Find out the answers to commonly asked issues concerning worker, student, and visitor visas and permits for entering Canada. Discover the distinctions, prerequisites, and protocols.

Depending on their country of origin, foreign workers, international students, and visitors visiting Canada may need a visa. Work and study permits are not the same as work and study visas, which are important documents in the immigration process. The answers to some frequently asked questions concerning Canadian worker and student visas are provided here.

What Distinctions Exist Between a Permit and a Visa?

For the time period stated in the permit, foreign nationals are permitted to work, study, and reside in Canada with work and study permits. In addition to granting legal status, these licenses specify what the bearer is allowed to perform in the nation and for how long. There are two types of work permits: closed/labor market impact assessment (LMIA) based permits and open work permits (OWPs).
On the other side, at a port of entry, a visa allows admission and, if granted, re-entry into Canada. They act as documentation showing the bearer is authorized to enter or re-enter Canada and has been granted legal status. Temporary resident visas (TRVs) are used for work, study, and guest (tourist) visas. Those who, due to their nationality, are exempt from the TRV requirement will probably require an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Can I Use the Local Currency of My Country to Pay for a Visa or eTA?

A lot of arrivals can pay with local money for their eTAs or visas. Use the IRCC website to find out which visa office handles applications from your home country to see if this pertains to you. You can use this to find out if you can pay with your local currency.

Should I Apply for My Work/Study Permit and a Visa at the Same Time?

When filing an application for a work or study permit, the IRCC advises against applying for a visa or eTA. Successful candidates will automatically be issued an eTA or visa upon processing of their work or study permit. To obtain a work or study visa, applicants must present their passport to a Canadian visa office.

Can a Temporary Resident Visa allow me to leave Canada and return?

The single-entry and multiple-entry visas are the two categories of temporary residence visas.

To re-enter Canada, temporary residents with a single-entry visa will require a new visa unless:

They are leaving Canada before their authorized stay expires and heading to the US, St. Pierre, and/or Miquelon.

Within the duration of their visa, holders of multiple-entry visas are permitted to enter and exit Canada many times.

How Can I Find Out When My Status as a Temporary Resident Ends?

Those who are new and have a job or study permit should verify their paperwork to see when their temporary residency status expires. You might need to file for a visa extension or renew the eTA if the visa or eTA expires before the temporary residence status.

Visitors will receive a stamp from a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer in their passport, which will show the date of entry. The officer may occasionally write your temporary status’s expiration date beneath the stamp. In the event that your temporary status is not renewed or a handwritten note is absent, it will expire six months after the date of your entry in Canada.

Can I Use My Old Passport with a Valid Visa?

Newcomers can still enter Canada with the visa contained in their previous passport. They must present both their current valid passport or travel document and their old passport with the valid visa inside of it. Although this process is valid, it is best to get a new visa in the passport while it is still valid to prevent any possible border delays. Additionally, you might have to justify why the previous passport or travel document is no longer valid.