tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: Do I need a visa to visit Canada?
Answer: Most travellers need a visa  or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a  Canadian airport.
What you need depends on:

the type of travel document you will travel with;
the country that issued your travel document;
your nationality; and
how you will travel to Canada.

If you do not have the proper documents, such as an eTA  or visa, you may be delayed or prevented from boarding your flight to Canada.
Before you apply, find out what you need to travel to Canada.
Question: What is the difference between a single-entry and a multiple-entry visa?
Answer: The main difference between these two visa types is that a single-entry visa allows entry to Canada for one-time only and a multiple-entry visa allows entry many times before the expiry date.
Which type of visa to get
You don’t need to choose. We will review your application and issue you a visa depending on your situation.
Multiple-entry visa
While valid, a multiple-entry visa will let you travel to Canada as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to a maximum of 10 years or until the expiry date of either your passport or biometrics, whichever comes first. An officer may set a different expiry date, depending on your circumstances.
You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.
Single-entry visa
A single entry visa lets you travel to Canada only one time. You may receive a single-entry visa if:

you’re eligible for a fee-exemption and the purpose of your entry to Canada is limited (such as, for an official visit by a foreign national);
you’re coming for a one-time special event, celebration or tour in Canada;
you’re coming for short term studies (less than 6 months) or short term work and don’t need a study or work permit; or
there are approved country-specific procedures or guidelines in place.

In most cases, once you have left Canada, you will need a new visa to enter Canada again.
You won’t need a new visa if you’re 

only travelling to the United States (including its Territories and Possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and 
returning directly to Canada.
Question: I have an eTA or a visa. What can I expect when I arrive in Canada?
Answer: When you arrive at the point of entry in Canada, a border services officer will make sure you meet the requirements to enter Canada.
 The officer will authorize your stay by stamping your passport and/or issuing another document.
 If there is no stamp, handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.
 If you received a visitor record, student or work permit, the expiry date is marked on it.
Question: I am in Canada on a temporary resident visa. I plan to take a cruise. Do I need a new visa to come back to Canada?
Answer: If you are on a cruise ship that departs from Canada or the continental United States and enters international waters and you are not in possession of a valid multiple-entry visa, you will need to obtain a new temporary resident visa in order to re-enter Canada.
Question: Do I need a visa if I’m just travelling through Canada on my way to another country?
Answer: The document you need to transit through Canada depends on a few factors, including if you plan to visit Canada.
You can answer a few questions to find the document you need to transit through Canada.
Visa-required travellers
You’re considered a visa-required traveller if you’re from a visa-required country.
You need a visitor visa if:

you visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)
stay in Canada more than 48 hours while transiting, or
you’re crossing the border by:
    
bus
car
train
boat
cruise ship



You need a transit visa if:

your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less, and
you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Visa-exempt travellers
You’re considered a visa-exempt traveller if you’re from an eTA-required country.
You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country.
You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus, boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents.
Question: How do I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?
Answer: Anyone who plans to visit Canada must apply from outside of Canada before  they travel.
What your friend or family member needs  depends on:

the type of travel document they will travel with;
the country that issued their travel document;
their nationality; and
how they will travel to Canada.

Before applying, find  out what document(s) they need.
If they need a visitor visa,  you may provide your family member or friend with a letter of  invitation in support of their visa  application. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the  person will get a visa.
Question: How do I get help if my visa application is refused?
Answer: There is no formal appeal process if your application for a temporary resident visa is refused.
Should you wish to re-apply, you should do so only if your situation has changed substantively or you have significant new information to submit.
Question: Who can I hire to help me with my application for a temporary resident visa?
Answer: You can hire a representative or an agent to help with your application. The representative or agent must be either:

a lawyer or paralegal who is a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, or
a notary who is a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or
an immigration consultant who is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

Find out more about who can represent you.
Due to privacy laws, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada cannot discuss your application with someone else without your written permission. If you want a representative or an agent to help you, you must fill out two forms:

