The Temporary Resident Visa, officially known as the TRV, Canada Immigration Document, is normally only issued to foreign nationals who apply to visit Canada. The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) document is an official form, completed by the applicant. If a person wishes to enter Canada for a temporary period like visit, work, or study, they need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and be approved. Only citizens of visa-exempt countries are not required to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) however, they would need to obtain an eTA (electronic travel authorization) if they want to travel to Canada by air. Also, they are required to obtain an eTA before their departure. A person is authorized to stay in Canada on the issued TRV up to 6 months even though the expiry date on the Temporary Resident Visa may be longer.

Individuals required to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) do not need an eTA and the opposite, except if they are exempted to obtain a TRV or an eTA.

A Temporary Resident Visa is also known as visitor visa and for a person to be able to come to Canada they need to make an application for TRV outside Canada. After TRV is approved the person may enter Canada if they satisfy an immigration officer at the POE (port of entry) that they will leave Canada after their authorized stay.

US citizens are exempted to obtain Temporary Resident Visaor eTA to travel to Canada. Although, green card holders in the US need an eTA to come to Canada by air, no matter what their nationality is.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) Eligibility and Requirements

In order to come to Canada on a Temporary Resident Visa(TRV) a person must have genuine intentions and meet the eligibility criteria to be issued a TRV. The applicant must show the following when applying for a Temporary Resident Visa:

• An invitation letter from the inviter and proof of relations
• Duration of visit and intention
• Funds for their stay in Canada or have financial support

Ties to country of residency (employment, family, real estate, land, etc.)

Sometimes a person may have an intention for some reason to become a permanent resident after coming to Canada, but they must first be eligible for a TRV and show they are in a position to leave Canada at the end of the authorized temporary stay. For more information visit IRCC.

To be eligible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) the applicant therefore needs to comply with all requested criteria such as, to have a purpose for travel and visit, specify the duration of their visit under 6 months, show ties to Canada and the country of residence, show sufficient funds for their stay in Canada, and have all other supporting documents.

Follow the steps requested to ensure the requirements are met before applying. Have a valid travel document ready for your processing.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) Process

All submitted forms and documents are carefully reviewed, considering all admissibility procedures while processing the application. If the applicants are applying online, they can submit from anywhere in the world. During the process of the application the applicant might be required to do their immigration medical examination if their visit is 6 months or less and are intending to work in an occupation in which safe keeping of public health is necessary. Also, the medical examination is usually required if the duration of the visit is 6 months or more.

Even if a TRV is issued, it does not determine the person would be allowed to stay in Canada for 6 months, that decision is upon the Border Services Officer when examining the person entering in Canada.

Determining the issuance of a TRV is based on the correctness of the submitted forms, supporting documents and the visa officer’s processing of the application in depth, reviewing the applicant’s ties to Canada and country of residence, evaluating the funds for the applicant’s stay in Canada, the intention of their visit and other reasons that might be significant to the decision like security reason, criminality, health, financial reasons, misrepresentation, inadmissibility of a family member and similar.

Processing fees requirements are necessary when applying for a TRV for the application as well as the applicant’s biometrics.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) Supporting Documents

The applicant must complete the documents as follows:

• Application form for TRV
• Family information
• Statutory Declaration (if applicable)
• Use of Representative (if applicable)
• Supporting documents showing their identity, invitation letter, ties to Canada and country of residence, proof of funds or financial support, etc.

For minors:

• Letter of authorization (if travelling alone)
• Custody documents and/or a letter of authorization if traveling only with one of parent.

The invitation letter/statutory declaration of the inviter needs to be attested by a notary public or the commissioner of oaths.

On preparation of documentation the applicant should follow the document checklist and prepare to submit all the required documents.

Once a person is approved a TRV, the official document sticker is issued and placed into a person’s passport.