A visa is a stamp on your passport that allows you to enter a particular country. It is a legal permission or travel authorization that gives people the right to stay in a particular country temporarily or on a permanent basis.
Countries have an embassy or consulate located in each country, which is where the application and process of getting a visa are carried out amongst other things. The embassy or consulate located in issues visa, and the officials on the border of the country you wish to enter will evaluate and decide if you are fit to enter the country, otherwise, you will be deported back to your home country.
TYPES OF CANADIAN VISA
There are different types of Canadian visas, but they have been grouped into two main categories:
- Temporary visa
- Permanent visa
- Express entry visa
TEMPORARY VISA
A temporary visa is a visa issued by the consulate to an applicant giving the applicant permission to enter Canada and stay for a specific period usually six months or more depending on your purpose of visit. However, the Canadian temporary visa can be a single entry visa or multiple entry visas. The single-entry visa allows the holder of the visa permission to enter into Canada just once whereas the multiple entry visa gives the holder of the visa permission to enter in and out of Canada more than once.
There are over two types of temporary visa:
- Business visa: this type of temporary visa is given to individuals or groups of individuals with business intent.
- tourist visa: this type of visa is also known as visitors visa which is given to individuals who wants to tour
- courtesy visa: this type of visa is given to individuals out of respect for the position that they occupy but do not qualify to get an official or diplomatic visa.
- Canada super visa: this type of Canadian visa allows parents or grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren that are citizens or permanent residence in Canada.
- Canada student visa: this type of visa is given to individuals who have gained admission to study in Canada. It is also called a study permit. An individual who wants to undergo a course that would last for six months or less is given a temporary residence visa instead.
- temporary residence permit: this type of visa is given to individuals who want to attend conferences, workshops, etc. for two weeks or less.
- intending organ donors: this type of temporary visa is given to an applicant who wants to donate an organ to a Canadian permanent residence or citizen.
- temporary work visa: this type of visa is given to people who got a job offer
- diplomatic and official visa: this type of temporary visa is given to diplomats and officials from other countries the permission to enter Canada.
- visa to give birth in Canada: this is a type of temporary visa given to applicants who are pregnant and want to give birth in Canada.
PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISA
The permanent visa is also known as an immigrant visa. It is the visa given to the applicant’s permission to permanently settle in Canada.
The permanent visa is divided into:
- Family sponsorship program: this type of visa allows a permanent resident spouse and dependent children to immigrate to Canada permanently.
- Self-employed person visa: this kind of visa is only given to people with skills in business, agriculture, sports, etc. and can successfully start up a business in Canada.
- Live-in caregiver program: the LCP is given to applicants who can take care of children, disabled people, and the elderly in Canada.
- Start-up visa program: this visa type of visa is given to people who can start up a business and employ people within three years. Such an applicant must have a net worth of at least CAD$300,000.
- Quebec selected workers program: this visa is given to people who are skilled and meets the province requirements and are also fluent in French.
EXPRESS ENTRY VISA
This kind of visa is electronically designed by the Canadian government that allows people with a specific skill set to settle and work in Canada.
- The express entry is divided into:
- Federal skilled worker program (FSWP)
- Federal skilled trades programs (FSTP)
- Provincial nominee program (PNP)
- Canadian experience class
A federal skilled worker program is given to professionals like nurses, engineers, IT specialists, accountants, etc.
The federal trades program is given to people who qualify and have experience in occupations such as; electricians, welders, plumbers, mechanics, plumbers, etc.
The provincial nominee program: this program allows provinces to nominate and select immigrants depending on the need of the province at that point in time. PNP is usually for applicants who are considered to be semi-skilled.
REQUIREMENTS
- The first thing to do before applying for a visa is to check your eligibility status. Usually, applicants are asked to fill an online questionnaire in order to evaluate their eligibility status. Once you are eligible, you go ahead and create your
Online account: due to digitalization, almost everything is done online and as such, you will need to create an online account to facilitate the visa process. - Gather your document: after creating an online account, the next step is to compile all the required documents such as your valid passport, photograph, medical report, police report, support letter, letter of intent, financial statement, etc.
- Pay all the necessary fees: ensure keeping receipts after paying your application fee and visa processing fee as proof of payment.
- Wait for processing: after the submission of your application, your application will be processed and, in some cases, you will be called for biometrics and interview. This means that you will have to pay a visit to the consulate or embassy.
- Submit your passport and photograph: after a successful application, you are to mail your passport to the embassy or consulate along with your processing fee. The embassy officials will in turn stamp your passport and forward it back to you. At this stage, you are free to make travel arrangements for Canada.