How do Russians get a visa to Canada on their own?

The country of amazing mountains, hockey and maple syrup has remained hard to reach for Russians for years. Russian citizens need a visa to Canada in 2019, regardless of the purpose for which they plan to visit this North American country. Travel companies disseminate information that the number of failures reaches 50%, and after that, there are allegedly difficulties with.

In fact, obtaining a visa to Canada is not so much a complicated process as troublesome. The applicant will have to prepare a voluminous package of documents, carefully check them, and certify some papers with a notary. All this can be done independently and contact the consulate or visa center without intermediaries.

Two years ago, the Government of Canada established the practice of issuing long-term visas. Single-entry visas were replaced by 5 and 10-year visas allowing multiple entries. The duration of the visa does not determine the purpose of the visit. Although formally they are divided into categories. For each - a separate list of documents.

• Entry Permit for Temporary Resident (Tourist Visa). It is issued to foreigners who come by private invitation or tourist package. This category also includes a visitor visa to Canada, that is, for a visit to parents and other close relatives. This visa is issued by foreign citizens who wish to undergo short-term training.

Canadian tourist visa

• student visa. It is required for those who plan to receive education. It is important to remember that a student visa to Canada is issued only to those foreigners who have enrolled in an officially registered university. The applicant will need a special permit.
• Work Visa. This is a temporary permit to stay in Canada for the purpose of employment. It can be obtained by foreigners with whom a Canadian employer is ready to conclude an employment contract. The list of documents for this type of visa includes a mandatory work permit.

Required documents

The list of documents for a visa is extensive, and the requirements for them are high. However, everyone can assemble on their own. You just need to be careful.

Family Questionnaire

1. Statement. Two copies of the application form are required. The form must be filled out and downloaded on the website of the consulate or visa center. A separate application form is required for each applicant, including a child.
2. Family Questionnaire. In it, the applicant indicates the personal data of close family members. .
3. Foreign document (passport). After the return of a foreigner from a trip, he must act for another six months.
4. Photocopy of ID.
5. Previous passport with visas.
6. Two photos. A photo for a visa to Canada must be made according to clear parameters.
7. Visa fee payment receipt.
8. Help from the employer. The requirements are standard: indicate the position, length of service, salary level, availability of vacation. The certificate is certified by the head of the enterprise. It would be useful to attach a similar document from the spouse's place of work.
9. Documents that confirm the confident financial position and well-being of the applicant. This paragraph is abstract, everything that the tourist considers necessary can serve as evidence: a detailed letter about the activities of the company where he works, constituent documents (for individual entrepreneurs), a certificate of real estate, documents for a car, etc. The main task is to convince the visa officer that everything is in order in your homeland, the only purpose of the tour is to enjoy Canadian sights.
10. Financial documents: bank statements, copies of credit cards, etc.
11. Description of the itinerary of the trip: cities, transfers, stops - with an indication of the duration.
12. Copy of marriage certificate.
13. Booking flights and hotels.
14. If you are traveling with a child, you will need permission to export from both parents (even if the parents are planning to travel to Canada with the child). The document is certified by a notary.

Important: Each applicant must have a passport. This also applies to children. In old-style passports, they are entered with their parents. For the Canadian tour, children will need to complete their own paperwork.

There is no medical insurance in the official list of documents. However, visa centers strongly recommend to issue it, especially since the cost is low. The amount of compensation is not less than 40 thousand US dollars.

The application form for a visa to Canada is completed in French or English. This also applies to other documents. Notary certification is not required. The seal of the translation agency or the signature of a certified translator is sufficient.

photo for visa

A photo is required to apply for a visa. It should not be done on your own, it is better to contact a professional photo studio. The photo requirements are as follows:

• Size 35×45 mm.
• The size of the face is 31-36 mm.
• The photo is in color, the background is white or light.
• The photo is less than six months old.
• Facial expression is calm without emotion. You can't smile or frown.
• A face without tinted glasses, scarves, jewelry.

Other types of permissions

In cases where the applicant plans to visit Canada not as a tourist, a few more papers will need to be added to the listed package of documents. For example, if a foreigner travels by invitation, the original or a copy of this document will be required. The invitation contains full information about the host.

If the visit to Canada is related to visiting relatives, the applicant has the right to count on a multiple entry visa. This applies to cases when Russians go to their parents, children, grandchildren and grandmothers who have Canadian citizenship.

In 2019, a visitor visa to Canada can be issued for two years without the need for renewal. The main thing for the applicant is to attach a maximum of documents confirming kinship.

A work visa to Canada will require a business invitation from the company where the foreigner intends to work. Papers with comprehensive information about the company are attached to the invitation. Documents are printed on letterhead of the organization.

To obtain a student visa, the consulate will need an invitation from an educational institution, as well as detailed information about where, for how long and under what conditions a foreigner plans to study. If we are talking about student exchange, the applicant attaches a copy of the cooperation agreement between universities. In addition, you will need to fill out an additional questionnaire.

Ways to submit documents

In 2019, the Canadian consulate allows several ways to submit documents:

• Online through the official website of the embassy. The algorithm is simple. The applicant takes a test to correctly determine which type of visa to apply for. Upon completion receives an individual number. It is later inserted into the IMM form 5257. The tourist fills out the questionnaire on their own in electronic form. All documents are scanned and converted into jpeg, docx or pdf format. The next step is registration. To confirm it, you will need the code received at the beginning. In the personal account, the applicant uploads the application form and documents to it.

• Through the visa center. There are such centers in Moscow and other major Russian cities. For the visa center documents will be required in printed form. With this method of filing, the fee for the services of the visa center should be added to the fee.
• Through a representative. He will need a special power of attorney.
• Through an accredited courier service. An agreement with a courier company is attached to the package of documents.

Visa fee and terms

The cost of a tourist visa for Russians is 100 Canadian dollars. The price does not depend on the validity period of the visa. The cost of a work permit is 155 and the cost of a study visa is 150.

In addition, a foreign citizen pays for the services of the visa center - 31.2 Canadian dollars plus 4 dollars additional fee. The cost of the visa and all additional fees are non-refundable in case of a negative decision of the consulate. Duties are paid in Russian rubles at the current exchange rate.

Getting a visa to Canada is not easy. By default, applicants are given a period of 15 days. However, the passport can be returned in a week or several months.

In conclusion, a Canadian visa requires a responsible and scrupulous attitude on the part of the applicant. It is up to everyone to make it on their own. It is important to follow simple rules: provide reliable information, attach as many documents as possible, follow the formalities and double-check everything several times.