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Red Berries, Nova Scotia

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Nova Scotia: visa and passport requirements

Passport note: 

(a) As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea were introduced on 1 June 2009. For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

(b) Children under 18 years must have their own passports and information with them on the people responsible for their welfare, if travelling alone; this includes a letter of permission to travel from guardian(s), and also a letter from the custodian in Canada.

(c) Visitors to Canada must satisfy an examining officer at the Port of Entry that they are genuine visitors, in good health, with no criminal convictions, and have sufficient funds to maintain themselves during their stay in Canada and to return to their country of origin, as well as evidence of confirmed onward reservations out of Canada.

(d) Identity/travel documents issued to non-national residents of the country of issue, refugees or stateless persons are recognised for travel to Canada.

(e) The following are unsuitable for travel to Canada - any passport claiming to have been issued by Somalia; non-machine readable passports issued by the Czech Republic; temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa; and provisional passports issued by Venezuela.

Visas: 

Not required by all nationals referred to in chart above (visitor or transit) for stays of up to six months except the following:
5. holders of passports endorsed 'British Subjects', 'British Protected Persons', 'British Travel Document' and 'British Certificate of Identity'.
6. nationals of Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Romania; nationals of Lithuania and Poland require a visa if their passport is not biometric.
7. those visiting Canada who visit the USA or St Pierre & Miquelon (a French Overseas Territory) during the same visit and return directly to Canada as visitors within the period authorised on their initial entry (or any extension thereto).

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the high commission to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).

Visa note: 

(a) The Government of Canada refuses admission to holders of passports issued by the UK Government entitled 'British Temporary Resident's Passport'.

(b) A single-entry visa is still valid if used to visit the USA.

(c) Persons wishing to attend a course of six months duration or less, at any level, do not require a study permit. However, if there is the possibility that you will extend your period of study in Canada, or if you are a full time student and wish to work on campus, you may apply for a study permit.

(d) Depending on circumstance and nationality, certain applicants may need to undergo a medical examination in order to receive their visas; this must be carried out by a physician on Canada's list of Designated Medical Practitioners.

Types and cost: 

Visitor: $75 (single-entry); $150 (multiple-entry). Family: $400 (for families, multiple entry). Transit: free. Transit visas are necessary for all nationals who require a visitor visa. Although transit visas are not required by British citizens, they may be required by foreign nationals with British passports; check with the embassy or high commission for details. For further information on payment methods, contact the high commission. Prices are subject to frequent change.

Validity: 

Up to six months depending on circumstances of individual applicant. The determination regarding length of stay in Canada can only be decided by the examining officer at the port of entry, but visas cannot exceed the validity of the passport and cannot be longer than five years. If no actual departure date is indicated within the visitor's passport, then the visitor will be required to depart within three months from the date of entry. Visitors must effect their departure from Canada on or before the date authorised by the examining officer on arrival. If an extension of stay is desired, an application must be made in writing to the nearest Canada Immigration Centre or online at least 30 days before the expiry of the visitor visa.

Details of the appropriate body to approach can be found on www.cic.gc.ca. Multiple-entry visas cannot be valid longer than passport. Transit visas are only allocated if a national's flight/onward journey is continuing within 24 hours. Single-entry visas can be used multiple times by nationals of St Pierre & Miquelon and the USA.

Application to: 

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Important Addresses.

Working days: 

10 days are required from receiving applications, but applications should be made at least one month prior to the intended date of departure. Certain nationals are subject to longer processing times. For urgent applications it is advised to apply in person. Same-day processing is available for applications made in person and 24-hour processing for those using the drop-in service.

Entry with children: 

If travelling with children under 18 and not the parent/guardian you will require a signed letter authorizing entry into Canada, from the child's parent/guardian.

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