How to Be a Temporary Resident in Canada with the Canadian Visitor Visa

If you are thinking about moving to Canada to live and work but want to give it a trial run to check it out first a Canadian visitor visa might be the best option for you. The Canadian visitor visa is often referred to as a temporary resident visa or even as a tourist visa as it allows you to spend up to six months living in Canada as a temporary resident.

By getting yourself a Canadian visitor visa, you are able to experience total immersion in Canada and see what it would be like to live in Canada permanently while only being a temporary resident. The Canadian visitor visa is not intended to be used as a route to residency in Canada as it does not lead to permanent residence or Canadian citizenship. The Canadian visitor visa is issued to you on the basis that you do not plan on seeking and taking up employment while in Canada and that you have every intention of leaving the country when your visa is set to expire. If you wish to stay in Canada longer than six months or if you wish to take up employment you will have to get a different type of visa for yourself. You cannot apply for a different visa while within Canada. Instead you will have to travel back to your home country to submit your application for a more permanent visa of your choosing. However, you could use your time in Canada under the Canadian visitor visa to test out the market and see what sorts of jobs are available as long as you remember that you cannot take up employment with this visa.

Since the Canadian visitor visa allows you the ability to stay in Canada for up to six months, it is a popular choice among students that only plan on taking one semester's worth of classes. However, students that wish to work while studying will need to get a study visa since no one is allowed to take up employment with the Canadian visitor visa.