Canada is the land of opportunity, and many people from all over the world flock to the country, often on a Temporary Resident Visa in Canada and eventually obtaining permanent resident status.
Canada currently welcomes approximately 300,000 new immigrants per year, which is considered among the highest in the world. In fact, over one-fifth of Canada’s population is made up of immigrants with permanent residence.
Many of these people start off their immigration process on a Temporary Resident Visa in Canada, which grants them a temporary amount of time to stay in the country. Let’s go into more detail about this type of visa, what it allows foreign nationals to do in Canada, and its limitations.
What Is A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a document issued by an immigration office outside of Canada. It accompanies a person’s passport to let border officials know that they’ve met the admission requirements to Canada as a visitor or temporary resident.
TRVs can be for single or multiple entries, and the duration of stay for foreign nationals visiting Canada varies based on the reason for their stay. For instance, temporary foreign workers may be granted a different length of stay than a tourist.
It should be noted that just because someone holds a TRV does not mean they are guaranteed entry into Canada.
What Happens When You Land With A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
You’re not guaranteed entry into Canada when you arrive. Your ability to enter is at the discretion of the border officer, particularly if any of the following apply:
- The border official has any doubts about you
- The information provided that wasn’t initially available to the visa office
- There’s been a change in events between the visa application dates and your arrival in Canada
How Long Can You Stay With A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
The length of time a person can stay in Canada is determined by the Border Services Officer who assesses the foreign national. Border officials will routinely grant entry for a period of 6 months to a person requesting entry as a visitor, even when the person requests entry for only a very brief period.
International students and temporary foreign workers are admitted for various time periods. Once in Canada, visitors can apply for an extension of stay.
How Long Can You Stay If You Have A Super Visa?
A Parent and Grandparent super visa status is valid for up to 2 years for each entry to Canada. Under this visa status, you’re allowed to stay in Canada for up to 2 years if the stamp on your passport doesn’t have a handwritten date under it. But if you’re issued a Visitor Record when you get to Canada, you can only stay until the expiry date specified on the document.
Otherwise, you can apply to have your status extended while still in Canada, as long as it’s before the expected departure date.
What Can You Do With A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
With a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), you can stay in Canada to:
- Visit friends and family
- Conduct business (certain rules and limitations may apply)
Can You Work With A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
A Temporary Resident Visa doesn’t permit you to work in Canada. This type of visa only allows you to enter Canada as a tourist.
If you want to seek employment in Canada, you’ll need to obtain a Work Permit as a foreign national. And if you want to travel in and out of Canada while on a Work Permit, you may also have to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your country of origin.
Can You Study With A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada?
If you want to go to school in Canada, you’ll need a Study Permit. This particular type of permit proves your status while in Canada and allows you to stay in the country to attend an educational facility.
A Temporary Resident Visa alone isn’t enough to allow you to study in a Canadian school as a foreign student. Instead, it will allow you to go in and out of Canada while you’re here studying.
Can I Take Out A Loan In Canada With A Temporary Resident Visa?
Temporary residents cannot take out a loan in Canada. There are several criteria that lenders require applicants to meet, including being either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. As such, anyone visiting Canada on a Temporary Resident Visa is ineligible for a personal loan or line of credit in Canada.
How Can I Get A Loan In Canada?
In order to take out a loan in Canada, you must first become a permanent resident. Once you successfully obtain your permanent resident (PR) card, you may be eligible to apply for a personal loan in Canada.
What Do You Need To Get A Loan?
However, you’ll need to first build a credit profile in order to get approved for a traditional loan. In addition to your status in Canada, your credit score is a common factor that lenders look at when determining whether or not to approve a loan application.
Even if you had good credit in your country of origin, you cannot transfer your credit to Canada. Instead, you’ll need to rebuild your credit from scratch. You can use credit-building tools and services, such as secured credit cards or the Landlord Credit Bureau (LCB) program, to help you build good credit.
Lenders typically conduct a credit check on applicants, so it’s best to build a credit score before applying. After some time, you may want to check your credit score to see where you stand as a loan applicant. You can check your credit score for free with Loans Canada’s CompareHub.
How To Get Permanent Resident In Canada?
Canada has immigration programs to help individuals apply to become permanent residents and take advantage of all the perks that come with this status, including the following:
- Express Entry. This program helps individuals who are skilled in specific lines of work become permanent residents of Canada, such as skilled tradespeople or those with a high level of education.
- Provincial Nominee Programs. This PNP program is designed for those who intend to live permanently in a specific province or territory and have the skills, education, and experience to contribute to the local economy.
- Atlantic Immigration Program. This program is specifically for skilled individuals looking to settle in one of the Atlantic provinces.
- Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers. This program is designed for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in Quebec.
- Start-Up Visa. Entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Canada that will create jobs for Canadians may apply for a Start-Up Visa.
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. This visa is designed to encourage skilled foreign workers to work and live in smaller communities.
- Family Sponsorship. Under the Family Sponsorship program, you may be allowed to live, work and go to school in Canada as permanent residents. This includes spouses, partners, parents, grandparents, and children of Canadian citizens.
- Caregivers. People who want to live in Canada to take care of others as a caregiver may apply for permanent resident status.
- Agri-Food Pilot. This program allows people who wish to work in the agricultural food sector to apply for permanent resident status.
How To Get A Temporary Resident Visa In Canada
The application process for a Temporary Resident Visa in Canada depends on whether you’re already in Canada or have not yet arrived.
- If you’re not yet in Canada. You must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa at the Canadian Visa Office in your country.
- If you’re already in Canada. You must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa with the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa. You can apply online and submit all required documents electronically. Or you can download the application form and mail it and all the necessary documents to the centre.
Final Thoughts
It’s important for visitors to Canada to understand what they can and cannot do under a Temporary Resident Visa. Furthermore, while you may be able to stay in Canada for a certain amount of time, you may have to take additional steps if you wish to live, work, and study in Canada on a permanent basis.
