Canada

1. Visitor Visas (Temporary Stay)
2. A) Tourist Visa (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV)

• Purpose:Tourism, visiting family/friends, short business trips.
• Validity:Up to 6 months (extensions possible).
• Requirements:
  • Proof of funds (bank statements).
  • Travel itinerary & return ticket.
  • Ties to home country (job, property, family).

1. B) Super Visa (For Parents/Grandparents)

• Purpose:Long-term visits (for parents/grandparents of Canadian citizens/PRs).
• Validity:Up to 5 years (multiple entries, stays up to 2 years per visit).
• Requirements:
  • Invitation letter from a child or grandchild in Canada.
  • Proof of medical insurance (minimum $100,000 coverage).

2. Work Permits (Temporary & Permanent)
3. A) Temporary Work Permits

• Employer-Specific Work Permit: A job offer from a Canadian employer (an LMIA is usually required).
• Open Work Permit:No job offer required (for spouses of students, workers, and IEC participants).
• International Experience Canada (IEC) – Working Holiday Visa:For youth (18–35) from eligible countries (1–2 years).

1. B) Permanent Work Visas (Economic Immigration)

• Express Entry:Points-based system (for skilled workers).
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):Nomination by a Canadian province.
• Caregiver Programs:For in-home caregivers (pathway to PR).

3. Study Permits

• Purpose:Full-time study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
• Validity:Duration of study program + 90 days (for PGWP application).
• Work Rights:
  • On-campus/unlimited hours.
  • Off-campus (20 hours/week during term, full-time in breaks).
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP):Open work permit after graduation (1–3 years, depending on program length).

4. Family Sponsorship (Permanent Residence)

• Spouse/Partner Sponsorship:For spouses/common-law partners of Canadians/PRs.
• Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship:Limited annual quota (requires income proof).
• Dependent Child Sponsorship:For children under 22.

5. Business & Investor Visas

• Start-Up Visa:For entrepreneurs with a qualifying business idea.
• Self-Employed Visa: For artists and athletes contributing to Canadian culture.
• Investor Visa:Requires significant investment (varies by province).

6. Permanent Residence (PR) Pathways

• Express Entry (FSWP/CEC/FSTP):Fastest route (6–8 months processing).
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):Regional nomination.
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP):For Atlantic Canada jobs.
• Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP):For smaller communities.

7. Other Visas

• Transit Visa:Required for some nationalities transiting through Canada.
• eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization):For visa-exempt visitors (e.g., US Green Card holders, some Europeans).

Key Notes:

✔ Visa-Free Entry: US citizens and citizens of certain countries (e.g., the UK, EU) can visit for up to 6 months without a visa (but require an eTA if flying).

✔ Biometrics Required: For most visa applications.

✔ Processing Times:

• Visitor visas:1–4 weeks.
• Work/study permits:1–6 months.
• Express Entry PR:6–8 months.