What's the full process of obtaining a Canadian visa as of 2019?












4















Canada lets you apply for a tourist visa online. What does the full process look like? Do you have to travel somewhere to get a visa or is it all electronic?










share|improve this question





























    4















    Canada lets you apply for a tourist visa online. What does the full process look like? Do you have to travel somewhere to get a visa or is it all electronic?










    share|improve this question



























      4












      4








      4


      1






      Canada lets you apply for a tourist visa online. What does the full process look like? Do you have to travel somewhere to get a visa or is it all electronic?










      share|improve this question
















      Canada lets you apply for a tourist visa online. What does the full process look like? Do you have to travel somewhere to get a visa or is it all electronic?







      visas canada






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Jan 9 at 4:22









      Franck Dernoncourt

      4,78853773




      4,78853773










      asked Jan 9 at 2:34









      JonathanReezJonathanReez

      48.8k37231493




      48.8k37231493






















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          6














          Canadian visa applications look easy on the surface, but are actually a major hassle to receive due to requiring three trips to the closest visa center.



          The first step is to submit the online application. For this you need:




          • Copy of passport

          • Copy of residency permit if living outside of home country

          • Copy of bank statement

          • Copy of work contract or equivalent

          • Travel itinerary: a description of what you're planning to do in Canada. Purchasing tickets or booking hotels in advance is not required, it's sufficient to add screenshots from booking websites

          • Copy of invitation (if you're visiting a friend or a family member)

          • A bunch of filled out bureaucratic forms, that you download from the application website


          The second step is to travel to the closest visa application center to submit your fingerprints. If you live in Prague like my friend, this means traveling all the way to Vienna or Berlin.



          A few days after you submit your fingerprints you'll receive an email confirming your visa has been issued an inviting you to travel to the visa center again to submit your passport. For some reason you're not allowed to simply mail your passport, so a trip is inevitable.



          Around 10 days after submitting your passport, you'll receive an email confirming you can pick it up. If you live in the same country as the visa center you're in luck, as they are then able to courier your passport to your address. Otherwise you're once again required to travel to the visa center.



          In total the process should take 3-4 weeks and cost $100 for the application fee. Plus whatever it costs to travel to the visa center three times in a row. On the bright side, Canadians generally issue visas valid until your passport expires, so at least you won't have to repeat these steps for the next several years.






          share|improve this answer


























          • It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:31













          • Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

            – DJClayworth
            Jan 9 at 18:31











          • Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:39











          • @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:41











          • @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:42













          Your Answer








          StackExchange.ready(function() {
          var channelOptions = {
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "273"
          };
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
          createEditor();
          });
          }
          else {
          createEditor();
          }
          });

          function createEditor() {
          StackExchange.prepareEditor({
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
          convertImagesToLinks: false,
          noModals: true,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: null,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          imageUploader: {
          brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
          contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
          allowUrls: true
          },
          noCode: true, onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          });


          }
          });














          draft saved

          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f129818%2fwhats-the-full-process-of-obtaining-a-canadian-visa-as-of-2019%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown

























          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          6














          Canadian visa applications look easy on the surface, but are actually a major hassle to receive due to requiring three trips to the closest visa center.



          The first step is to submit the online application. For this you need:




          • Copy of passport

          • Copy of residency permit if living outside of home country

          • Copy of bank statement

          • Copy of work contract or equivalent

          • Travel itinerary: a description of what you're planning to do in Canada. Purchasing tickets or booking hotels in advance is not required, it's sufficient to add screenshots from booking websites

          • Copy of invitation (if you're visiting a friend or a family member)

          • A bunch of filled out bureaucratic forms, that you download from the application website


          The second step is to travel to the closest visa application center to submit your fingerprints. If you live in Prague like my friend, this means traveling all the way to Vienna or Berlin.



          A few days after you submit your fingerprints you'll receive an email confirming your visa has been issued an inviting you to travel to the visa center again to submit your passport. For some reason you're not allowed to simply mail your passport, so a trip is inevitable.



          Around 10 days after submitting your passport, you'll receive an email confirming you can pick it up. If you live in the same country as the visa center you're in luck, as they are then able to courier your passport to your address. Otherwise you're once again required to travel to the visa center.



          In total the process should take 3-4 weeks and cost $100 for the application fee. Plus whatever it costs to travel to the visa center three times in a row. On the bright side, Canadians generally issue visas valid until your passport expires, so at least you won't have to repeat these steps for the next several years.






          share|improve this answer


























          • It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:31













          • Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

            – DJClayworth
            Jan 9 at 18:31











          • Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:39











          • @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:41











          • @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:42


















          6














          Canadian visa applications look easy on the surface, but are actually a major hassle to receive due to requiring three trips to the closest visa center.



          The first step is to submit the online application. For this you need:




          • Copy of passport

          • Copy of residency permit if living outside of home country

          • Copy of bank statement

          • Copy of work contract or equivalent

          • Travel itinerary: a description of what you're planning to do in Canada. Purchasing tickets or booking hotels in advance is not required, it's sufficient to add screenshots from booking websites

          • Copy of invitation (if you're visiting a friend or a family member)

          • A bunch of filled out bureaucratic forms, that you download from the application website


          The second step is to travel to the closest visa application center to submit your fingerprints. If you live in Prague like my friend, this means traveling all the way to Vienna or Berlin.



          A few days after you submit your fingerprints you'll receive an email confirming your visa has been issued an inviting you to travel to the visa center again to submit your passport. For some reason you're not allowed to simply mail your passport, so a trip is inevitable.



          Around 10 days after submitting your passport, you'll receive an email confirming you can pick it up. If you live in the same country as the visa center you're in luck, as they are then able to courier your passport to your address. Otherwise you're once again required to travel to the visa center.