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476); and
Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475).
Question: If I get sick or have an accident while visiting Canada, will the Government of Canada pay for my medical treatment?
Answer: Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. You should get health insurance to cover any medical costs before you come to Canada.
Question: Can I fill out one visa application for my whole family if we are travelling together?
Answer: No. Each person must complete and sign the Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257), as well as any other forms needed. Each applicant aged 18 or over must also complete the Family Information form (IMM 5645).
You can submit all family member applications in the same envelope with one payment receipt for the total fee for all of your applications.
Parents or guardians can help children fill out their forms. Parents or guardians must sign the forms for any children under the age of 18.
Question: What’s the difference between the parent and grandparent super visa and a visitor visa?
Answer: With a super visa, eligible parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for 5 years at a time.
A visitor visa only allows for a stay of up to 6 months at a time. If you wish to stay longer, you must apply for an extension and pay a new fee.
There are specific requirements that you must meet to get a super visa. Find out more about the super visa.
Question: Is the parent and grandparent super visa a multi-entry visa?
Answer: Yes, the super visa is a multi-entry visa. It allows multiple entries for up to 10 years.
Question: Who’s eligible for a parent and grandparent super visa?
Answer: To be eligible for a super visa, you must:

be the parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents and
meet other eligibility requirements.

Your dependants are not eligible for a super visa. They can still apply to visit Canada for up to 6 months with the right travel document. Find out what kind of travel document they need.
Question: I need to calculate family size when applying for the parent and grandparent super visa. Who should I include?
Answer: When you apply for a parent and grandparent super visa, you must make sure your host meets the minimum necessary income. Include the following people in your family size calculation:

host
host’s spouse (which might include a separated spouse) or common-law partner
dependent children of the host and of their spouse or common-law partner
Children who meet the definition of a dependent child must be included in the count, regardless of custody and child support arrangements.
the super visa applicant and any other super visa applicants applying at the same time (such as their spouse)
previously approved super visa applicants

These are super visa holders that were in another letter of invitation, signed by the host or the host’s spouse or common-law partner, that is still applicable.

previously sponsored individuals

These are individuals the host or co-signer has previously sponsored (or acted as a co-signer for) where the duration of the undertaking is still in effect.


Examples for calculating family size

Family size is 2

The host child in Canada is inviting a parent.
The host is not married and has no children.
1 host child + 1 invited parent = 2

Family size is 6
Example 1:
The host child in Canada is inviting two parents.
The host has
a spouse
2 dependent children.
1 host child + 2 invited parents + 2 dependent children + 1 spouse = 6
Example 2:
The host grandchild in Canada is inviting a grandparent.
The host has
a spouse
a dependent child
The host’s spouse is already hosting their two parents on super visas.
1 host grandchild + 1 invited grandparent + 1 spouse + 1 dependent child + 2 actively sponsored parents = 6
Family size is 7

The host child in Canada is inviting two parents.
The host has
a spouse
one dependent child
The host previously co-signed the sponsorship of their spouse’s two parents. That sponsorship is still in effect.
1 host child + 2 invited parents + 1 spouse + 1 dependent child + 2 actively sponsored parents = 7


Family size is 5
	

The host child in Canada is inviting two parents.
The host is divorced, has two children and shares custody with their former spouse.
1 host child + 2 invited parents + 2 dependent children = 5
Question: Can I cancel my sponsorship application and apply for a super visa instead?
Answer: Yes, you can withdraw your sponsorship application at any time. You can still apply for a super visa.
Question: What is a business visitor?
Answer: A business visitor is someone who comes to Canada:

for international business activities 
without directly entering the Canadian labour market 

Examples of this include someone who comes to Canada:

to meet people from companies doing business with their country
to observe site visits
because a Canadian company invited them for training in:
    
