Visit /Temporary Resident Visa
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a visitor visa, is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (either as a visitor, a student, or a worker).
Important information:
You must obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before your departure. You cannot obtain one upon arrival in Canada.
Persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may require a Temporary Resident visa to enter Canada.
visit Canada on holiday (vacation),
visit family,
conduct business,
Foreign Workers,
International Students
Visitors are restricted in length of stay and subject to various conditions.
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. TRVs may be for single entry or multiple entry. As a general rule, tourists are admitted for a period of six months. Temporary foreign workers and international students are admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for from within Canada.
It is important to note that possession of a valid TRV does not necessarily mean that the Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is of a temporary nature. Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to all persons who, in their opinion, do not intend to leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.
Requirements you must meet for a TRV
You must show the officer that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and that you will be in Canada for a temporary stay.
You must also:
satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay,
show that you have enough money to maintain yourself and your family members in Canada and to return home,
not intend to work or study in Canada unless authorized to do so,
be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity,
not be a risk to the security of Canada,
provide any additional document requested by the officer to establish your admissibility, and
be in good health (complete a medical examination if required).
Family Members
Your family members include your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and any children that are their dependent children.
Spouse
Refers to either of the two persons (opposite or same sex) in a marriage legally recognized in the country in which it took place, as well as in Canada.
Proxy, telephone, fax, internet and similar forms of marriage where one or both parties were not physically present are no longer considered as valid spousal relationships under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Common-law partner
Refers to a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person (opposite or same sex), and has done so continuously for a period of at least one year. A conjugal relationship exists when there is a significant degree of commitment between two people.
This can be shown with evidence that the couple share the same home, support each other financially and emotionally, have children together, or present themselves in public as a couple.
Common-law partners who have been in a conjugal relationship for at least one year but are unable to live together or appear in public together because of legal restrictions in their home country or who have been separated for reasons beyond their control (for example, civil war or armed conflict) may still qualify and should be included on the application.
Dependent children
Refers to the children of the applicant and those of the spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.
They must be:
under the age of 19 and not have a spouse or common-law partner, or
19 years of age or older and unable to be financially self-sufficient since before the age of 19 due to a physical or mental condition.
Dependent child of a dependent child
Refers to children of dependent children of the applicant and those of the spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.
Do I have to apply separately for my family members?
Family members must complete their own application forms. However, you may submit your applications together online or at a Visa Application Center (VAC) and use one payment receipt for the total amount.
Your spouse or common-law partner and children must meet all of the requirements for temporary residence in Canada.