VISIT CANADA
Most visitors need a valid passport, and many require visitor's visas.
Different requirements exist for citizens or permanent residents of the United States, St. Pierre and Miquelon and Greenland.
Visitors to Canada must satisfy an immigration officer that:
- they intend to return to their home country and will not try to stay in Canada
- they are in good health (some visitors may be asked to undergo a medical examination at their own expense)
- they do not have a criminal record or are a security risk
- they have sufficient funds to cover travel costs and support themselves in Canada
If you do not meet these criteria, you may be denied admission to Canada.
Usually visitors may stay for six months. If they wish to stay longer, they must apply for a visitor extension. Generally visitors are not allowed to work or study while in Canada without authorization.
Visitors to Canada are not eligible for provincial health coverage and are advised to obtain medical insurance for the period of their stay.
STUDY IN CANADA
Canadian academic institutions welcome students from around the world, who bring cultural enrichment to the educational scene in Canada. More than 101,000 foreign students were enrolled in Canadian institutions in 1998, not including students taking English or French as second language courses.
Foreign students must meet certain immigration requirements to obtain an authorization to study in Canada. They must:
- present an acceptance letter from the educational institution they wish to attend
- provide evidence of enough money to pay for tuition and living costs
- satisfy a visa officer that they will return home at the end of their studies
- pass a medical examination if required
- meet other requirements for visitors, including a visa if necessary
In Canada education is a provincial responsibility and students at the primary and secondary school level should contact provincial education authorities for information on standards and requirements. Students interested in studying in Quebec will need approval from Quebec.
At the post-secondary level foreign student fees and other requirements vary depending on the institution. Individual institutions can provide details of fees, academic requirements and programs of study, as well as information on cost of living and health insurance. Students should ensure that the institution being considered is acceptable for purposes of a student authorization.
In some countries, Canada Education Centres, which operate in partnership with CIC and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, can provide assistance with finding and applying to member institutions. Many institutions attend education fairs in different countries.
CIC gives a high priority to processing student applications quickly and efficiently. Immigration officials are working with the academic community to reduce processing times and paperwork. Improvements include expedited medical procedures at some key posts and longer validity periods for student authorizations.
Foreign students may work only under certain circumstances, for instance:
- the work is part of the program of study
- the work, up to one year after graduation, is in a field related to the studies
- their source of funding is cut off through no fault of their own
WORK IN CANADA
Unless you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, in order to work in Canada you must hold a valid employment authorization (EA). In 1998, CIC issued about 173,000 employment authorizations.
The federal government is committed to helping employers create job opportunities for Canadians. In addition to domestic efforts, this sometimes involves supporting the entry into Canada of foreign workers needed by employers to temporarily meet labor market shortages they are otherwise unable to fill. Working with our partners at Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is redesigning the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program to facilitate the entry of foreign workers who have obtained an offer of employment in Canada.
Except for specific situations (e.g. spouses of foreign students; refugee claimants awaiting determination of their claims), the foreign worker must have a job offer to temporarily work in Canada before he or she can apply for an employment authorization. The federal government does not help place foreign workers hoping to find a job in Canada.
The EA approval process involves both consideration of the job offer and consideration of the applicant.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY
Whether you are visiting Canada as a tourist or business visitor, working temporarily or studying in Canada, you are required to leave Canada at the end of your stay.
Most visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months. Students and temporary workers have permission to stay for the duration of their studies or employment contract. Be sure to check the validity date of your stay on your documents. The entry stamp in your passport shows the date you entered Canada.
If you wish to stay beyond the authorized date, you must apply for an extension before the expiry of your visitor status. If you want to change the terms and conditions of your stay, you must also submit an application. For instance, if you were admitted as a visitor, you may not be allowed to work or study while in Canada. In certain cases, you may be eligible to apply for an employment authorization or student authorization while in Canada.
It is illegal to stay in Canada beyond the validity of your visitor status or to work or study without authorization. In such cases, you will lose your visitor status, and may be subject to inquiry for violation of the Immigration Act. However, it may be possible to have your status reinstated if you submit the application for extension with a full explanation.
If you decide you want to live permanently in Canada, you must leave Canada and apply from your home country. You will have to meet the appropriate selection criteria.
