Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

What is a Visitor’s Visa?

Formally known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a document issued by the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) to persons wishing to enter Canada such as visitors (tourists), students, and workers; the document is stamped into the individual’s respective passport and entitles the bearer entry into Canada and stay for the duration as allotted in the TRV (the number of entries into the country might be limited depending on the passport). Persons of different nationalities will require different documents to enter Canada such as an eTA or visitor’s visa.

Who needs eTA and who needs a Visitor Visa?

Persons of different nationalities are required to present different documents in order to enter Canada. Citizens of the United States are exempt from applying for an eTA or a visitor’s visa or even bringing a passport to the border crossing – though it is highly recommended you do so as to facilitate a streamlined and hassle free movement. Citizens of most other nationalities that are Green Card holders of the United States only require an eTA to enter Canada; however, citizens of most other nationalities that are not Green Card Holder of the United States do require a visa to enter Canada. British citizens also require an eTA to enter Canada, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth II.