In order to obtain a visa for Canada there are a number of basic requirements before you apply. You must have a valid passport that will be in date for the duration of your planned stay. You must be in good health. If your visit is for a short stay then you need to be able to reassure the Canadian authorities that you do not intend to remain in the country for longer than your visa allows. You will also need to have enough money to support you while you are there. When you travel you must ensure that your travel documents are all in order, or you may be denied entry to the country. You may also be required to undergo a medical examination before a visa is issued.

As a general rule, residents of the UK and USA will not require a visa to visit Canada, although for more permanent immigration it is a necessity.

Even those who are planning a short break in the country may require a temporary resident visa; this will largely depend upon your country of origin. The first step is to contact the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country to determine the exact requirements, and then make your application if this is required.

Your local Canadian consulate will provide you with an application package, which contains all the information you need to complete the form. The guide will also help you to work out if you are eligible for a temporary resident visa. If you are not eligible but apply anyway your fees will not be refunded. When you have completed the forms you will need to send them in with all the relevant documentation. Details for spouses/partners and dependent children can be entered onto the same form.

Each member of the family must have a valid passport and all of these must be included with the application. Each person listed on the document must have two passport photos which meet the guidelines given in the information guide. The application fee must also be included with the completed form. You will be asked to provide proof that you have the financial means to support yourself while you are in the country. The exact details requested will depend upon the reason for your visit, where you are staying and how long you are planning to be there. Other documents required may include contracts of employment, ID cards issued in your country of origin or an itinerary for your visit.

When you pay the fee you will be given a receipt. Fees will vary according to the number of people included on the visa application and whether or not the visa is to be used for multiple entries into the country. Fees must be paid in Canadian dollars. A single entry visa will only allow you to enter Canada on one occasion, although visitors from the USA may use this visa to enter on more than one occasion. Multiple entry visas are ideal for those visitors who need to make regular trips in and out of the country.

The time taken to process the application will vary depending upon the visa office that you have sent it to, but each one should be able to advise applicants of approximate waiting times. Some offices may need more information and might request that you attend an interview with a visa officer. You will be contacted to arrange suitable times.

You should also allow extra time in case you are required to undergo a medical examination. This can add several months to the processing time for your visa application. If this is needed, you will be contacted by the visas office and given full instructions on where and when to go.

Permanent Immigration to Canada

There are several programmes available for those who want to make a more permanent move to Canada. Each one has a different selection criterion and will issue a different visa. The website of the Canadian immigration department has online tools that can help you to determine if you are eligible to enter the country on one of these schemes before you apply.

Skilled Workers and Professionals

This scheme is for those who have skills and experience in one of a number of required professions. They are chosen on their ability to establish themselves economically, so must be able to prove their experience in this field or have a firm offer of employment from a Canadian company. As Canada has two official languages you must have a good working knowledge of at least one of them and you may be required to take a language proficiency test at your own cost. The list of occupations that apply to this scheme is updated regularly and can be obtained from the website of the Canadian Immigration department. Those applying on the basis of previous work experience should ensure that this has taken place within the last ten years and was for a minimum of one year.

You are then assessed on six points:
· Your education
· Language skills
· Work experience
· Age
· If you already have arranged a job in Canada
· Adaptability

You must also be able to prove that you can support yourself financially when you first arrive in the country.

Business Immigration

This scheme is aimed at those who are self-employed; those who want to invest in a Canadian business or who want to start their own business. Those who want to invest must have a minimum investment of C$400,000 and those who are starting their own business must prove that they can contribute economically to the country and employ local workers.
Quebec – Permanent Workers and Business Immigration

The province of Quebec has its own workers and business immigration scheme. This is a two stage application. You must apply to the government of the province for a certificate of selection, which proves that they have accepted you. This is then followed by an application to the department of immigration for a residency card and to undergo criminal and medical checks. The details on how to apply to the Quebec province are provided on their government’s website, although much of the procedure is the same. You will need to prove both your work experience and language skills and provide documentation to prove your identity. The six factors that apply to the skilled workers programme are not used here.

Canadian Experience

This is a scheme for those who have worked in Canada on a previous occasion, although this scheme does not apply in Quebec. The selection criteria for this scheme look very carefully at your past association with the country. You must have been in the country as a temporary foreign worker with two years work experience there, although this is reduced to one year if you have graduated from a Canadian university. You must have had the correct visas authorising you to work in the country and you must apply for this either while you are still working in the country or within a year of returning to your country of origin. Applicants on this scheme are also subject to the language proficiency test.

If you are married or have a partner in Canada who is also foreign born and who qualifies for this scheme then either one of you can apply as the principal applicant.

Provincial Nominees

This is a scheme run by each of the provinces, where they are able to nominate immigrants for permanent immigration if they feel they can bring some benefit to the region. The first stage of your application would be to the province of your choice. They make their decisions based on their needs, so if you are a qualified electrician and there is a shortage of skilled workers in that area then your application will be looked upon favourably. Once you have been accepted by the province you will have to make an application to the Immigration department to obtain permanent residency status and undergo the same checks as for other schemes. Those who apply via the provinces are not subject to the same six point checks as for the skilled workers scheme.

Making Your Application

The first step is to check the websites of the relevant authority that you are applying to in the first instance, either the province itself or the Canadian immigration department. There you will be able to request or download an application pack, which will include all the forms that you need to complete as well as detailed instructions on how to do so and which documentation that you need to send.

Additional documentation will include items such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates if applicable, driver’s licence and copies of qualifications and documents that prove your work experience. All original documents will be returned to you when your application has been processed. Some areas – such as Quebec – may require you to send these items in French, and you may have to pay to have them professionally translated by an approved translator. If this is the case, the authority will be able to provide you with a list of translators.

When the application is sent you should also include your fees, which are payable in Canadian dollars. Fees for different schemes will vary, particularly if you are making the application to include a partner or your family.

You need to allow time for the application to be processed. This may include extra time for medical checks and police and background checks.