Visitor Visa
A visitor visa is an official document that citizens of visa-required countries must obtain in order to travel to and enter Canada as a visitor for a duration of up to six months. The Visitor Visa goes in your passport and serves as evidence that you fulfill the entry prerequisites for Canada. It also indicates your designated arrival date in Canada, which should not be confused with an expiration date for your stay in the country. (If you apply for a study or work permit for the first time: when your initial study or work permit application is approved, you will automatically receive a visitor visa.)
If you are travelling as a family, each family member, including dependent children, must complete their own application. However, you may submit all of the applications together. Applicants may be required to include biometric information in their application depending on their country of citizenship. If biometrics are required, the applicant will need to provide their fingerprints and photograph at a biometric collection service point.
Single Entry Visa
Allows foreign nationals to enter Canada for one-time only.
Multiple Entry Visa
Allows holders to enter and leave Canada as often as they want as long as the visa is valid.
These visas grant the holder the freedom to journey to Canada for periods of six months at a stretch, with no limitations on the number of visits, as long as the visa remains valid.. Their validity can stretch up to 10 years, although the precise duration is determined by the visa officer responsible for issuance. If you possess an alternative status document, like a study permit or work permit, and are not otherwise exempt from needing a visa, you will automatically receive a visitor visa that permits entry to Canada for the purpose of obtaining your permit. Typically, this type of visa allows for multiple entries. If you decide to temporarily depart Canada during your study or work period, there's no requirement to apply for a new visitor visa to re-enter, provided both your permit and visa remain valid.
Extending a Visitor Visa
Individuals from other countries who wish to extend their stay beyond the initial six months need to submit an application for an extension before their temporary resident status expires. It is recommended to initiate the extension process at least 30 days before your current status reaches its expiration date. If your existing visa expires while your extension request is under consideration, you are allowed to remain in Canada during the waiting period for a decision. This is known as "implied status." Additionally, if you meet the eligibility criteria for any of Canada's immigration programs, you also have the option to apply for permanent resident status.