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visado de turista canada

Tourist visa in Canada

The best option for those planning short stays.

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Living in Canada for a while is always a good option. But if you’re not sure how long you want to stay, which city you’d like to live in, or simply feel like throwing on a backpack, putting on some sturdy boots, and exploring everything the country has to offer without being tied to any job or course, the tourist visa will be your adventure companion.

With the tourist visa, you can travel throughout Canada for up to a maximum of 6 months. Time enough to get a real sense of what Canada is like, improve your english, and find more reasons to stay.

The good news? Depending on your nationality, getting your tourist visa may not require as many procedures as you imagine.

What is the tourist visa?

The tourist visa or Temporary Resident Visa is an official document indicating your entry date and how long you’re allowed to stay in Canada. This time is usually a maximum of 6 months.

When you land in Canada, an immigration officer will review your case and stamp your passport indicating when your tourist visa expires. In some special cases, the duration of your tourist visa may be less than 6 months, but it’s very rare.

There are two types of tourist visas that any traveler, even those transiting through a Canadian airport, will have to apply for to freely travel through the country.

Want to know more about the tourist visa in Canada? Then keep reading or fill out the following form to receive personalized guidance from a Dingoos Guide.

Types of tourist visas in Canada

Want to know which tourist visa you need to apply for Canada? That will depend on two factors: your nationality and what your plans are in the country. Let’s quickly go through your options!

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Visitor Visa

  • Nationalities:
    • All Colombians or Peruvians.
    • Argentinians, Uruguayans, Panamanians, or Costa Ricans who haven’t had a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who don’t currently have a valid visa for the USA.
  • How to apply: online or physical means.
  • For whom: people coming to visit Canada, study for a maximum of 6 months, or for those transiting through Canadian territory.
  • Validity: maximum of 6 months.
  • Cost: $100 CAD

If you’re coming by land or sea, you won’t need to process the Visitor Visa, but you’ll need to have all the necessary documents in order in case an immigration officer requests them.

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ETA

  • Nationalities:
    • All Spaniards, Mexicans, and Chileans.
    • Argentinians, Uruguayans, Panamanians, or Costa Ricans who have had a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who have a valid visa for the USA.
  • How to apply: Online
  • For whom: people who want to visit Canada or study a course of less than 6 months in duration.
  • Validity: Once requested, it’s valid for 5 years. Allows stays in the country for maximum periods of 6 months.
  • Cost: $7 CAD

If you’re unsure about which type of visa you should apply for, the Canadian government’s website has prepared a short test you can take to find out which type of visa is right for you.

What can you do with the tourist visa?

With the tourist visa, you can get a good idea of what it’s like to live in Canada, as it allows you to:

  • Travel throughout Canada without constraints.
  • Study an English course or Vocational Training course lasting less than 6 months.
  • Visit friends and family.
  • Make business trips.
  • Enter and leave the country without limits during the duration of your visa.

Finally, it’s important to remember that tourist visas have a maximum validity of 6 months, unless your passport states otherwise. If the exit date hasn’t been stamped in your passport, it will be 6 months from your arrival in Canada.

Requirements to apply for a tourist visa

Applying for the tourist visa won’t complicate your life much, as you only need to meet a few requirements and fill out an online application.

  • Valid passport with at least one year of validity remaining.
  • No criminal record in your home country.
  • Certify that you have sufficient savings in your bank account to cover the expenses of your stay in Canada (varies depending on the duration and your travel plans).
  • Certificate of good health. It’s not mandatory, but in some cases, they may request that you undergo some medical tests.
  • Demonstrate that you have reasons to leave Canada once your visa expires. It can be a job contract, employment information, or a return flight home.
  • Pay visa fees (between $7 CAD and $100 CAD, depending on the type of visa).

Although these are the general requirements that almost guarantee that you will be granted the tourist visa, it’s possible that your visa may be denied by an immigration officer due to insufficient funds to cover your stay in Canada, health issues, or security reasons.

If you’re unsure whether you meet all the requirements or if you’re not sure if this is the best visa option for coming to Canada, contact us, and we will provide you with personalized information.

How to apply for your tourist visa?

Applying for tourist visas is very simple and can be done online.

As mentioned earlier, the first thing you need to do is make sure you apply for the visa that corresponds to your nationality.

And now, let’s go through all the steps you need to follow to obtain each type of tourist visa.

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Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)

If the Visitor Visa or Temporary Resident Visa is the visa that corresponds to you (you can check it here), the process is very simple.

We recommend that you process the application online, as it’s much faster. Although you can also do it in person.

The Canadian government has made available to anyone who needs it a guide to successfully fill out the Visitor Visa application. Plus, you can submit the application from the same page.

Finally, you need to be prepared to provide your biometric data to successfully process your Visitor Visa. Although it sounds a bit futuristic, your biometric data is nothing more than your fingerprints and photos of your face. This is one of the most reliable methods for identifying legitimate individuals and is used by many governments worldwide to implement immigration measures and programs, as well as manage the influx of travelers.

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eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)

Just like for the Visitor Visa, the first thing you need to do is make sure your passport is on the list of those eligible to apply for an eTA.

As its name suggests, the eTA, Electronic Travel Authorization, is an electronic travel authorization and can only be applied for online, and the process is quick and easy.

With your valid passport, contact email, and a credit or debit card, you just need to follow these steps to apply:

  1. Go to the government website.
  2. Click on “Apply for an eTA”.
  3. Click on “Get final instructions to apply for an eTA”.
  4. If your passport isn’t issued in France, select “No” and click on “Continue to the eTA application Form”.
  5. Answer some questions about your personal information and your passport.
  6. Click on “Proceed to payment” to pay the visa fee ($7 CAD).
  7. Check your email frequently to see the response to your application.

What is Dingoos and how do we help you?

If you’re quite certain that Canada is your next destination but you’re still not sure what you want to do with your life – not all the answers come at once – with the tourist visa, you can come and see what’s going on in the country. And if you want to have a group of travel companions even before you set out, contact us.

At Dingoos, we’re experts in making your life easier in Canada, and we’ll be more than happy to help you with all the procedures for your visa and guide you in your first weeks. If you feel like coming to discover what you want to do, or if you’ve already figured it out and now need to find a course or apply for a student visa, you can always count on us to advise you for free. Write to us!

Contact with Dingoos

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need health insurance if I travel to Canada as a tourist?

It’s not mandatory, but we recommend that you get health insurance. It’s very likely that during your stay in Canada, you may need to visit a doctor for some reason, and you’ll be glad you took out insurance, as medical care here is very expensive. It’s best to get travel insurance like Travelfine or Mondo that covers the duration of your stay in Canada. Additionally, insurance usually covers other possible mishaps, such as lost luggage or dental emergencies.

Can I work with a tourist visa?

No, to work in Canada, you need a Work Permit, and this permit can only be applied for if you’re studying a vocational course lasting more than 6 months.

Can I study with a tourist visa?

Yes, the tourist visa allows you to study courses in Canada for up to 6 months. If you want to know more about which courses are available for you, write to us! One of our Dingoos guides will advise you for free on courses and schools that best suit your goals, and they’ll also help you plan your trip.

Is it necessary to pay the tourist visa fee to process an application?

Yes, for your visa to be processed, it’s essential to pay the fees first.

How long does it take to get an approved eTA?

Almost all eTA applications are approved within a few minutes of completing the visa payment. However, some applications take several days or even weeks to process.

If there is any issue with your eTA, the Canadian Immigration Department will contact you to request more information.

Where can I do the biometric tests?

There are several centers in almost every country in the world. To find out which one is closest to you, go here and select your country of residence.


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