Visiting Canada

The following information will guide you in applying for temporary resident visa to Canada. You will also find more information on visiting Canada here.

1. How do I apply?
2. When should I apply?
3. What types of visas are there?
4. How do my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children apply?
5. What are the factors considered by a visa officer in assessing an application?
6. Do I need to undergo a medical examination?
7. My application was refused. What can I do about it?
8. What can I do to support the application of my friend, relative, or business contact who was refused? Can I find out what the reasons were?
9. Still have more questions?
10. Need Assistance ?

2. How do I apply?

There are two options available for those wishing to apply for temporary resident visa:

1) Use the courier service available and have your application assessed on the basis of the documents provided. The completed application kit will be picked up from you by our designated courier and will be delivered to our office for processing. The result will be returned to you with your passport and documents via courier. If an interview is necessary, you will be informed in writing.

2) Make an appointment for a personal interview before an officer.

Whether you chose 1 or 2, you begin the process by contacting the Call Center at which time you will indicate which option you intend to use. To submit your application, please contact the Call Centre to arrange for pick up of your completed application kit:

These numbers are only available to telephones with NDD access, or through calling 109 on a PLDT phone for operator assisted connection. You must be in the Philippines to be able to use them. Calls to these numbers will be billed at 32 pesos per minute, excluding VAT, NDD and airtime charges for access through mobile phones.

To obtain information regarding visa application process, you may call our Free Visa Information and Inquiry number at (02) 845-9200. A free information recording is available 24 hours per day and you can speak with a representative by calling between 6 am - 10 pm, Monday to Saturday.

Temporary resident visa applicants are required to submit the following:

1. Completed application forms:
   • Application for temporary resident visa
   • Personal information form
   • Host in Canada's family composition (only for parents visiting their children in Canada)
2. Correct processing fees -  Multiple entry: 7,200 PHP/$150 CAD

                                                 Family Rate -19,200PHP/ $400CAD

                                                  Single entry- 3600 PHP/$ 75 CAD

3. Required supporting documents for the Philippines

Failure to submit these forms will result in your application not being accepted.

3. When should I apply?

Please consider the processing time required. We strongly suggest that you plan ahead and apply at least two (2) months before your intended departure date.

OTSO-OTSO Committee recommends that you apply at least 3 months before your departure date

4. What types of visas are there?

• Single-entry visa allows one entry only to Canada within the validity of the visa.
• Multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries to Canada within the validity of the visa. OTSO_OTSO Recommends this category
• Transit visa allows for a short stop-over (maximum 48 hours) entry to Canada en route to another country. It can be granted for a single or multiple entries, depending on the applicant's travel requirements. Example: If your return travel is also through Canada, you should request a transit visa valid for two entries. The validity of a visa is determined by a visa officer. Single-entry visas are normally valid for six months, and multiple-entry visas may be valid for longer periods. The validity date is the period by which you may enter Canada. The decision to admit the foreign national, however, is made by the officer at the port of entry to Canada (airport or border crossing). The officer also determines the length of stay allowed.

5. How do my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children apply?

If you and your spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children will be applying together, it will not be necessary for each person to fill out separate application forms. Only your accompanying children who are aged 18 years old and above must complete their own application forms.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children will not file your applications together, your spouse or common-law partner and/or accompanying dependent children 18 years old and above must complete separate application forms. Your spouse or common-law partner becomes the principal applicant. Dependent children who are applying without their parents must fill out separate application forms.

Your spouse or common law partner and children must meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada. They must satisfy an officer that they are genuine temporary residents who will be in Canada for a temporary stay. They may be required to provide evidence that they are law abiding and have no criminal record. If they are financially dependent on you, he or she must submit a letter signed by you which states that you are financially responsible for him or her. This should be accompanied with proof of your financial situation.

Important: You may be required to provide a marriage certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying family members. If you are in a common-law relationship and your common-law partner will accompany you to Canada, you may be required to complete the enclosed form, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409). Also provide evidence outlined on the form to support your relationship.

6. What are the factors considered by a visa officer in assessing an application?

Foreign nationals wishing to come to Canada as temporary residents must show that they will respect the conditions that apply to temporary residents. One of these conditions is that they will voluntarily leave Canada at the end of the period authorized for the stay and that they will not contravene the conditions of admission (for example, that they will not study or work without prior authorization) and that they do not belong in a category of persons inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

In reaching a decision whether the applicant is a genuine temporary resident, the visa officer considers several factors, which include:

• the applicant's travel and identity documents;
• the reason for travel to Canada and the applicant's contacts there;
• the applicant's financial means for the trip;
• the applicant's ties to his or her country of residence, including immigration status, employment and family ties;
• whether the applicant would be likely to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay;
• the applicant's health condition.

