Canada Visa from Philippines – Complete Guide To Canada Visitor Visa Application And Requirements

Canada is a fabulous country to visit! There are exciting cities to explore, delicious food and drink to savour, and stunning mountains, forests, lakes and rivers to get off the beaten track. Once you go to Canada, you’ll be sure to return! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Canada Visitor Visa from the Philippines – online and in person, processing time at the Canadian visa application center, how to get flight itinerary for visa, and Canada visitor visa application process.

Source: www.liveincanada.expert

Applying for a Canada Visitor Visa from the Philippines

In order to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa. There are 2 ways you can do this from the Philippines:

1. Apply online at www.canada.ca
2. Apply through VFS Global. The visa application center offices are located in Cebu and Manila

Types of visas for Canada

If you have an ordinary passport and are traveling to Canada as a tourist, you will apply for a visitor visa. If you are going to Canada to visit family or another purpose such as study or you are transiting through Canada, you will need to apply for a different type of visa. You can find out which visa you need by going to the Government of Canada’s website: www.cic.gc.ca/visit-visiter/en/visas

The visitor visa will permit you to enter and stay in Canada for up to 6 months.

Visitor visas are issued as:

1. Single entry – you can enter Canada once during the visa dates
2. Multiple entry – you can enter Canada as many times as you wish before the visa expires

The Canada Visitor Visa Application Process

Processing times vary depending on where you are applying from. If you are applying from the Philippines, the processing time is 5 days. However, this time doesn’t include the time it takes for your application to be sent to the government of Canada from VFS in the Philippines or the time it takes you to provide biometric data.

In addition, processing times may be affected by:

1. The type of application and whether it is complete
2. Where your application is in relation to other applications already received
3. How easily your information can be verified
4. How long you take to respond to any requests made by the visa office (s)

It is important that you apply in plenty of time to allow enough time for your application to be processed before your departure date.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa

Whether you apply online or in person, there are 4 steps which you must follow:

1. Gather documents
2. Complete the application
3. Pay the fees
4. Submit the application

The only difference will be step 4. If you are applying online, you may submit your application electronically. If you are applying in person through the visa application center, you will hand over your application to the visa office.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa online

Go to the official website – www.canada.ca and click on “Menu” – “Immigration and citizenship” – “Visit”:

Scroll down to “Services and information” and click on “Apply for a visitor visa”:

Click on “Apply”:

Before you decide whether to apply online or in person, you should consider the benefits of applying online:

To apply online, scroll down to “How do you want to apply” and choose “Online.” Click on “Get instructions”:

On the next page, you should read the instructions before you complete your application. When you are ready to proceed click on “Apply for a visitor visa”:

When you apply online, the first thing you will need to do is to register as a new user:

Then, you can sign in and begin your application:

When you complete your application, the instruction guide will help you key in the specific information. When you have finished, you will pay the visa and biometric fees.

You will also need to upload your documents before submitting the application.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa in person

Go to VFS Global’s website and where it says “Apply for a visa” click on “Start now”:

There are 7 steps to apply for your Canada visitor visa through VFS Global:

Step 1 – Identify visa type

You can follow the steps mentioned above to complete this step

Step 2 – Begin your application

You can download the application form to complete and print it OR you can complete and submit it electronically. Click on the link for the application form and choose IMM 5257 – Application for Temporary Resident Visa. You still need to print the completed form along with 2 copies of the 2D barcode

Step 4 – Pay the fees

Step 5 – Visit the visa application center

Your application and biometric data will be collected, you will pay the fee and you will be given a receipt which will have a tracking number, which will help you track the progress of your application later

Required documents

Whether you are applying online or in person, there is a list of required documents that you will need to submit with your visa application. There is a document checklist you can refer to, but documents include

1. Completed application form for a Temporary Resident Visa – IMM 5257
2. Family information form
3. Valid passport
   
4. 2 photos with your name and date of birth written on the back. Please read the photo requirements
   
5. Marriage certificate
6. Travel Itinerary and Hotel Booking
7. Purpose of travel
   
8. Proof of legal residency status in the Philippines
9. Travel Medical Insurance
10. Travel authorization letter (if the applicant is a minor) including parent (s) passport
11. Visa fee

It is important to note that further documents may be required depending on your nationality and where you are applying from. You can find the specific documents for the Philippines here.

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Scroll down to “Select a country/territory” and choose the Philippines. Then click on “Get documents”:

Please note, you MUST select the country/territory from where you are applying to get your local visa office instructions. If you do not, you might submit an incomplete application which will result in a rejected or delayed application.

On the next page, click on “Visa office instructions – Visit (IMM 5877)”:

You will then be directed to the visa office instruction document:

Please remember, this document must be used in conjunction with the document checklist IMM 5484 (see above). You also need to place the visa office instruction checklist on top of your application pack, so don’t forget to do this.

Read the instructions carefully! In addition to the above documents, applicants from the Philippines also need to provide the following documents:

1. A copy of the passport bio-data page – with a minimum of two blank visa pages and minimum 6 months remaining
2. Previous passports, if applicable
3. Schedule 1 form – IMM 5257B – if you have answered “yes” to any of the background information questions on the application form
4. Proof of financial support – bank statements covering the past three months and/or employment letter, pay slips, proof of pension, business registration, investments, etc.

If you are not paying for your own trip: a letter signed by the person paying and a photocopy of their passport. You must also explain how this person is related to you. Documents should be dated within the last 3 months

Required documents for parents and grandparents super visa

1. Letter of invitation
2. Most recent copy of the Notice of Assessment or most recent copy of the T4 or T1
3. Proof of parental relationship  – birth certificate
4. Proof that your child/grandchild is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
5. Proof of medical insurance  – minimum $100,000 cover for one year with a Canadian insurance company

Additional documents required for other visitors

1. Letter of employment including your position, length of employment and income; address and phone numbers for the company and the name and position of the person signing the letter. Self-employed persons: Provide proof of business income and income tax paid
2. Proof of sufficient funds – bank statement covering the last six months; any additional relevant documentation, e.g payslips, investments, certificates of deposit, etc. If you are not paying for your own trip, indicate how your trip will be funded and provide relevant documentation
3. Purpose of your trip – details of your itinerary in Canada; airline and/or hotel booking); letter of invitation; registration at a conference, letter from your employer

Required documents for Seafarers

1. Valid seafarer booklet and certificate
2. POEA exit permission certificate
3. Employment contract
4. Letters from Canadian and local manning agencies with vessel joining details

Required documents for RETURNING workers and students

1. Students: Current or valid Canadian study permit; proof of current status such as a letter from educational institution confirming enrolment and date of study
2. Workers: Current or valid Canadian work permit; letter from employer stating that you are expected to return to Canada and continue employment

Remember to include all the necessary documents before you submit your application.

All documents should be in English or French. If not, you should provide the English or French translation and an affidavit from the person who completed the translation and a certified copy of the original document.

Make sure you have all the required documents for your visa to prevent your application from being delayed or rejected.

Paying the fee

There are 2 types of fee: