Temporary Residency In Canada

Every year, thousands of foreigners flock to Canada on a temporary basis to offset the skill scarcity in various industries, to study Canadian educational institutions or to visit Canada.

Temporary residents are non-immigrants who come to Canada for a short period of time - mostly on business visas, work permits, and student visas. Unless they come from a country whose citizens are exempted from a visa, applicants have to get a TRV (Temporary Resident Visa). The Canadian Immigration Visa Office issues Temporary Resident visas which may be of single or multiple entry variety. It shows that the holder has satisfied documentarily his or her admission to Canada as a visitor. One must keep in mind that a TRV does not ensure that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officer at the port of entry will allow the visitor to enter. The holder has to justify with substantial documents, that his visit is of a temporary nature and that he has sufficient funds to support himself during his visit.

The Immigration Office also considers criminal and medical issues before admitting the holder of the TRV to Canada. If the person or their dependants are found to have any sort of criminal complaints in any court of law, they are subject to being deemed inadmissible. However, in some cases, persons considered criminally inadmissible can be allowed to enter Canada if they have gone through an individual rehabilitation program. The person also has to undergo some medical examinations such as routine blood and urine tests, and past medical records are also well examined. If they are found to have any contagious disease, can cause severe damage to the Canadian population at large, or are a threat to the social health and safety of Canadian citizens, they can be denied entry to the country.

In most cases, individuals intending to work in Canada temporarily are required to apply for Work Permits. However, one must apply for a study permit or visitor visa if they wish to study in Canada or simply visit Canada for business purposes.

As well, Canada has major educational institutions that offer the best of academic experiences for all students who are aspiring to achieve superior qualifications. For this reason, thousands of international students have chosen this country as their preferred destination for higher education and research when they apply for a temporary student permit during their academic stay.

There are mainly 4 categories under which the temporary residency status can be applied for:

• Visitor's Permit
• Study Permit
• Work Permit

Visitor's Permit

Every year Canada welcomes thousands of people from all over the world as visitors. Visitors come to Canada to travel and vacation, visit friends or family and to do business and engage in commerce. To visit Canada, you must have a valid travel document, typically a passport. This even applies to visitors from the US who used to only require a drivers licence or other form of identification.

To visit Canada you must be in good health and you may be required to demonstrate to an immigration officer that you have ties to your original country of origin, such as a job and family. Immigration officials must also be satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your scheduled visit. You may also be required to prove that you have enough money for your stay in Canada.

Many countries are not required to have a Visitors Permit to visit Canada but they do require advanced eTA - Electronic Travel Authorization. Here are the list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to enter Canada:

Here is a list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Canada.

Study Permit

A Study Permit is a must have document for any who aspire to study in Canada for a temporary period, and realize their dreams by pursuing any of the many educational options available in Canada. A Study Permit is the temporary resident visa that specifies the particular educational institution and course of study of the recipient. The Study Permit will be valid as long as the course of study. International students are required to assure their visa officer that they will be studying in Canada only for a temporary period once they meet all the eligibility requirements.

To apply for a study permit, the applicant must fulfill the following criteria:

• Have an offer of acceptance from a Canadian educational institution that is among those qualified by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Have sufficient funds to pay the course fees and incur general living expenses during the course of study (up to one year)
• Have gone through a medical examination.

Work permit

Canada attracts vast numbers of foreign workers and professionals to work in Canada, and help grow the skilled workforce. The prerequisite necessary to obtain a work permit is to have an offer of employment from a Canadian company that is approved by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Once the employer is approved, the worker needs to apply for a temporary work permit and, if granted, immigration authorities in Canada will issue a temporary Canadian work permit visa. As a temporary worker, one can include his or her family as recipients of the work permit visa.

Live-in caregivers are a specialized category in temporary foreign workers who are granted a temporary work permit in Canada to look after children, sick, elderly, or persons with disabilities. The application process to obtain a work permit as a Live-In caregiver is similar to that of obtaining a work permit. The Live-In caregiver and the employer both should meet the eligibility criteria. Live-In Caregivers should stay with the employer and must be able to work without supervision. Live-In caregivers will be eligible to apply for permanent residency status in Canada after acquiring 2 years of work experience provided they satisfy all other eligibility criteria.