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Canada: Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian | Yes | Yes | No |
| British | Yes | Yes | No |
| Canadian | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Other EU | 2 | Yes | 4 |
| USA | 3 | No | No |
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Passports:
To enter Canada, a valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except the following:
1. Canadian citizens holding a Canadian Certificate of Identity, Canadian birth certificate or a certificate of Canadian citizenship; and permanent residents of Canada with proof of status, ie Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, Returning Resident Permit or a Refugee Travel Document issued by the government of Canada to refugees who have been resettled in Canada.
2. Citizens of France who are residents of, and entering from, the French overseas territory Saint Pierre and Miquelon; and persons entering from Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
3. Citizens of the USA holding an equivalent travel document or legal permanent residents of the USA holding a US alien registration card (Green Card).
Passport note:
All persons, including US citizens, travelling by air, land and sea 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. For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_2223.html.
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.
The Government of Canada also refuses admission to holders of passports issued by the UK Government entitled 'British Temporary Resident's Passport'.
Children under 18 years must have their own passports.
Visas:
Visas are not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to six months, except the following:
• Holders of passports endorsed 'British Subjects' (where holder is subject to Control under the Immigration Act, 1971), 'British Protected Persons', 'British Travel Document' and 'British Certificate of Identity'.
• Nationals of (4) Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania; nationals of Lithuania and Poland require a visa if their passport is not biometric.
• Those visiting Canada who visit the USA or Saint Pierre and Miquelon during the same visit, and return directly to Canada as visitors within the period authorised on their initial entry (or any extension thereto).
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the high commission or embassy to check visa requirements for Canada.
Visa note:
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.
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:
Single-entry: C$75 (£50); multiple-entry: C$150 (£100); family: C$400 (£260); student permit: C$125 (£80); transit: free.
Validity:
Visitor visas are valid for up to six months depending on the circumstances of the 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 leave Canada on or before the date authorised by the examining officer on arrival. Details of the appropriate body to approach can be found on www.cic.gc.ca.
Transit:
Transit visas are necessary for all nationals who require a visitor visa and who are stopping in Canada for fewer than 48 hours on the way to another country.
Application to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission).
Temporary residence:
In addition to the visas listed above, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents may apply for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, which allows stays of up to two years.
Working days:
Many applications submitted in person or by drop-box are processed on the same day, but certain nationals are subject to longer processing times (20 to 30 working days). Applications sent by mail can take from four to 12 weeks. For urgent applications it is advised to apply in person.
Sufficient funds:
All visitors must have enough money to cover their stay; the amount varies depending on individual circumstances, length of stay and whether you’re staying with friends and relatives or in a hotel.
Extension of stay:
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.
Entry with children:
If travelling with children under 18 of whom you are not the legal parent or guardian, you will require a signed letter authorising entry into Canada from the child's parent or guardian as well as a copy of the child’s birth certificate. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the child must carry a copy of his/her birth certificate and a letter of authorisation from the other parent. A photocopy of the passport or national identity card of the other parent should be attached.
Entry restrictions:
Visitors may be denied entry to Canada for a number of reasons, including: security; human or international rights violations; criminality; organised criminality; health grounds; financial reasons; misrepresentation; non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; having an inadmissible family member. If you have ever been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will probably be found criminally inadmissible to Canada.
Entry with pets:
For information on importing pets into Canada, visit the website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (www.inspection.gc.ca).
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