Temporary Travel to Canada

Disclaimer: this information is about entering Canada in normal situations; there are currently a number of restrictions related to the current pandemic (quarantine, test requirements), in addition to the below. These may change quickly and without warning. Visit CBSA, and Transport Canada, websites for the latest up-to-date info.

In ordinary circumstances, Canada welcomes millions of visitors every year, for business, tourism, or transit to another destination. Just as with permanent immigration, however, there are strict IRCC guidelines that have to be followed from an application, to actual entry and time spent in Canada.

Some travelers do not need a visa to enter Canada, as their countries are permitted to use electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). These are non-paper, web-based applications, used by routine and regular travelers who need to enter or leave Canada repeatedly for air travel. Depending on the expiration date of the travelers passport, they may last up to five years before renewal. Note that even these trusted travelers have to satisfy CBSA requirements to be allowed entry (for more details, see this blog post.)
Ordinarily, eTAs and visas are granted for a maximum 6 month stay in Canada at a time, though a longer request may be granted if there is no reason to deny it (and with special exceptions such as super visas, which are a topic for a different post). Passport expiration is an important limitation; IRCC will not grant stays longer than a passport remains valid, which is why it is important to check the date and renew it if necessary.
When examining an application, IRCC examines for admissibility, the purpose of travel, and ties to the home country. (The below are just broad guidelines: speak to a lawyer before making an application!)

• Admissibility: does the person have a serious criminal record, medical issues that would burden the Canadian healthcare system, a lack of finances to pay for their stay?
  
• Purpose of Travel: is the person traveling for the reasons they claim they are? Where will they stay and what will they do in Canada? Is there supporting evidence?
  
• Ties to country of origin: Can the person prove that they are going to leave Canada when their visa expires, and that they won't attempt to remain without authorization (overstay the visa)? What reasons does the person have to return home (family members, employment, property ownership , culture)?
  

These requirements can be met with strong documentation, such as proof of life in a home country, itineraries and tickets for invited events (and especially invitation letters from a Canadian). Making sure that the evidence is strong and well-chosen can be more difficult than it seems; sometimes IRCC will ask for additional information, slowing down the process further. Especially in more complex situations, such as a previously rejected application, it is important to have experienced counsel advising you and assisting with the application. No application is guaranteed to be accepted, but it will benefit from going above and beyond the minimum requirements that IRCC publicizes.