Officers make decisions on a case-by-case basis. The onus is on applicants to show that their intentions are genuine.

7. Do I need to undergo a medical examination?

In some cases you will require a medical examination. If a medical examination is required, you will be informed by an officer who will send you instructions on how to proceed. A medical examination may add three months to the processing of your application.

8. My application was refused. What can I do about it?

Refusals are not subject to reconsideration. If your circumstances have changed appreciably or you have significant new information, and you believe that it would result in a different decision, you may wish to reapply at any time. If, however, there is no change in your situation, it is unlikely that your application would result in the issuance of a visa.

9. What can I do to support the application of my friend, relative, or business contact who was refused? Can I find out what the reasons were?

Refusals are not subject to reconsideration. If applicant decides to re-apply, and you wish to support this application, you may again provide the documents required. Please remember that although you may provide documentation in support of an application of a friend, relative, or business contact, the decision of the visa officer is ultimately based on the applicant's circumstances, and not on any personal or financial guarantees that you or others may be prepared to offer on that person's behalf.

The Canadian Privacy Act does not permit us to discuss the details of any case with anyone except the applicant and certain authorized persons. Before we can release information to you the applicant must provide us with specific written permission to do so.

10. Still have more questions?

What does the expiry date on my visa mean?

The expiry date on the top line of the visa is the date by which you must arrive in Canada, not the date by which you must leave Canada. You must arrive in Canada on or before the date printed under "Expiry date" which is read DAY-MONTH-YEAR (DD/MM/YY).

I plan to re-enter Canada after my visit to the United States. Do I need a single or multiple entry visa?

Your single-entry visa will allow you repeated entries to Canada from the USA within the period authorized for your stay in Canada. The authorized period of stay is the time granted by the port of entry officer at the time of your original entry to Canada or, if you have been granted an extension, the period allowed by your extension. However, if you leave Canada or the United States for another country within the period of your authorized stay, this is no longer applicable. You lose your temporary resident status once you leave Canada for another country other than the United States.

How long can I stay in Canada?

Please note that admission to Canada is for a specific period of time and can only be granted at a Canadian port of entry. Upon your arrival in Canada, your passport or travel documents may be stamped to indicate how long you may stay in Canada. If you do not receive notice otherwise, you may remain in Canada for up to six months. Please make sure you understand when you will have to leave. If you have any questions about how long you can stay in Canada, be sure to ask an immigration officer upon your arrival or during your stay.

If you wish to extend your stay once in Canada, you should call the number listed under Immigration in the local Canadian telephone directory. Ask for the application kit Applying to Change Conditions or Extend your stay in Canada, or you may download the application at www.cic.gc.ca . Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.

Can I apply for a new visa once I am in Canada?

No. You must make an application at a visa office outside Canada for a new visa. You can only apply for an extension. Please see Applying to Change Conditions or Extend your stay in Canada.

I have a valid temporary resident visa but my passport was cancelled. What do I do?

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations require non-visa-exempt passport holders to carry both a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and a valid passport. There is no regulatory requirement, however, for the visa to be in the valid passport. Clients are encouraged to apply for a replacement visa at the visa office, and the visa in your expired or cancelled passport will be visibly cancelled. The fee to be charged for the simple replacement of a visa bearing the same number of entries and expiry date as the original is on the fee schedule. If you wish to obtain a visa valid for a longer period, this will constitute a visa application. Fees are to be charged at the normal rate and previous visa will still need to be cancelled.

I lost my passport with a valid visa and I still need to travel to Canada. What do I do?

You will need to submit a new application. Kindly include a copy of the police report and an affidavit of loss when submitting your application.

I have an expired visa and I wish to renew it. What do I do?

To renew your visa, you will need to submit a new application. However, it is not a guarantee that if you will be issued a visa if you have been granted a visa in the past. Your current circumstance must satisfy the requirements of the Act before a visa can be issued to you.

My planned travel is postponed and my new departure date is beyond my visa validity. Can my visa validity be extended?

No, the validity of a visa may not be extended. If you are unable to use your visa within its validity, you will need to submit a new application.

I have a pending immigrant application. Can I apply for a temporary resident visa?

Yes, you may submit an application for a temporary resident visa. Your visa application will be assessed independently of your immigrant application and in accordance with the Regulations in force. An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay.