Visitor Visa

A visitor visa, also referred to as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an immigration document that allows foreign nationals to travel to and enter Canada. Visitors are all those persons who are legally authorized to enter the land of Canada but are not Canadian citizens or Permanent residents. People can travel to Canada for the purposes such as:

Tourism or holidays in Canada.
Visiting family.
Conducting Business etc.

ETA

The Electronic Travel Authorization Canada is a travel document for people from countries that do not need a visa. It is a fast authorization to enter Canada and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It is used instead of the Canada Visitor Visa, so it serves the same purpose. Most eTA applications are processed in a few minutes after you submit the application. You will just get an email stating that you were approved for the eTA.

Visitor Visa Requirements

To apply for a Tourist Visa for Canada, you will also have to submit some documents, as follows:

have a valid travel document, such as a passport.
be in good health; A medical examination may be requested.
satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties to your country of origin, such as a job, home and family, which will compel you to return.
satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit.
have sufficient funds for your stay; The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
you may also need a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Visitor Visa validity

Most of the time, visa is valid until your passport expires. Visitors are allowed a six-month stay from the day they entered Canada. If the officer authorizes a stay of less than six months, they will indicate in your passport the date by which you must leave Canada.

Visitor Visa Extension

If you want to stay longer than 6 months in Canada with a tourist visa, you will need a visitor visa extension. This extension is called a Visitor Record. You have to apply for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record) at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.

Visitor Visa Processing time

The Canada visitor visa processing time ranges from 8 to 40 days. However, the processing time is different depending on the country you live in. So, you will have to wait around 1 month for your Visitor Visa to be processed.

What Am I Allowed to do With a Canada Tourist Visa?

With the Canadian Tourist visa, you are allowed to travel around Canada for less than 6 months as long as you are in good financial standing. You are not allowed to get Canadian documents or stay in the country permanently. You are also not allowed to work or study, and you will not be allowed to file for health care or other governmental benefits.