TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISAS (ENTRY VISAS)

Topics Included in this Section

A) Who Needs a Temporary Resident Visa

B) Applying for a Temporary Resident Visa Before Coming to Canada

C) Applying for a Temporary Resident Visa After Coming to Canada

A) WHO NEEDS A TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA
Citizens of certain countries need a Temporary Resident Visa (also referred to as an entry visa) to enter Canada.

To find out if you require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada, refer to the following page on the CIC web site: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp.

Exception: If you have a valid Study Permit and you are traveling from Canada to the USA and back to Canada (without going to any other countries in between), you do not need a Temporary Resident Visa to re-enter Canada. You may re-enter Canada in this situation with your passport and Study Permit.  IF YOU TRAVEL TO A THIRD COUNTRY BEFORE RETURNING TO CANADA, YOU MUST HAVE A VALID TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA.  Students taking advantage of this Temporary Resident Visa exemption are strongly encouraged to meet with an International Student Advisor at ICS prior to their departure for advice on the documents they should have with them when crossing the border.

 

B) APPLYING FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA BEFORE COMING TO CANADA

If you are applying for a Study Permit from a Canadian Visa Office overseas and you also require a Temporary Resident Visa, it is not necessary to make a separate application or pay a separate fee. If your Study Permit application is approved, the Temporary Resident Visa will be placed in your passport at the same time that your letter of introduction is issued. If you plan to return home each year to visit family and friends or if you will be required to travel outside of Canada to attend academic conferences or conduct research, you should request a long-term multiple-entry Temporary Resident Visa.

Check the Temporary Resident Visa (if applicable) that is put in your passport to confirm the date by which you must enter Canada and the number of times you may use that visa to enter Canada. You must arrive in Canada before your Temporary Resident Visa expires.

C) APPLYING FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA AFTER COMING TO CANADA

Many students decide to return home to visit family and friends during their studies. If you are already in Canada and your Temporary Resident Visa has expired, you can apply for a new Temporary Resident Visa while you are at home or you can apply for one before you leave Canada by sending an application to a Canadian Consulate located in the USA. The Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, New York is the closest consulate to Winnipeg. For this reason, many students at the U of M choose to send their applications there.

It can take several weeks to obtain a new Temporary Resident Visa. You may be required to attend an interview at the consulate where you sent your application.

Temporary Resident Visa application forms and detailed instructions are available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp. Each visa office may require documents that other visa offices do not require. When preparing your application, be sure to consult the Canadian consulate or visa office where you will send your application to verify whether they require additional documentation.

A Temporary Resident Visa will not be issued past the expiry date of your Study Permit. Depending on the dates of your travel, you may need to renew your Study Permit before you apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. Students in this situation should not apply for a Temporary Resident Visa until the new Study Permit arrives.

If you have questions about applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, contact an International Student Advisor at the ICS office for assistance.