PASSPORT AND VISA

CANADIAN PASSPORT AND VISA

PASSPORT

What is the passport ?

Passport is a legal document, issued by governments worldwide to certify proof of identity and citizenship. It is meant to confirm your identity when you visit another country that is not governed by your own. The passport includes your photo and several blank pages for official documentation when you arrive in another country.

TYPES OF PASSPORT 

1.      Regular passport

The regular (blue) passport to Canadian citizens for casual travel, such as: vacations or business trips. The regular passport has 36 pages. The validity depends on the age of the passport holder:

o   adults, age 16 years or older, can choose a 5-year or 10-year passport

o   children, aged 0 to 15 years, are issued passports for a maximum of 5 years

2.      Diplomatic passport

The Diplomatic passports to:

• diplomats
• high-ranking Government of Canada officials
• representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada

You can use diplomatic passports for travel to:

• a post abroad
• international governmental organizations  and conferences of a diplomatic nature

The issuing office decides the validity period.

3.      Special passport

We issue special passports to:

• senators
• members of Parliament
• people employed by the Government of Canada who are in a non-diplomatic capacity and travelling: to a post abroad, on an official mission

The issuing office decides the validity period.

4.      Temporary passport

Certain Canadian government offices abroad may issue temporary passports.

• with an urgent and proven need for a passport
• waiting to get a regular, special or diplomatic passport

The issuing office decides how long the passport is valid. It can only be valid for a maximum of one year.

Canadian temporary passports

The Canadian temporary passport is an eight-page, machine-readable passport. It is:

• issued by a Canadian mission
• used for short-term situations
• meant for urgent, proven travel situations or residency requirements
• based on the decision of the Government of Canada passport/consular officer

The temporary passport has:

• a white cover
• four visa pages
• a bio-data page
• your digitized photo
• security features

The temporary passport doesn’t replace a regular, diplomatic or special passport.

VISA

What is the visa ?

Visa is an official document provided by the country you wish to visit, granting you temporary permission to enter the country for a certain amount of time. Visas vary depending on the length of stay and the purpose of your visit. They can be paper documents or just a stamp in your passport, depending on the country.

Visit as a tourist

How to apply for a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and what to expect when you arrive in Canada.

1. Find out if you can apply for a visitor visa

2. Make sure you need a visa to visit Canada 

3. Before you apply, find out which entry document you need to visit Canada. This could be a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. The entry document you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you plan to travel with
• the country that issued your travel document
• your nationality
• your method of travel to Canada for this trip

4. What is a temporary resident visa / visitor visa?

A temporary resident / visitor visa is an official document stamped in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada.

Most travelers require a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need a visa if you are transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.

5. Basic travel requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to travel to Canada. You must:

• have a valid travel document, like a passport
• be in good health
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
• convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• have enough money for your stay.
• The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

• criminal activity
• human rights violations
• organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons. Find out more about inadmissibility.

6. Minor children travelling to Canada

Make sure you know what to do if your minor children (children under the age of 18) will be travelling with you, with someone else, or alone.

There are two ways to apply: online or on paper. If you need help with your application, you can contact your nearest visa application centre (VAC).

 

7. Apply online

To apply online you must have:

• access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and
• a valid credit card for payment.

If you provide an email address on your application, check your email account often for emails from us. Make sure that our emails aren’t blocked by your spam filters.

Find out if you are eligible and apply online

 

8. Apply on paper

If you have a valid study or work permit and are planning to leave and return to Canada, you can apply for a new visitor visa before you leave Canada.

1. Get the application package

The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out.

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application. We will not refund your application fee, so make sure you are eligible for a temporary resident (visitor) visa before you apply.

Each individual applicant must submit a completed application form. Applicants under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or a guardian.

Download the application package

2. Pay your application fees

In most countries, application fees must be paid in Canadian dollars. Find out more about fees and which payment methods you can use.

If you apply on paper at a VAC, you will also have to pay the VAC services fees. These fees are not already included in your application fees.

3. Submit your application

Families should send their individual applications in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where their application will be processed.

Select the country/territory you will be applying from to find out where to submit your application. You can choose your country of nationality or the country/territory where you have been legally admitted: