The Different Visa Types in Canada
Canada offers a variety of both permanent and temporary visa options. Gaining a clear understanding of each visa category is essential to determine the one that aligns with your situation and to effectively prepare your application.
A Canadian visa is an official document granted by the Canadian government, allowing foreign nationals to enter and stay in the country for a specific purpose and duration. Typically placed inside a passport, this entry document is authorized by foreign government offices in Canada and is distinct from work or study permits.
There are different types of Canadian visas, each designed for specific purposes such as tourism, family visits, or business trips. Serving as the initial authorization, a Canadian visa opens the door for individuals from around the world to explore the diverse opportunities and experiences that Canada offers, from its cultural richness to educational institutions and professional endeavors.
Canadian Visa Category Codes
The category codes on Canadian visas can vary depending on the type of visa and the purpose of the individual’s visit.
The category code is printed on a visa label or stamp in your passport. It’s usually a combination of letters and numbers indicating the type or category of the visa.
| Category Code | Visa Description |
| B-1 | Business Visitor |
| C-1 | Courtesy |
| D-1 | Diplomat |
| F-1 | Facilitation Visa |
| IM-1 | Immigrant (single-entry visa for PR) |
| 0-1 | Official |
| P A-1 | Permit Holder |
| PAX-1 | National Interest TRP |
| PC-1 | Permit Holder with Valid TRP |
| PG-1 | Parents or Grandparents Super Visa |
| R-1 | Passed-Residency Obligation |
| RA-1 | Presence at Appeal |
| RC-1 | Passed H&C – PR Travel Document |
| RX-1 | Attending a PR hearing while you were present in Canada in the past 365 days. |
| S-1 | A student with Study Permit |
| SW-1 | An international student with Study & Work Permit |
| SX-1 | A student exempt from the requirement to obtain a Study Permit |
| V-1 | Visitor |
| VH-1 | Visitor in Transit for not more than 48 hours |
| W-1 | A worker with Work Permit |
| WX-1 | A worker exempt from the requirement to obtain a Work Permit |
Canadian Visa Categories
Temporary Visas
A temporary visa allows foreign nationals to come to Canada for a short period. What you can do while you’re in Canada depends on what kind of temporary visa you have. If you’re in Canada on a temporary visa, you must leave once your visa expires.
If you don’t plan on settling in Canada long-term, a temporary visa could be the right program for you.
Coming to Canada as a student or a worker could also provide you with a pathway to permanent status if you’re not currently eligible for any permanent residence immigration programs.
1. Work
Anyone with a work visa is allowed to work and reside in Canada for the duration of the work permit validity period as long as they respect the conditions in the work permit.
A work visa is closely associated with a work permit, and the type of work permit you obtain depends on your chosen immigration pathway or the specific program you have applied for. There are various work permits available, each tailored to different immigration routes or programs.
Open Work Permit:
This type of permit allows you to work for any employer anywhere in Canada and doesn’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a highly sought-after but not very common permit and usually is only available to adults accompanying their family members on a study permit.
Employer specific work permit:
If you have a valid job offer from a specific employer, you may be eligible to enter Canada on an employer-specific work permit. An employer-specific work permit usually requires an Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which is a document that proves the employer tried to find a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to fill the role, before it was offered to a foreigner.
Anyone wishing to switch jobs after entering Canada on an employer specific work permit will be required to apply for a new work permit.
Post-graduation Work Permit:
This is an open work permit that allows international graduates to live and work in Canada after they graduate. Lasting up to three years, the exact length of the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) will depend on the length of the course/program you studied.
International Experience Canada (IEC):
Canada has signed bilateral agreements with certain countries, allowing citizens of those countries to travel and work in Canada under International Experience Canada (IEC). The three categories which fall under the IEC are:
- Working holiday: Candidates working for multiple employers without a job offer, possibly with multiple locations, with the aim of being able to earn money to travel.
- Young professional: If your current Canadian job offers contributes to your professional development, you can work for the same employer in one location during your time in Canada.
- International Co-op Internship: Anyone registered at a post-secondary institution with a valid job offer for a work placement/internship in Canada can apply for an employer-specific work permit under this category. This also applies to someone who is required to complete an internship in order to complete their studies and would like to work for the same employer in the same location during their stay in Canada.
2. Study
If you want to study at a Canadian institution in a program that lasts more than six months, you must have a study permit.
To apply for a study permit, you must first be accepted into a program at a Canadian school and show a letter of acceptance from a Canadian school. To study in Canada, you must also prove you have sufficient funds, are not inadmissible, and intend to leave Canada once your permit expires.
Studying in Canada is also a good option for candidates who are not currently eligible for a permanent immigration program. Completing a credential from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) in Canada can allow you to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), gaining valuable Canadian work experience that can eventually be used to apply for permanent residence.
