Choose from the different visas for Canada
Are you travelling to Canada? Then you can make use of an eTA Canada or a Canada visa. There are a number of different visas for Canada, make sure you apply for the right variant in order to travel to Canada for your desired travel purpose. In this article you can read which visas there are for Canada, and which one you need to apply for.
Visa required?
Many travellers going to Canada do not need a visa at all. If you are staying in Canada for less than 6 months, are not entering into employment with a Canadian company and also will not be studying there, you can make use of the eTA Canada. You do, however, have to meet the requirements of the eTA Canada.
Temporary visa for Canada
Do you want to temporarily visit Canada and you do not qualify for an eTA? Then you can apply for a temporary visa. This category consists of seven visa types; a tourist visa, a business visa, a transit visa, a parent/grandparent supervisa, a student permit, a work permit, and the holiday-work program.
Do you wish to temporarily visit Canada and you do not qualify for an eTA? Then you can apply for a temporary visa.
Canada Tourist Visa
This visa for Canada has virtually the same validity duration as the eTA. Travellers can use it to stay in Canada for six months for recreational purposes, including holidays or visiting family and friends. Contrary to the eTA, a tourist visa is valid for ten years instead of five, or until the passport with which the visa has been applied for expires. A tourist visa is a multiple-entry visa, meaning it can be used to enter and leave Canada multiple times.
Business Visa
This visa for Canada also has virtually the same validity as the eTA. The business visa is meant for travellers that want to grow their company (located outside of Canada) by working together with a Canadian party, in whatever shape or form. This requires the applicant to possess a letter of invitation from this Canadian party. Like the eTA, a business visa allows a traveller to stay in Canada for six months. The business visa should not be confused with the work visa (which is meant to enter into employment with a Canadian company).
Transit Visa
If you are flying through Canada to another final destination, you also need to apply for an eTA, for example if you transferred in Canada. A transit visa can also be used for this. The application procedure for a transit visa is slightly more complicated than that of the eTA Canada, but it costs basically nothing compared to the eTA.
Parent and Grandparent Super Visa
This is a special variant of the Canada visa, meant for travellers that want to visit their (grand)parents that are permanently living in Canada. This visa is valid for ten years, and each stay in Canada can last 2 years.
Study Permit
To qualify for a study permit, a letter of acceptance of the educational institution needs to be provided. Aside from studying, it is also permitted to work in Canada on a study permit. A number of requirements are tied to this, however. As the name says, the study permit is not a visa but a permit. You therefore also need an eTA to fly to Canada. These days, an eTA is automatically issued with each study permit. If the eTA or the passport expires in the middle of your study, a new eTA needs to be manually applied for.
Work Permit
The work permit for Canada is meant for people that want to enter into employment with a Canadian employer. You can only apply for this visa after you have acquired a job in Canada and received written confirmation of this, issued by your new employer in Canada. This visa also automatically comes with an eTA, which can be used to travel to Canada for the first five years.
Working Holiday Program
This special program is meant for young people that want to get to know Canada. This program is only available to people between 18 and 30 years old, and it can only be made use of once. Participants of the program can work at different places during their stay in Canada and do not need to have arranged an employer beforehand.
