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By: Kim Clarke on Mon Jun 9, 2008

If you plan on entering Canada or visiting Canada for an extended period of time, you'll need a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. This is issued by the Canadian government's visa office, which is a department under the purview of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The temporary resident visa for Canada will allow you to enter Canada as a student, temporary worker, or a visitor. Applying for it can be tough, though, so it's best to be very prepared!

A temporary resident visa for Canada is not, however, a guarantee that you will be allowed entry into Canada: after arriving at the point of entry, the Canada Border Services Agency Officer will determine if you will be allowed entry. Changes in the law or in your circumstances between the time of your application for the visa, your visa’s acceptance, and your arrival may result in you being refused entry, therefore it’s very important that you’re on the ball!

The Canadian government currently issues three types of temporary resident visas. They are the single entry visa, which allows you entry only once from most nations, with the exception of repeated entries from the United States and the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (a small group of islands that are part of France, and lie south of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean), where you are allowed to travel between the two countries, so long as you don’t enter any other countries, for the term of your visa. A multiple entry visa will allow you to enter Canada as many times as you would like to for the time that your visa stipulates you allowed to stay in Canada. And finally, the transit visa is the simplest of the three, and is required for visits to Canada of 48 hours of less when on your way to another country.

Temporary Resident Visa Requirements

The most important things to keep in mind when applying for a temporary resident visa for Canada is that the visa officer must be convinced that you have no intent to stay in Canada after your temporary visa expires, you have enough money to support yourself and any other dependents during your stay and to return home, you do not intend to work or study in the country unless allowed to do so, have no criminal record, present no security risk, and are in good health. To ensure a clean criminal record, you may have to present a police certificate; and to qualify as being in good health, you may be required to take a medical exam.

Ensure that your passport will be valid for at least the length of your stay in Canada, and preferably longer. You should renew your passport before you apply for your temporary resident visa if that’s not the case, and if it expires during the application process, you will have to produce additional documents that establish you meet the admission qualifications for Canada.
Applying for a Temporary Resident Visa to Canada
To apply for a temporary resident Visa, you should first download the temporary resident visa application kid and guide from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. If you prefer to apply in the traditional manner, for security reasons or what have you, contact your regional Canadian embassy, commission or consulate, and they will mail you a kit.
Make sure you read the guide and instructions carefully, as an improperly filled out, or incomplete application will result in a denial, and temporary resident visa application fees are unrefundable. Complete the form, attach the required documents, sign and date your application, and very importantly – double-check everything before you send it off! Also, it’s a smart idea to keep a copy for your own records. Pay your fee and ensure you keep your receipt. The visa office in your area will be able to give you information on fees.
Processing Times
Most temporary resident visas are processed in approximately one month or less. Therefore, it’s best to apply for a resident visa one month before you plan to travel to Canada. Allow eight weeks if you’re mailing your application. Depending on what country you’re traveling from, your processing times could vary. Check the Government of Canada’s website for specific processing times depending on international location, and you might even need a medical exam, if you plan to stay over six months.


Acceptance or Refusal of Temporary Resident Visas

After Citizenship and Immigration Canada has reviewed your application for a temporary resident visa for Canada, you may be required to take an interview with a visa officer, who will contact you and notify you of the time and place.
In the event that your application is turned down, and barring any suspicion of fraudulence, your documents will be returned to you, accompanied by a full explanation of why your application was refused. Despite this, there is no appeals process, but you can appeal again. Appealing again is a mug’s game, though, unless your situation has changed, or you include new information, or a change in the reason for your visit.
In the event that your application is accepted, the Canadian government will return your passport and documents along with a temporary resident visa.
Entering Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa

When you arrive in Canada a Canada Border Services Agency officer will ask to see your passport and travel documents and ask you questions. Even if you have a temporary resident visa, you must satisfy the officer that you are eligible to enter Canada and will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. A change of circumstances between your application for a temporary resident visa and your arrival in Canada or additional information available could still result in you being refused entry to Canada. The border officer will decide if may enter Canada and how long you may stay. The officer will stamp your passport or let you know how long you may stay in Canada.

Contact Information
Please check with the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Visa Office for your region for any specific local requirements, for additional information or if you have any questions about your application for a temporary resident visa for Canada.