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The differences between a super visa and a visitor visa are somewhat unclear to most people as to when to apply for which one. Well, it depends on various factors such as the purpose of the visit, duration of the stay, the financial situation of the person you are visiting, and others.
If you are unsure which one to apply for, scroll down to this article for a clear understanding.
A Super Visa is a temporary visa that enables parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada as a visitor and can stay for a maximum of five years from the date of entry into Canada.
This multi-entry visa offers multiple entries for up to 10 years.
Requirements
To be successfully eligible for a super visa, you have to meet specific eligibility criteria, which are-
• You must be parent or grandparent to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You must have a signed letter of invitation to Canada from your child or grandchild that includes the following-
– > The promise of financial support for the entire duration of your visit
-> List and number of members in the house you are visiting
-> Photocopy of the person’s Canadian citizenship and permanent resident documents you are visiting
• You must have compulsory medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, that is–> Valid for 1 year from the date of entry
-> Insurance must cover a minimum of $100,000
-> You have to prove that you have paid for the insurance
Processing Time
The processing time for a Super Visa application depends on several factors, such as the workload of the Visa office, the applicant’s country of origin, and others.
However, the processing time for a Super Visa is about a few weeks or less, depending on the abovementioned factors.
Application Fees
The application fee for a parent or grandparent Super Visa is around $100 CAD.
However, if required, additional fees like biometrics and medical examination are $85 CAD and $200 CAD, respectively.
These fees do not include traveling costs, compulsory health insurance, courier charges, and accommodation cost in Canada.
You need to apply for the super visa if you want to visit your son or daughter or if you’re going to bring your parent or grandparent to stay with you in Canada for more than 6 months.
A super visa allows parents or grandparents to stay in Canada with their family or children for up to 5 years in one visit. The super visa is valid for 10 years. Therefore parents and grandparents can visit their children in Canada many times within the 10 years validity period of the super visa.
Thus, unlike a visitor visa, you do not have to apply for a super visa every time you visit Canada.
A visitor visa or temporary resident visa is a Canadian government-issued document allowing a visitor from any country to visit Canada for vacation.
The visitor visa is attached to your passport and proves that you have met the requirements to enter Canada.
Travelers require a visitor visa to travel to Canada or across it.
The visitor visa is valid for up to 6 months.
Requirements
To qualify for the visitor visa, you have to meet the following requirements-
• You will need a valid passport or other travel documents
• Must be medically fit
• Should not have any prior criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Have to satisfy immigration officers at the port of entry that you have resources like financial assets or family that can get you back to your home country
• Assure immigration officers that you will leave Canada when the visa expires
• Provide proof of sufficient funds for your accommodation in Canada
However, the amount of money you require depends on the duration of your stay in Canada and the accommodation mode.
Apart from all the abovementioned requirements, you might also need to take a medical examination and a letter of invitation from Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Processing Time
The processing time for a visitor visa application depends on many variables, like the workload of the visa office, the country you’re applying from, and applying for the visa from outside of Canada or within, among others.
The median processing time for a visitor visa is around 8-16 weeks, but that can vary invariably.
Application Fees
The application fee for a visitor visa is $100 CAD. Still, there are additional fees like the biometric and passport processing fees, which are $85 CAD and $45 CAD, respectively.
Note: If your family, spouse, or children are accompanying you to Canada, then you will need to pay separate fees for their visa application. You can apply for the visa together to get processed as a family.
You will need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada or across it.
The visitor visa also proves you have met all the criteria to enter Canada.
You can stay up to 6 months in Canada with a visitor visa. However, it is up to the visa officers’ discretion at the port of entry to allow them to stay for more or less than 6 months. They can also put a date on your passport when you must leave Canada.
Conclusion
Now, it is up to your requirements and purpose that will ultimately decide which visa you need to apply for. Of course, the intended duration of your stay will be the decisive factor. Other factors that would affect your decision as to which one to apply for are the visa’s validity, the applicant’s eligibility, and the number of intended visits to Canada (Single or multiple entries).
We have laid down all the essential aspects of the two types of visas, that is, Super and Visitor visas, and provide insight and help you decide which one you need to apply for.
To learn more about Super or Visitor visas, consult VisaSpot Immigration now for the best assistance on all immigration-related matters.