-free country (eTA-eligible country), you must apply for an eTA. If you do not have a traditional visitor or tourist visa, you will need an eTA visa to enter Canada. eTA Canada (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an online visa for visa-exempt travelers who want to fly into Canada for vacation, business, or transit. The eTA allows multiple entries for tourism, business or transit purposes with a maximum stay of 6 months each. It is valid for 5 years or until the expiry date of the associated passport, whichever comes first. Since the Canada Visa Application Form is available online, the applicant can easily apply for an eTA without going through any hurdles. Visitors who are eligible to apply for a Canada eTA visa can obtain the necessary authorization at any time of the day from the comfort of their own home without having to visit an embassy or consulate.
Who Requires a Visa to Enter Canada?
Individuals entering the country who do not have a visa waiver agreement, or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) must obtain a visa. You must apply if you are one of these applicants and need a visa to enter Canada. Visas are available in several forms, including visiting, student, work, and immigrant visas. Visas are required for visitors, employees, and immigrants from 148 countries to enter Canada. These citizens must get a visa based on the purpose of their visit.
You must follow these easy procedures to apply for a visa to Canada:
- Check if you’re eligible to travel to Canada.
- Check your eligibility for a Canadian visa.
- Get the documents that show you meet the criteria for a visa.
- Create an online profile.
- Give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
- Put the document file together.
- Cover the costs.
- Wait for your Canadian visa to be processed.
- Passport and processing costs must be submitted.
- You must be 18 years old to apply for the visa as a lead applicant.
- You must have a valid government-issued passport that contains at least one blank page. This page should not be the last page.
- Translated and authentic documents
- You must have no criminal record or court documents to support this.
- You must have sufficient funds to pay the visa application and processing fees.
- You will need a completed and signed visa application form.
- You must be willing to attend the interviews and submit your biometrics.
- You must be in be in good health.
- If necessary, you must agree to a medical examination.
- You must be able to show that you have sufficient ties to your home country and that your visit to Canada is temporary.
- You must be able to prove that you are not here to work or study.
Can I renew my Canadian visa before it expires?
Yes. Your application for a Canadian visa renewal must be submitted at least 30 days before your visa expires.
How can I pay for my Canadian Visa?
You can use a Credit or debit card.
Will I be required to attend an interview at the Visa Office?
You may be asked to attend a Visa Office interview by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
How many days does it take to process a Canada Visa?
The processing duration is 25-30 working days once the application is complete and all documents are provided.
How long can I stay in Canada with a valid visa?
You can stay in Canada for a maximum period of 90 days only with a single-entry visa.
Do children require visa to visit Canada?
Every person irrespective of age requires to hold a valid visa to enter Canada.
What is the duration of Canada Visa application processing?
Visa processing in Canada takes roughly 2 to 3 weeks. However, the length is mostly determined by the applicant’s prompt submission and appropriate and comprehensive documentation of the visa application.
Do I need to get biometrics done to apply for my Canada visa?
Visa applicants from Asia, America and Asia Pacific will have to give their biometrics.
Since 2015, citizens of more than 50 visa-free countries, including Costa Rica, have been eligible to apply for the Canadian eTA. Costa Ricans can use the Canadian eTA to travel to Canada for a variety of purposes, including tourism, business, family visits, and transit. The Canadian eTA’s online application process is faster, allowing Costa Ricans to enter Canada without a visa. The Canadian eTA offers numerous benefits, including the ability for Costa Rican passport holders to travel to Canada without a visa. Costa Ricans visiting Canada for business or pleasure must obtain a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which allows them to stay for up to six months at a time. The Canadian eTA for Costa Rica citizens is valid for 5 years or until the traveler’s passport expires (whichever comes first). The Canada Travel Permit is a multiple-entry visa waiver and allows Costa Rica travelers to enter and exit Canada as many times as they wish during its period of validity. Thanks to an online initiative by the Canadian government, Costa Rica citizens no longer have to go through a lengthy application process to obtain a Canada visa waiver from Costa Rica. Costa Rica travelers can obtain the eTA for Canada by filling out a simple online application form. The system is easy to use and filling out the form usually takes no more than 15 minutes.
DOCUMENTS REQUIREMENTS FOR COSTA RICA CITIZENS
- Valid Passport: A valid bio-metric passport. Each applicant must be in possession of a bio-metric passport with a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of entry into Canada.
- Email Address: You must provide a valid email address as the ETA confirmation will be emailed in PDF format. Although the ETA is electronically linked to your passport and you don’t need a physical copy, most people prefer to print one out just in case.
- Means of payment: You can use a credit or debit card to pay for your eTA fees.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Smart Herald journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.