product use
sales
other business transaction functions



They don’t need a work permit to come to Canada.
Business visitors must prove that their main source of income and their main place of business are outside Canada.
You aren’t considered a business visitor, and may need to get a work permit, if you’re doing work for a Canadian company. For example, you’re an employee sent by a foreign company to fulfill a contract with a Canadian company.
Business visitors and business people are not the same. Business people come to do work in Canada under a free trade agreement. Learn more about business people.
Question: Does a business visitor need a special visa to enter Canada?
Answer: No, business visitors who need a visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) must complete the visitor visa or eTA form. The eTA and visitor visa cover all visitors, including those coming to Canada on business. Find out if you need an eTA or visa.
Question: If I am a business visitor, do I need a work permit to work in Canada?
Answer: You do not need a work permit to carry out business activities related to your job back home, such as meeting clients of your company or visiting job sites. However, if you plan to carry out secretarial, managerial, technical or production activities or stay longer than six months in Canada, you have to apply for a work permit. In both cases, if you are from a country that requires a visa to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa.
Question: I am a business visitor and I do not need a visa. What documents should I bring, if any?
Answer: You may not need a visa, but you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Find out if you need an eTA.
When you arrive in Canada, you must show to the border services officer several documents. These documents include, but are not limited to:

the passport you used to apply for your eTA
a passport or travel document that is valid for your entire stay and guarantees re-entry to your country of origin
a letter of support from your parent company and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host company
other documents such as warranty or service agreements, contracts, etc. if relevant to the visit
24-hour contact details of your business host in Canada
proof that you have enough money for both your stay in Canada and your return home

Please see Business visitors: Checklists for details.
Question: Do I have to submit my passport with my application for a temporary resident visa?
Answer: Yes. The visa office where you apply may have certain instructions on how and where to submit your passport and how to get your visa. If you will need your passport for other travel while we are processing your application, tell the visa office. Staff will let you know what to do.
Question: I need a visa to visit Canada. I want to study or work in Canada while I am there. Do I need to apply for anything else?
Answer: If you want to come to Canada to study or work temporarily, you will probably need a study permit or a work permit. If you have applied for a study or work permit, your visa will be issued to you at the same time as your permit. You do not need to apply separately or to pay an additional fee.
Question: Do I need a medical exam to get a visa?
Answer: If the duration of your visit is six months or less:
Generally, no medical examination is required.
However, a medical examination is required if you intend to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential. Please see Jobs for which you need a medical examination for more information.
If the duration of your visit is more than six months:
You will need a medical examination if:

you have resided or stayed temporarily for six or more consecutive months in a designated country or territory in the one year immediately preceding the date you sought entry into Canada. This applies even if you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to enter Canada.
you are coming to Canada to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential. See Jobs for which you need a medical examination for more information.
you are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
Question: Must I leave Canada by the valid until date on my visitor visa?
Answer: No. The date on the visitor visa is the date by which you must arrive in Canada.
How long you can stay will be decided when you enter Canada.
Length of stay  decided by a border services officer
If you see a border services officer at the port of entry, they will tell you how long you can stay in Canada in 1 of these ways:

If the officer stamps your passport and writes a date under that stamp
    
You must leave Canada by that date


If the officer stamps your passport and gives you a visitor record
    
You must leave Canada by the date under “Valid until” on that visitor record.


If the officer stamps your passport without writing a date under that stamp or giving you a visitor record
    
You can stay in Canada for 6 months.



If you have a super visa
If you enter Canada on a super visa after July 4, 2022 and the border services officer puts a stamp without a hand written date in your passport, you can stay for 5 years.
Length of stay decided at a primary inspection kiosk
If you go through a primary inspection kiosk, the officer may not stamp your passport at all. In this case, you can only stay in Canada for up to 6 months from the day you first enter Canada, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
If you need a stamp in your passport as proof of entry into Canada, you have to ask a border services officer after you finish at the kiosk.
Question: Do I need a representative to help me apply?
Answer: No. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use a representative or not.
 All the forms and information that you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), visa and/or to immigrate to Canada are available for free on this website. If you follow the instructions in the application guide, you can complete the application form and submit it on your own.
 If you decide to use an immigration representative, be careful whom you ask for advice.
 For more information, see:

Who Can Represent You and
Tips on Choosing an Immigration Representative.
Question: Will my case be processed more quickly if I hire a representative?
Answer: No. If you hire a representative the citizenship or immigration officer will not give your application special attention. Your representative also cannot guarantee that your application will be approved.
Question: What services will the representative provide and what are the fees for these services?
Answer: Services and fees vary. You should discuss these with the representative. Get an estimate in writing before you decide whether to hire that person. For more information, see Tips on Choosing a Representative.
Question: What could happen if I do not tell Immigration, Refugee and Canada Citizenship (IRCC) I paid an immigration representative?
Answer: It is against the law to give false or misleading information to the Government of Canada. If you do not tell IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency the name of your representative, your application may be returned or you may be refused entry to Canada.
Question: Is it legal to provide false information on my immigration or citizenship application, if a representative advises me to do so?
Answer: No. Representatives who advise you to provide false information or documents are breaking the law.
If you give false information, your application will be refused.
We may also:

forbid you from entering Canada for at least 5 years
give you a permanent record of fraud with us
take away your status as a permanent resident or Canadian citizen
have you charged with a crime or
remove you from Canada

Find out more about:

Representatives
Immigration fraud
How to recognize common scams
Question: If I apply through a provincial program, do these representative regulations apply?
Answer: Yes. These regulations relate to all applications or procedures under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). When you apply to a provincial/territorial nominee program, for instance, your application is in connection with an application for permanent residence under IRPA.  However, each province/territory may also have its own procedures for dealing with representatives. Check with the province/territory to which you applied to find out whether it places any additional restrictions on citizenship  or immigration consultants, lawyers and other representatives in the provincial/territorial application process.
Question: If I change my representative, do I have to tell Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)?
Answer: Yes. You must tell us right away if you change your representative. Fill out a new Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form and send it to the office processing your file. You can change your representative at any time. You may also decide to deal directly with the visa office or the in-Canada immigration office yourself.
Question: What should I do if Immigration, Refugee and Canada Citizenship (IRCC) returns my application, saying my representative is not authorized?
Answer: You may get a letter from us saying that we cannot verify the status of your consultant, lawyer, or other representative. That means we do not know if that person is a member of:

a provincial or territorial law society,
the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants or
the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

Re-send your application to that IRCC office as soon as possible. Include proof of your representative’s status (for example, a photocopy of his or her membership card).
If you find out that your consultant, lawyer or other representative is not authorized by one of the regulatory bodies, you may choose another representative or you may apply on your own.
Question: What should I do if my immigration representative and I have a disagreement?
Answer: If you have problems with your representative that you cannot resolve, you should file a complaint with the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada  does not get involved in disputes between applicants and their representatives. For more information, see How to File a Complaint.
Question: Do I need to use an immigration representative for my citizenship application?
Answer: No. It is always your decision whether to pay for the services of a representative. You do not need to have a representative to submit a citizenship application. All forms and guides are available for free. All applications are treated equally by the government. No representative has special access to our programs and services.
Question: Do I need to pay someone to represent me on my citizenship application?
Answer: No. A representative can be paid or not. If your representative is paid, they must be a member in good standing of:

a law society of a province or territory (this category includes paralegals and students-at-law, if they act under the supervision of a lawyer or a notary in Quebec),
the Chambre des notaires du Québec or
the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

You can find out whether a representative is licensed or able to provide immigration or citizenship  advice if you know which organization they belong to.
If your representative is not paid, they can be a friend, a family member, a person from a religious or non-governmental organization, or anyone else.
Question: I got a multiple-entry temporary resident visa to visit a relative in Canada last year. Can I use it to travel to Canada on a business trip?
Answer: Yes, as long as it has not expired. Make sure you have documents that support your business visit to Canada. See Business visitors: Checklists for more information.
Question: I used a temporary resident visa for a recent business visit to Canada. Can I use it for a holiday in Canada?
Answer: If it is a multiple-entry visa and it has not expired, you can use it to enter Canada for both business and tourism. If it is a single-entry visa, you will need a new visa.
Question: What information is available under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act?
Answer: Most government information is available. Major exceptions are Cabinet documents and information that could harm Canada’s security or economy, federal-provincial relations or international affairs. Information about individuals may be disclosed only with their consent or if it is in the public interest. Individuals can get their personal information under the Privacy Act.
Question: Who can make a request under the Access to Information Act?
Answer: Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any individual present in Canada can make a request under the Access to Information Act. If you are none of the above, you can ask a representative, who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, to make a request for you, if you give that person written consent.