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Canada Visa Hub — Visitor, Study, Work & Permanent Residence

Canada operates one of the world's most structured immigration systems, with clear pathways for tourists, students, skilled workers, entrepreneurs and family members. This hub walks through every major temporary and permanent visa route — eligibility, documents, processing times, real fees and the mistakes that trigger refusals.

Whether you're applying for a 10-day Toronto visit, a four-year Conestoga College program, a Global Talent Stream tech role, or Express Entry permanent residence, you'll find the official requirements and worked examples below. Always cross-check details on the IRCC website before submitting — fees and processing standards change quarterly.

On this page

Visitor Visa (TRV / eTA)
Super Visa (parents & grandparents)
Study Permit
Work Permit (LMIA & LMIA-exempt)
Express Entry (PR — FSW, CEC, FST)
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Family Sponsorship
Business & Start-Up Visa
Photo requirements
FAQ

Visitor Visa (TRV / eTA)

Canada's Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) let foreign nationals enter for tourism, family visits and short business meetings. Most visa-required nationals need a TRV sticker; visa-exempt nationals flying to Canada need an eTA. Standard stays are six months from the date of entry, decided by the border officer.

Eligibility

Valid passport with at least six months' validity beyond your trip
Sufficient funds to cover the entire stay (CAD 100–150/day is the informal benchmark)
Strong ties to your home country — job letter, property, family
No criminality or medical inadmissibility
Return ticket or onward travel plan

Required documents

Form IMM 5257 (visitor visa) or eTA online form
Two recent 35×45 mm photos with white background
Six months of bank statements
Letter of invitation if visiting family
Hotel bookings or accommodation address
Proof of employment + leave approval

Processing time: 30–60 days for TRV (longer in Delhi, Manila, Lagos); 5–15 minutes for an eTA Cost: TRV CAD 100; eTA CAD 7; biometrics CAD 85

Real-world example. Maria from Mexico City applied for a TRV in early March for a June family visit. She submitted bank statements showing CAD 8,000 in savings, a permanent job letter, return tickets and a notarised invitation from her sister in Toronto. Her TRV was issued in 28 days as a multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years.

Common mistakes

Submitting bank statements with sudden large deposits the officer can't trace
One-way tickets without a credible plan to return
Selfies or poorly cropped photos that fail biometric checks
Forgetting to declare prior US visa refusals on the form

Super Visa (parents & grandparents)

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Each entry can last up to five years (recently extended from two years), and the visa itself is valid for up to ten years. It is dramatically faster than the Parents and Grandparents Program sponsorship route.

Eligibility

Be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or PR (proof required)
Sponsor's household income meets the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) threshold
Private Canadian medical insurance with at least CAD 100,000 coverage for one year
Pass an immigration medical exam

Required documents

Letter of invitation from the child or grandchild with sponsor's income proof (Notice of Assessment)
Birth or adoption certificate proving relationship
Approved Canadian medical insurance policy for 1 year
Immigration medical exam results

Processing time: Typically 4–6 months Cost: CAD 100 visa fee + ~CAD 1,500–2,500/year for medical insurance

Real-world example. Singh family in Brampton invited his father from Punjab on a Super Visa. He bought a Manulife policy covering CAD 100,000 in medical and repatriation for 12 months at CAD 2,100, and his Notice of Assessment showed he met LICO for a family of four. The visa was issued in 17 weeks.

Common mistakes

Buying insurance from a non-Canadian provider — must be issued by a Canadian company
Submitting NOA from the wrong tax year
Forgetting the medical exam — Super Visa requires one even for parents under 70

Study Permit

A Study Permit is required for nearly any program longer than six months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Recent reforms have introduced caps on undergraduate permits, Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs), and stricter proof-of-funds rules (CAD 20,635/year as of 2024, plus tuition).

Eligibility

Letter of Acceptance from a DLI
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) where required
Proof of funds: tuition + CAD 20,635 living costs (more in some provinces)
Clean criminal record + immigration medical
Intent to leave Canada at the end of studies

Required documents

Letter of Acceptance + PAL/TAL
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAD 20,635
Tuition payment receipt (often first year upfront)
Custodian declaration if under 17
Statement of purpose

Processing time: 4–12 weeks (varies by country, faster for SDS-eligible nations) Cost: CAD 150 study permit + CAD 85 biometrics + ~CAD 2,000 GIC fees

Real-world example. Tan from Vietnam applied via the now-replaced Student Direct Stream with a GIC at Scotiabank and a one-year tuition receipt for Conestoga College. Approval came in 19 days, well within the SDS standard.

Common mistakes

Weak statement of purpose that reads like a generic template
Applying to a non-PAL-issuing province after the 2024 cap
Forgetting to upload English/French test results

Work Permit (LMIA & LMIA-exempt)

Canada offers two main work permit categories: employer-specific (closed) permits and open work permits. Most closed permits require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the employer, except for International Mobility Program streams such as intra-company transferees, CUSMA professionals and PGWP graduates.

