The Canada Visa application for the current year has begun, so those interested can begin to apply. However, this Visa program is strictly for those who want to visit the country for business, tourism, medical, social, and holiday purposes.
If you are reading this, you are most likely searching for how you can apply for the 2022 Canada Visa Lottery program. This article will show you everything you need to know about the visa lottery.
If you plan to get a Visa that will allow you to stay permanently in Canada, then this article is not for you. You have to get an immigrant visa for such intent. This piece will only educate you on how you can apply for the Canada Non-immigrant visa and the requirements for such.
The Canada Non-immigrant visa is otherwise called a Visitor Visa. This document will be given to you after you have met all the requirements needed to enter Canada. It is usually attached to the traveller’s international passport.
Not only those who intend to visit Canada will need a visitor visa. If you are transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination, you also need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
How to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
You can apply for a Canadian visitor visa either online or on paper. Many people prefer doing it on paper by visiting Canadian embassies or consulates in their country. However, the spread of Covid-19 has forced many to continue their applications online.
For this article, I will show you how you can apply for your Canadian visitor visa in 4 easy steps. Let’s check them out!
1. Check if you’re eligible to travel to Canada and the documents you need for Covid-19.
Not everyone will be allowed to travel to Canada at the moment. There are requirements that you must meet even before you can apply for a visitor visa. They include;
- You must be qualified for partial or fully vaccinated status in Canada. In addition to this, you must show no signs or symptoms of Covid-19. However, the final determination regarding your entry into Canada and quarantine is made by a government representative at the Port of entry.
- You must meet the entry requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and provide appropriate travel and immigration documentation.
- You can only apply for a Canadian visitor visa if you can’t get an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Please be aware that the aforementioned requirements are only put in place to reduce and if possible, stop the spread of Covid-19 in Canada and the world at large.
2. Get the documents that show you meet the COVID‑19 travel exemption AND criteria for a visitor visa.
These documents are referred to as Supporting documents. I will make mention of them later in this piece. For now, let’s move on to the penultimate step.
3. Apply online.
This is not the final step, but it’s a feat. After you have met the first and second steps, you can then go ahead with this one which is to start your application online. To process your online application, follow this simple procedure;
- Create an account
- Upload your documents
- Pay your fees
4. Proceed to your local Visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photo(biometrics).
It is not certain that your local Visa application centre will be open during this pandemic, so there are other measures put in place to capture your biometrics. Visit the Canadian visa application portal to find out how to go about it.
What are Supporting Documents?
If you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you will need certain documents that will be tendered along with your visa application. They include;
- Proof of Vaccination
- Proof of a Negative Covid-19 Test Result
- ArriveCAN receipt (electronic or paper)
- Travel History
- Itinerary
- Account Statement
- Identify document
- Use of a Representative
- Family Information
- Employer Information (For business visa)
To apply for a Canadian visitor visa, you have to get all the supporting documents about your reason for visiting Canada. For more information about what documents you will need for your visa application, kindly visit the application portal.
How much is the Canada Visa Application Fee?
The Canada Visa application form costs a non-refundable sum of $100. This means you will be required to pay a minimum of $100 before you can be allowed to apply for the visitor visa. However, this does not guarantee that you will be offered a visitor visa.
Now, I’ve applied for the Canada Visitor Visa, what next?
The visitor visa processing time depends on the country where you have submitted your application. Please note that due to the pandemic, the visa processing might take longer than expected.
Before your application is processed, it will be thoroughly screened by officials to ensure all the documents needed are in the application. If it’s incomplete, your application will be returned to you without going through processing.
If your application is approved after processing, you will be asked to send your passport. Every other information you need to know will be contained in the message that will be sent to you.
After all of these, you can now prepare for your travel to and arrival in Canada. Have it in mind that you might need to go with the documents you used for your application as they will be requested by the border services officer on your arrival to Canada.
In some cases, you will need additional documents in addition to the ones you have used for your visa application. Whichever way it will be, you will be duly informed before your trip.
Prepare for your travel to and arrival in Canada
You may need to bring with you documents you submitted with your visa application, or present additional documents to the border services officer on arrival in Canada.
At the moment, the government of Canada is not offering any Visa lottery program on its immigration portal. If they make this available later, you will be the first to be notified about it.