Things to know about Canadian Visa
1. What is a Canadian Visa? What type of Visa do I need to get to Canada?
Canadian visa is stamped on your passport, which shows detailed information about its rights, its expiry date and allows you to enter Canada legally. Depending on the type of visa is short-term or long-term, you can stay in Canada for the corresponding period. However, the Immigration Officer in Custom will review and briefly interview you as soon as you arrive at the Canadian airport.
To help you understand general overview of Canadian Visa types, Go Experience will show you the following details:
| Visitor Visa | Super Visa | Study Visa | Migration Visa | Working Visa | |
| Purpose | Travel, visit relatives | Sponsored by a parent or a child sponsoring a grandfather, grandmother, father or mother with a specific terms | Study | Live | Work |
| Applicant | For all applicants | For grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers with children, grandchildren who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada and vice versa | Students, foreign students attending high schools, colleges or universities in Canada | For grandparents, parents with children, grandchildren of Canadian citizens or permanent residents | Men and women of working age |
| Period | 6 months – 10 years | Maximum 10 years | Short-term (6 months) or full-time (program duration plus 90 days or 1 year after completion) | Infinity | Depending on the case, it can be a few months or a few years depending on the type of Visa you have |
| Number of entries | Can be one time or many times but each stay no more than 6 months | Multiple entry, first time up to 5 years, second time up to 2 years and the next time up to 6 months | Can be one time or many times |
2. Who is Canadian Visa issued to?
Canadian Visa applies to those who:
- Foreigner residing outside of Canada
- Come to Canada for tourism, visit relatives,…
- Intend to work or study in Canada
- Meet health requirements
- Have good character, do not have any criminal record
- Not a potential Canadian security risk
- Have never violated the immigration laws of any country (including Canada)
3. Is it difficult to get a Canadian Visa?
Canadian Visa is not too difficult to get, you need to meet all the conditions to be granted a Canadian Visa. Go Experience recommends based on our experience applying for a Canadian Visa that you need:
- Have a good travel history
- Proof of commitment in Vietnam (except for Migration Visa) through factors such as family, properties, job,…
- Proof of finance enough to stay in Canada until return to your country
- Demonstrate clear purposes of the trip which are meet the visa type requirements
- Prove that you will leave Canada before the expiration of each immigration permit and before the expiration of your Visa
4. Canadian Visa application fees
Fees when applying for a Canadian tourist visa include:
- Visa fee, eg. Visitor Visa: 100 CAD/person and 500 CAD for 5 people or more
- Fee for biometrics (if any) (including the application fee of the Visa Application Center):
- 85 CAD per person
- 170 CAD for family with 2 or more people
- Fee for translating documents into English and bilingual notarization if documents are not in English or French
- Travel insurance fee: you need to show proof of purchased insurance agreement along with visitor visa or more depending on the type of visa you submit
5. How long does it take to get a Canadian Visa?
The processing time for a Canadian Visa application is about 3-4 working weeks or more. However, if it falls in the peak months, the processing time may be longer and up to 1-2 years depending on the type of Visa you apply.
6. Where to apply for a Canadian Visa?
There are two ways to apply for a Canadian Visa: in person or online. However, whether you apply in person or online, you must get your biometrics at the Visa Application Center.
Address of the Canadian Visa Application Center (CVAC):
| Center | Address in Vietnam | Working date | Working time |
| CVAC Hanoi | Level 2 Hong Kong Tower Building, 243A De La Thanh Street, Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam | Monday to Friday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| CVAC Ho Chi Minh City | Level 9 Cienco Tower 4, 180 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, HCMC, Vietnam | Monday to Friday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
7. What documents do you need to apply for a Canadian Visa?
Documents to prepare when applying for a Canadian Visa:
Personal
- Canadian Visa application form (the form depends on the type of Visa you submit)
- Family information declaration
- Form using a representative (if using a representative) (the applicant’s signature in the declaration must be the same as the signature on the passport)
- Original passport (valid for at least 6 months with blank pages)
- Notarized copy of passport and pages with customs stamp and visa of any other countries
- All old passports (if any)
- Canadian Visa application photo 4x6cm, meeting the following conditions:
- Photo taken within 6 months from the date of application submission
- Clear, white background image
- Face up to the camera, not frowning, not smiling
- You can wear colorless glasses as long as the eyes can see clearly
- Notarized copy of Birth Certificate
- Marriage certificate (if married) / Court divorce decision (if divorced) / Death certificate (if husband/spouse is deceased)
Financial documents
- Savings book with a minimum value of 5,000 CAD or more (The more, the higher the chance of approval);
- Bank statement;
- Certificate of land use right, or other valuable private properties (if any);
- Certificate of ownership of other assets (if any);
Work
If you are employed
- Labor contract / Recruitment decision / Appointment decision / Salary increase decision
- Leave to travel letter (in case of applying for a Visitor Visa)
If you are a business owner
- Business license
- Tax receipt or tax return for the last 3 months
- Statement of company account or personal account for the last 3 months
For freelancers
- Evidence such as photos of factories/stores, purchase/sale contracts between partners, invoices/sales contracts, magazines/e-newspaper links, etc. proof of current work
- Bank statement for the last 3 months
For students/students
- The confirmation of Student or Student card
- School released letter (original)
If you are a sales agent for the company
- Agency contracts
- Certificate of profit, monthly and annual revenue
Children under 18 years old
- Birth certificate
- Authorization/consent of parents letter if the child is only traveling with mother or father, certified by the local authority
- Authorization/consent of parents letter if the child is traveling with another person, certified by the local authority
Documents to prove if it is a trip to Canada
- Itinerary during your stay in Canada (the more detailed the better)
- Leave of absence or document showing you must return to your country.
