VISITOR VISA

A Visitor Visa, also referred to as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), enables individuals to travel to Canada for purposes such as tourism, visiting family, or short business trips. Generally, the authorized stay is up to six months.

• Eligibility: Must demonstrate strong ties to home country and intent to leave Canada after the visit.
• Requirements: Must possess a valid passport, show proof of funds, explain purpose of visit, and possibly a letter of invitation.
• Validity: It may allow multiple entries for up to 10 years or until passport expiry; shorter or single-entry visas may be issued at the officer’s discretion.
• Processing Times: Vary by country of residence.

WORK PERMIT

Foreign nationals can work in Canada on a temporary basis with a Work Permit. These may be issued under streams that require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or those that are LMIA-exempt.

• LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment): In most cases, employers must obtain an LMIA to demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.
• LMIA-Exempt Work Permits: Some applicants may qualify for a work permit without an LMIA under specific categories, such as intra-company transfers, international trade agreements, or youth mobility programs.
• Employer-Specific vs. Open Work Permits: An employer-specific work permit restricts you to working for one designated employer, while an open work permit allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada, subject to certain conditions.
• Validity: The duration of a work permit depends on the job offer and program type. Extensions may be available from within Canada if eligibility criteria are met.

LMIA-EXEMPT WORK PERMITS

Certain categories and international agreements allow foreign nationals to work in Canada with a work permit that do not require an LMIA. Below are a few common examples.

Intra-Company Transferee (ICT)
Overview

Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) work permits allow multinational corporations to transfer eligible employees to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, affiliate, or parent company without an LMIA. This arrangement enables quick access to key personnel who have executive, managerial, or are specialized knowledge workers.

Eligibility

• Executives/Managers who are responsible to oversee significant aspects of the company or manage other managers, professionals, or departments.
• Workers who possess Specialized skills and advanced expertise or proprietary knowledge of the company’s products, processes, or operations.
• They have been employed by the foreign enterprise for at least one year (full-time) in the last three years in a similar role.
• There exists a valid parent-subsidiary-branch-affiliate relationship between the foreign and Canadian entities.
• The role in Canada should provide significant benefits, such as boosting competitiveness or operational effectiveness.

Duration of Work Permit

• Up to 3 years initially; possible renewals to a maximum of 7 years. For Executives / Managers.
• Up to 3 years initially; possible renewals to a maximum of 5 years for Specialised Knowledge Workers.

SUPER VISA

The Super Visa is tailored for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing extended stays in Canada—up to five years at a time—without the need to renew status frequently.

• Eligibility: Applicants must have a child or grandchild in Canada who meets the minimum income threshold. A medical examination may also be required as part of the application process.
• Medical Insurance: Applicants must obtain private medical insurance from a Canadian provider to cover healthcare expenses during their stay.
• Validity: The Super Visa is typically issued as a multiple-entry visa, valid for up to 10 years.
• Longer Stay Period: Unlike a standard visitor visa, the Super Visa allows you to stay in Canada for up to five consecutive years per entry, providing more time with loved ones.