Visas and Permits

Visitors to Canada generally need to obtain permission to visit the country and will also need specific permission to work or study in Canada. You can apply for visitor visas, study permits, work permits and extensions for these documents here.

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is required for foreign visitors to Canada. This visa designation is only for a temporary stay. More permanent presence in Canada can only be authorized through permanent residency.

In order to work in Canada, foreign visitors must first receive a work permit. Applicants have to meet a set of strict requirements before they will be granted a work permit.

Canada has some of the best schools and universities in the world and visitors who wish to take classes for periods of time longer than six months will have to apply for a study permit.

Although you cannot extend your stay as a visitor in Canada indefinitely, it can be extended. This application can be filed while you are still in Canada.

Students can apply for an extension of their study permits provided the expiry dates on their passports have not yet passed. This application can also sometimes be used to restore one's status as a student.

Temporary workers in Canada can extend their work permits up to four years. This application should be filed concurrently with one's visitor visa.

Temporary visitors to Canada who have study permits may be eligible for work permits as well. However, it is important to note that these permits may expire at different times and the due dates for extensions may differ.