          In total the process should take 3-4 weeks and cost $100 for the application fee. Plus whatever it costs to travel to the visa center three times in a row. On the bright side, Canadians generally issue visas valid until your passport expires, so at least you won't have to repeat these steps for the next several years.






          share|improve this answer


























          • It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:31













          • Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

            – DJClayworth
            Jan 9 at 18:31











          • Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:39











          • @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:41











          • @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:42
















          6












          6








          6







          Canadian visa applications look easy on the surface, but are actually a major hassle to receive due to requiring three trips to the closest visa center.



          The first step is to submit the online application. For this you need:




          • Copy of passport

          • Copy of residency permit if living outside of home country

          • Copy of bank statement

          • Copy of work contract or equivalent

          • Travel itinerary: a description of what you're planning to do in Canada. Purchasing tickets or booking hotels in advance is not required, it's sufficient to add screenshots from booking websites

          • Copy of invitation (if you're visiting a friend or a family member)

          • A bunch of filled out bureaucratic forms, that you download from the application website


          The second step is to travel to the closest visa application center to submit your fingerprints. If you live in Prague like my friend, this means traveling all the way to Vienna or Berlin.



          A few days after you submit your fingerprints you'll receive an email confirming your visa has been issued an inviting you to travel to the visa center again to submit your passport. For some reason you're not allowed to simply mail your passport, so a trip is inevitable.



          Around 10 days after submitting your passport, you'll receive an email confirming you can pick it up. If you live in the same country as the visa center you're in luck, as they are then able to courier your passport to your address. Otherwise you're once again required to travel to the visa center.



          In total the process should take 3-4 weeks and cost $100 for the application fee. Plus whatever it costs to travel to the visa center three times in a row. On the bright side, Canadians generally issue visas valid until your passport expires, so at least you won't have to repeat these steps for the next several years.






          share|improve this answer















          Canadian visa applications look easy on the surface, but are actually a major hassle to receive due to requiring three trips to the closest visa center.



          The first step is to submit the online application. For this you need:




          • Copy of passport

          • Copy of residency permit if living outside of home country

          • Copy of bank statement

          • Copy of work contract or equivalent

          • Travel itinerary: a description of what you're planning to do in Canada. Purchasing tickets or booking hotels in advance is not required, it's sufficient to add screenshots from booking websites

          • Copy of invitation (if you're visiting a friend or a family member)

          • A bunch of filled out bureaucratic forms, that you download from the application website


          The second step is to travel to the closest visa application center to submit your fingerprints. If you live in Prague like my friend, this means traveling all the way to Vienna or Berlin.



          A few days after you submit your fingerprints you'll receive an email confirming your visa has been issued an inviting you to travel to the visa center again to submit your passport. For some reason you're not allowed to simply mail your passport, so a trip is inevitable.



          Around 10 days after submitting your passport, you'll receive an email confirming you can pick it up. If you live in the same country as the visa center you're in luck, as they are then able to courier your passport to your address. Otherwise you're once again required to travel to the visa center.



          In total the process should take 3-4 weeks and cost $100 for the application fee. Plus whatever it costs to travel to the visa center three times in a row. On the bright side, Canadians generally issue visas valid until your passport expires, so at least you won't have to repeat these steps for the next several years.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Jan 9 at 18:01

























          answered Jan 9 at 2:43









          JonathanReezJonathanReez

          48.8k37231493




          48.8k37231493













          • It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:31













          • Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

            – DJClayworth
            Jan 9 at 18:31











          • Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:39











          • @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:41











          • @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:42





















          • It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:31













          • Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

            – DJClayworth
            Jan 9 at 18:31











          • Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

            – Michael Seifert
            Jan 9 at 18:39











          • @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:41











          • @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

            – JonathanReez
            Jan 9 at 19:42



















          It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

          – Michael Seifert
          Jan 9 at 18:31







          It does appear that the German visa application center will mail "completed" passports to some locations outside of Germany, for an additional fee. The Austrian center, however, does not appear to offer this service, so this may vary country by country.

          – Michael Seifert
          Jan 9 at 18:31















          Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

          – DJClayworth
          Jan 9 at 18:31





          Purely out of interest, if you've submitted your passport to a visa centre in a different country, how do you travel to pick it up again ten days later?

          – DJClayworth
          Jan 9 at 18:31













          Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

          – Michael Seifert
          Jan 9 at 18:39





          Also, the Austrian and German centers both imply that passports can be submitted to them via courier/mail, but it's possible that your friend was a special case (or that "facts on the ground" don't match the website.)

          – Michael Seifert
          Jan 9 at 18:39













          @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

          – JonathanReez
          Jan 9 at 19:41





          @MichaelSeifert interesting. Looks like the issue is with the Austrian center then.

          – JonathanReez
          Jan 9 at 19:41













          @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

          – JonathanReez
          Jan 9 at 19:42







          @MichaelSeifert over the phone the Austrian visa center claimed that you have to submit the passport in person. I'll have a friend apply for a visa in Prague soon and I'll confirm the facts afterwards. I'll have them try the German office.

          – JonathanReez
          Jan 9 at 19:42




















          draft saved

          draft discarded




















































          Thanks for contributing an answer to Travel Stack Exchange!


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




          draft saved


          draft discarded














          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f129818%2fwhats-the-full-process-of-obtaining-a-canadian-visa-as-of-2019%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown





















































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown

































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown







          Popular posts from this blog

          How to change which sound is reproduced for terminal bell?

          Title Spacing in Bjornstrup Chapter, Removing Chapter Number From Contents

          Can I use Tabulator js library in my java Spring + Thymeleaf project?