This blog helps to find ways to speed up your visitor’s visa application.
-> Whether you have applied for a Visitor visa or
-> planning to apply in near future, you may be eligible for priority processing.
If you’re eligible to travel to Canada at this time, you need to email IRCC, so your application can be prioritized for processing.
Use the below link to complete the request
you will be asked to include the following
- Applicant’s full name
- Applicant’s date of birth
- if you have an application in process, how you applied for your visa (online or by paper)
- application number and unique client identifier (UCI)
- Applicant’s passport number
- a detailed reason for travel
- the dates you plan to travel
- where you live now (current country of residence)
- your supporting documents to show you’re eligible to travel to Canada at this time (for example, the application for authorization and statutory declaration for extended family members)
Make sure you upload all the required information and supporting documents. Sending multiple webforms will delay your request and may also get refused.
IRCC will contact you within 14 business days of getting your complete request for written authorization. If your request is incomplete or you are not authorized to travel, then your request will be refused or IRCC will not reply to your request.
Who can travel to Canada as a Visitor?
If you’re outside the United States (US)
You must be able to prove one of the following:
- You qualify for an exemption and are coming for a non‑discretionary purpose.
- You’re an immediate family member or extended family member of a Canadian citizen, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or a permanent resident, and you’re staying in Canada for 15 days or more.
- You’re an extended family member of a Canadian citizen, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or a permanent resident and meet the following conditions.
- you’re staying in Canada for 15 days or more
- has written authorization from IRCC
- You’re an immediate family member of a temporary resident in Canada and has written authorization from IRCC
- You’re already authorized by PHAC to travel to Canada for compassionate reasons.
If you’re traveling directly from the US
You must be able to prove one of the following:
- You’re traveling for a non‑discretionary purpose.
- You’re an immediate family member or extended family member of a Canadian citizen, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or a permanent resident, and you’re staying in Canada for 15 days or more.
- You’re already authorized by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to travel to Canada for compassionate reasons.
If you’re coming for compassionate reasons
When you have your authorization letter from PHAC, use “COVID-19 PHAC” as the subject line.
Who needs a special authorization to travel?
If you are an extended family member of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident (OR) an immediate family member of a Temporary resident, you must submit a request to get the written authorization.
Information to include in your request based on your situation
| If you are a foreign national who is: | Description | Information to include in your email | Documents to include in your email |
| An immediate family member of a Temporary Resident (temporary worker, student, etc.) traveling from any other country than the United States | Immediate family member 1. Spouse or common-law partner 2. Dependent children 3. Dependent children of dependent children 4. Parents or step-parents 5. Parents or step-parents of spouse or common-law partner 6. Guardian or tutor | *Your full name *Your date of birth *Your passport number *Your detailed purpose of visit *The country where you currently live *Your relationship to the person in Canada *The status of your family member in Canada (worker, student, etc.) | *A copy of the immigration status document of your family member in Canada (copy of their work permit, student permit, etc.) *Proof of relationship with your immediate family member in Canada (copy of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) *Do not include personal photos |
| An extended family member of a Canadian Citizen, a Permanent Resident or a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act travelling from any country | Extended family member 1. An individual who is 18 years old or older, in an exclusive dating relationship with the person (who is also 18 years of age or older), has been in such a relationship for at least one year and has spent time in the physical presence of the person during the course of the relationship 2. The dependent child of the person in an exclusive dating relationship 3. An adult child (non-dependent child) of the person, of their spouse or common-law partner or of the person in the exclusive dating relationship. 4. A grandchild (dependent child of a non-dependent child) of the person, of the person’s spouse, of the person’s common-law partner, or of someone who is in an exclusive dating relationship with the person. 5. A sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner. 6. A grandparent of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner. | *Your full name *Your date of birth *Your passport number *Your detailed purpose of visit *The country where you currently live *Your relationship with your family member in Canada *The status of your family member in Canada (Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act) | *A signed and completed Application for authorization and statutory declaration (IMM 0006) *A copy of a government issued document showing the status of your family member in Canada (e.g. Canadian Passport, Permanent Resident Card,secure certificate of Indian status, certificate of Indian status or temporary confirmation of registration document (TCRD)) *Do not include personal photos |
Every traveller needs to have a Visa or ETA to travel to Canada. Don’t book your travel before you get your visa. However, if you’ve booked travel, provide your travel itinerary, including your
- flight number
- departure time and location
- arrival time and location
Disclaimer: The information on this blog is subject to change based on the IRCC’s Ministerial Instructions.
If you would like to have a detailed consultation, please contact us to book an appointment.