Eligibility

Valid job offer from a Canadian employer
Positive LMIA from ESDC, or LMIA-exempt category
Qualifications matching the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code
Intent to return after the permit expires (closed permits)

Required documents

Job offer letter with hours, wage, duties
LMIA approval letter or LMIA-exemption code (A/C numbers)
Educational and professional credentials, ECA if applicable
Police clearance + medical (if working in healthcare/education or staying >6 months)

Processing time: 8–16 weeks (Global Talent Stream as fast as 2 weeks) Cost: CAD 155 work permit + CAD 100 open permit fee (if applicable) + CAD 85 biometrics

Real-world example. A Brazilian software engineer received a Toronto fintech job offer through the Global Talent Stream (NOC 21231). The LMIA was issued in 9 business days, and the permit was approved 12 days after biometrics — total under 5 weeks.

Common mistakes

Wage below the prevailing wage in the LMIA — automatic refusal
Wrong NOC code, especially for cross-mapped roles
Missing French/English language proof for regulated occupations

Express Entry (PR — FSW, CEC, FST)

Express Entry is Canada's points-based permanent residence system for skilled workers. Three programs are managed through it: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). Candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in regular draws.

Eligibility

FSW: 1 year continuous skilled work, language CLB 7, ECA, 67/100 points
CEC: 1 year skilled Canadian work experience, language CLB 7 (TEER 0/1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2/3)
FST: 2 years skilled trade experience + job offer or provincial certificate
Proof of settlement funds (unless you have a job offer)

Required documents

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from WES/IQAS/etc.
IELTS General or CELPIP-G test results
Reference letters from employers (with NOC duties)
Police certificates from every country lived 6+ months as adult
Settlement funds proof

Processing time: 6 months service standard after ITA + e-APR Cost: CAD 1,365 PR application + CAD 85 biometrics + ~CAD 250 ECA + ~CAD 300 language test

Real-world example. A 29-year-old nurse from the Philippines scored CRS 482 with category-based selection for healthcare. She received an ITA in 7 weeks, submitted her e-APR with WES report and CELPIP CLB 9, and was granted PR in 4 months.

Common mistakes

Misreporting NOC code or skill type — leads to misrepresentation findings
Bank balance dipping below settlement funds during processing
Submitting expired language tests (valid only 2 years)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Each Canadian province (except Quebec and Nunavut) runs its own PNP to nominate candidates aligned with local labour-market needs. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile, virtually guaranteeing an ITA. Popular streams include Ontario's Human Capital Priorities, BC PNP Tech, and the Atlantic Immigration Program.

Eligibility

Meet stream-specific work, education and language requirements
Often require a job offer in the province (some streams don't)
Show intent to live and work in the nominating province

Required documents

Expression of Interest in the provincial portal
Provincial nomination certificate
Standard Express Entry documents

Processing time: Provincial assessment 3–6 months + federal 6 months Cost: Provincial fees CAD 250–1,500 + federal PR fee

Real-world example. An Indian software developer in Bangalore was nominated by BC PNP Tech with a job offer from a Vancouver SaaS company. The provincial step took 9 weeks, and federal PR was granted 5 months later.

Common mistakes

Applying to a province you don't genuinely intend to live in
Ignoring stream-specific NOC lists
Letting the nomination certificate expire (typically 6 months)

Family Sponsorship

Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 18+ can sponsor spouses, common-law/conjugal partners, dependent children, and (under PGP draws) parents and grandparents. Spousal sponsorship is processed inside or outside Canada and requires the sponsor to commit to a 3-year financial undertaking.

Eligibility

Sponsor is Canadian citizen or PR, 18+, not bankrupt or in arrears
Genuine relationship — bona fide marriage, common-law (1 year cohabitation) or conjugal
No social-assistance dependence unless disability-related

Required documents

Marriage certificate or common-law evidence (joint accounts, leases, photos, communication history)
IMM 5532 Relationship Information form
Sponsor's Option C printout (tax return summary)
Statutory declarations from people who know the relationship

Processing time: 12 months service standard (inside or outside Canada) Cost: CAD 1,205 (sponsor + principal applicant + biometrics)

Real-world example. A Toronto-based citizen sponsored her UK husband. They submitted a 60-page relationship narrative with photos, WhatsApp history and joint utility bills. PR was issued 10 months after submission with an open work permit granted at month 4.

Common mistakes

Thin relationship evidence — photos only, no joint financial life
Missing the Option C taxation summary
Forgetting to disclose previous marriages

Business & Start-Up Visa

Canada's Start-Up Visa Program (SUV) grants permanent residence to entrepreneurs whose business idea is supported by a designated venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator. Self-employed Persons and the now-closed Investor categories also fall under federal business immigration.

Eligibility

Letter of Support from a designated organisation
Qualifying business with the team owning at least 10% of voting rights
Sufficient settlement funds (CAD ~13,757–36,407 depending on family size)
CLB 5 language proficiency

Required documents

Commitment Certificate + Letter of Support
Business documents (incorporation, business plan)
Settlement fund proof
Language test, ECA, police clearances

Processing time: 30–37 months (currently backlogged) Cost: CAD 1,810 + designated organisation fees (CAD 5,000–25,000)

Real-world example. Three Nigerian co-founders building an agritech SaaS were supported by a designated business incubator in Waterloo. Each founder received a work permit in 4 months and PR is currently pending at month 22.

Common mistakes

Choosing an unrecognised incubator — only designated organisations qualify
Co-founders failing to maintain 10% individual ownership
Underestimating the 30+ month wait — bridge with a work permit

Canada photo requirements

Use our free, browser-based tools — your photos never leave your device. Verify dimensions, background and head position before you submit.

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