CAQ:
Anyone wishing to study in Quebec must apply for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) before applying for a study permit in the school, if its located in Québec. You must have been accepted into a program before you can apply for a CAQ.
3. Visitor
If you plan on visiting Canada, you will need one of the following to enter the country.
Single Entry Visa:
This allows you to visit Canada one time, for a fixed period of time. After leaving the country you will need to reapply for a new visitor visa to return, even if your initial single-entry visa is still valid. You can stay in Canada for a maximum time of 6 months on this visa.
Multiple Entry Visitor Visa:
This visa allows visitors to enter and leave the country for a period of up to 6 months, without needing to reapply each time. This type of visa can be valid for up to 10 years. Even if you apply for a single-entry visa, you are automatically considered for a multiple entry visa, thanks to a change in immigration law in February 2014.
Super Visa:
The Super Visa can be issued to parents or grandparents of someone already living in Canada as a citizen or permanent resident. It is an extended stay temporary resident multiple-entry visa that lasts for up to 10 years. Also, the visitor can remain in Canada for up to 24 months on their initial visit, as opposed to a maximum time of up to 6 months for single and multiple-entry visitor visa.
Electronic Travel Authorization:
If you plan on entering Canada, don’t hold a valid study or work permit, and are a citizen of a visa-exempt country, you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if you plan on entering Canada by air. The only exception is for US citizens, who can enter Canada without an ETA as long as they are travelling on a US passport.
Permanent Residence
If you have decided you want to move permanently to Canada, then you need to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Regardless of which of the following immigration routes you choose, they all lead to Canadian permanent residence.
Once you become a Canadian permanent resident, you will be free to look for work in any occupation of your choosing and can sponsor a spouse, your parents or even grandparents in the future.
1. Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada’s fastest and most popular pathway to permanent residence. The Express Entry system manages three main economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class.
If you’re eligible for one of the programs managed by Express Entry, you must submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. Once in the pool, your profile is ranked against the profiles of all the other candidates in the pool. The candidates who rank the highest in the pool are then issued an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for Canadian permanent residence.
Applications submitted through the Express Entry system may be processed within as little as six months.
Federal Skilled Worker Program:
If you have at least one year of skilled work experience, meet minimum language requirements in French or English, and score at least 67 out of 100 points on the FSW selection grid, you may be eligible to apply to Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Federal Skilled Trades Program:
If you have two years of experience in a skilled trade, meet minimum language requirements in French or English, and have either a Canadian certificate of qualification to practice your trade in Canada or a job offer in your skilled trade in Canada, you may be eligible to apply to Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Trades program.
Canadian Experience Class:
If you have worked for at least one year in Canada on a valid work permit you are eligible for this program, and meet minimum language requirements, you may be eligible to apply to Express Entry under Canadian Experience Class. Keep in mind, however, that your profile will still be ranked against everyone else in the pool, regardless of the program for which they are eligible.
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Every province in Canada, except Quebec, operates its own immigration streams, known as Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). The eligibility criteria and application guides vary for each stream in each province.
While many PNPs require a connection to the province to apply, there are many programs for overseas workers that help respond to specific labour market or demographic gaps.
3. Quebec Immigration
The Province of Quebec has more autonomy in immigration policies than other Canadian provinces.
All temporary or permanent visa applicants that intend to reside in the province of Quebec must first apply to the province for approval before applying to the federal government.
Quebec Experience Class:
This accelerated Canadian immigration program is run by Immigration Quebec and is the Quebec equivalent of the Canadian Experience Class program. To be eligible for Quebec Experience Class (PEQ), you need to either be a temporary worker or an international student in Quebec.
If you’re a temporary worker, you must have an eligible work permit and be working for an employer in Quebec. You must also have at least 12 months of work experience (Skill level O, A or B), and advanced-intermediate French proficiency.
If you’re an international student, or recent international student graduate, you have to have an eligible degree or expect to complete your program within six months, and have advanced-intermediate French proficiency.
Quebec Skilled Worker:
Unlike many other provincial programs, the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program does not require a job offer. It also does not require French language proficiency.
QSW operates on a points system similar to Express Entry. Candidates must first meet the minimum score requirement on the QSW points grid to submit an Arrima profile.
Quebec then holds regular draws where they invite the top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent selection.
4. Sponsorship
If your relatives become permanent residents of Canada, they have the opportunity to live, study, and work in the country. As an individual at least 18 years old and meeting specific criteria, you can sponsor various relatives, including your parents, spouse, and children, to come to Canada. Eligibility criteria for becoming a sponsor include being a Canadian citizen, being registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or holding permanent resident status.
If you are interested in sponsoring your family, please visit our guide here: Family Sponsorship
Immigrating to Canada can be tricky without help, and a qualified immigration lawyer can help you make all the right choices, paving the path to a successful outcome.
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