There are several categories of Canada Visa that travelers can select from. The visa category will depend on what the applicant plans to do while in the country.  

The main categories of Canada Visas are: 

• Canada Visitor Visas
• Canada Immigrant Visas
• Canada Working Visas
• Canada Student Visas

For each visa category, there are specific types of Canada Visas that can be obtained. Each type of visa has a unique purpose and eligibility criteria. 

Visitor visas

Tourists and visitors traveling to Canada, who are neither eligible for visa-free entry nor obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), may seek to apply for a Canada tourist visa. They can do so by applying for a Visitor Visa. This will depend on their nationality, the purpose of their trip, and what method of travel they are taking to get to Canada. 

Also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), the Visitor Visa is an official document that is stuck inside the applicant’s passport once approved. Applicants for the Canada Visitor can apply online or on paper to obtain a visa for up to 6 months.  

Other types of Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) include: 

• Super Visa
• Diplomatic or Official Visas 
• Visa for the Purpose of Giving Birth
• Facilitation Visa
• Canada Visa for Intending Organ Donors

* Upon arrival at the port of entry, a border services officer can determine whether the applicant can stay for less or more than 6 months. A date will be added to their passport, or they will be given a visitor record that indicates when they need to leave. 

Immigrant visas

Foreign nationals looking to immigrate to Canada can do so through a wide variety of visa types and new pilot programs. For example, an entrepreneur looking to move on a Canada business visa might opt for a Business Immigration Visa. Not all visa and program types have the same eligibility criteria and process, so applicants should be sure to check all requirements before applying. 

The main types of Immigrant visas include:

• Express Entry Visa
  • A Permanent Residence Visa for those looking to relocate permanently to Canada and participate in their economy. 
• Business Immigration Visa
  • A Permanent Residence Visa for entrepreneurs and business people looking to relocate and start a business in Canada. 
• Family Sponsorship Visa
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Caregiver Visa
• Start-up Visa 
• Self-employed Visa 
• Refugee Visa 

There are also pilot programs available including: 

• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot 
• Agri-Food Pilot 
• Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

Other types of Immigrant visas are specific to certain Canadian provinces: 

• Provincial Nominees 
• Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers

Working visas

Almost all foreign nationals need a work permit to work legally in Canada. Applicants may be eligible for either an employer-specific work permit that allows the applicant to work for a specific employer for a certain period or an open work permit that allows the applicant to work for any eligible employer in Canada. Specific work permits are available for businesspeople, students, temporary workers, caregivers, and agricultural workers. 

Student visas

Foreign nationals looking to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada, can apply for a study permit. All foreign nationals are required to obtain a study permit before traveling to Canada.

* A study permit is not a visa. It does not allow entry into Canada. Some applicants may also need a Visitor Visa or eTA to enter the country. If the study permit is approved, the appropriate visa will be issued along with it.