8. Self-apply Canadian Visa application procedure
The self-apply Canadian Visa application process includes 7 basic steps:
Step 1: Determine the type of Visa
The first step is to determine the type of Visa you need and check if you are eligible to apply for this Visa by visiting the link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services /visit-canada/eta/apply.html
You will also need information about the documents you need to submit with your Visa application, how long it will take to process your application and what fees you will need to pay.
Step 2: Fill out the application form
Applicants are required to submit the completed and signed copy to the Canada Visa Application Center if submitting in person.
You can also apply for a Visa online at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC),…
Step 3: Prepare documents
Prepare all the documents as Go Experience listed above and some notes when preparing the application:
- Prepare documents according to your case
- Notarized translation of all documents into English
- Scan (scan) all documents in color with translations and save them as separate files if applying online
Step 4: Make an appointment
When your Visa application is received, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send an invitation to provide Biometrics, at which time you make an appointment to submit your application and provide biometrics at the Canada Visa Application Center – CVAC.
For details and how to book, please visit the link: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/vnm/en/can/book-an-appointment
Once you have booked your appointment, you will receive an appointment confirmation email along with the appointment letter.
Note:
- If you are a member of a family or a group, you must make separate appointments for each member.
- If you are not asked to collect your biometrics, you do not need to make an appointment at your local Canada Visa Application Center. Cases that are exempt from obtaining Canadian Visa without biometrics include:
- Children under 14 years old.
- Biometric exemption for people over 79 years old (does not apply to refugees and volunteers).
- US Visa holders move to Canada.
- Head of state or government.
- Used to do fingerprint biometrics and is still valid.
- Countries on the list of Visa-free travel to Canada.
- Come to the Visa Application Center with your passport, passport photos, completed forms, pay for all fees and all supporting documents listed above.
Step 5: Pay the cost
After completing your Visa application, you will need to pay the Government of Canada Fee and the Biometric fee (if required).
Step 6: Track and get results
Look up the process according to the instructions in the link: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/vnm/vi/can/track-application or look up directly on Immi Account if you apply online.
After a decision is made on your Visa application, you must submit your passport to get a Visa stamp. You can receive your application from the Visa Application Center or deliver by your registered postage carrier (charges apply). Check to see if the Canada Visa Application Center you are applying for offers this service.
To receive the envelope containing the Visa result at the Canada Visa Application Center, you need to bring the following documents:
- A copy your passport
- Original Receipt issued by Visa Application Center
- An identification document issued by government
You can authorize someone else to receive the results for you. The authorized person needs to bring:
- A signed and certified Visa Application Center Consent Form that includes the name of the authorized person and relationship to the applicant
- A copy of the applicant’s passport
- Original Receipt issued by Visa Application Center
- An identification document issued by government
You need to check the details on the issued Visa to make sure that all information are correct and valid until your intended date of entry into Canada.
9. Tips of applying for the Canadian Visa
Go Experience will give you some tips to make your Canadian Visa application as accurate and perfect as possible.
Do not leave your passport blank
As one of the easiest countries to immigrate to, Canada is quite “difficult” in visa processing. If you have never traveled abroad (white passport, no visa stamp), your Canadian visa application is very difficult to get Visa.
Your Canadian Visa application will have more plus points if you have been to some developed Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and European countries, Australia, and the United States.
Proof of commitment in Vietnam
Your Visa success rate will be higher than in case you apply for a Visitor Visa by showing that you have a job with an good income; you have a good relationship with your family/relatives,… These things will prove that you have commitment in Vietnam and will definitely return rather than intend to stay in Canada.
Organize your application logically and accurately
Organizing your documents in a logical order is also a plus point for your Canadian Visa application.
Stay calm during the interview (if any)
Not everyone needs to interview. But even if you are called for an interview, remember to always be calm, confident, answer decisively and frankly.
10. Frequently asked questions when self-apply Canadian Visa (FAQ)
Is it easy or difficult to get a Canadian Visa?
Applying for a Canadian Visa is not difficult if you determine the right type of Visa, prepare all the documents and prove your purpose of going to Canada.
Can I apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa myself?
Of course, you can apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa yourself, however you are facing complicated processes, procedures and documents, the ability to get the Canadian Visitor Visa is quite low.
Can someone else apply on behalf of the applicant?
You can appoint a representative to file on your behalf. To authorize, please complete Representative Authorization Form [IMM 5476] or VFS Global Consent Form Authorize a representative to submit or receive documents/envelopes on your behalf.
So, applying for a Canadian Visa is not as difficult as you think, right? If you have a good travel history, transparent and strong finances, a good commitment in Vietnam along with careful preparation of documents, following the correct process, then Canadian Visa will not that difficult.
If you are wondering which is a potential Visa agency, try to consult our services at Go Experience. To do that, please fill out the detailed form below to arrange an appointment with our consultant!
