Temporary Resident Visa Canada

A TRV is an official counterfoil document issued by a visa office that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident. It is often called a Visitor’s Visa.

The Immigration officer must be convinced that you will leave the country at the end of your stay. The maximum time you can stay in Canada is 6 months.

Temporary Resident Visas (Visitor Visas) and eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for Canada

Canada welcomes more than 35 million temporary residents each year. Except for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, all other individuals require permission to enter Canada as a visitor and require either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), unless they are US citizens.

What is an eTA?

As of March 15, 2016, travelers with passports from countries that are visa-exempt who enter Canada by air will need an eTA. The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. After you apply on-line, it typically takes 24-72 hours to process.

Below are some of the reasons why eTAs are refused

• Criminality
• Misrepresentation
• Previous deportation
• Medical inadmissibility
• Human Rights Violation

What is a 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 and are generally issued for a minimum six months. Length of the visa is determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied from within Canada.

The TRV application process is a lengthy one. The application asks for plenty of detailed personal and family information. In addition, many documents must be provided to support your application. Canada’s decision is solely based on the information you provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you submit a strong and thorough application.

It is important to note that possession of a valid TRV does not necessarily mean the Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit you into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate the purpose of their visit to Canada is temporary. Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to anyone, who they believe will not leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.

Below are some of the reasons why TRVs are refused:

• Lack of travel history
• Strong family ties to Canada: having family in Canada can be a reason for refusal
• Length of stay: the longer you stay, the more funds you need to prove
• Real purpose of visit: you have not provided sufficient explanation as to why you want to visit Canada
• Lack of employment prospects in home country
• Current employment situation
• Personal Assets
• Host in Canada financial situation: lack of documentation
• Documents that do not appear authentic
• History of overstaying status on a previous visit to Canada
• Illegal status in country of residence

You need a TRV if you fall within the below categories:

• Tourists
• Temporary foreign workers
• International students
• Business Visitors