Spanning over 5,600 miles, Canada is a huge, stunning country full of unique landscapes, diverse cities, and friendly people. From the East Coast’s rocky beaches to Yukon’s icy tundra, Canada has a slice for everyone.
To visit the nation, the most vital document is a Canada visa application. For all those who wish to visit Canada, all you need to do is check out their documents. Canada has two options for travelers. They can either go for a visa or an eTA application. Both these documents have a different purpose and process. So, let’s explore the diverse requirements of a Canada visa for Australian citizens.
Things to Know Before Visiting Canada from Australia
No matter if you are traveling by land, sea, or air, you must have valid travel documents and a passport.
Canada’s productive and long-standing peaceful history with Australia dates back to 1939 with ties of commerce and trade. They have been working closely for years sharing membership in several world organizations including OECD, and the United Nations.
- Australian visitors should show a valid passport or a relevant travel document to visit Canada.
- Most citizens of Australia if they are visiting Canada for a short while, do not require to apply for a visa. Instead, they can go for an eTA that is perfect for such short visits.
Canada offers various benefits to their Australian visitors. This includes special visa allowances and many more. Thanks to their strong communal and ethical ties as more than 50,000 Australian residents claim to be born in Canada, Australians can have these benefits that strengthen their ties.
Travel Documents to Canada
Canada has various visa options for everyone traveling from Australia. One can apply for a Canada visa for an Australian citizen, which is general for everyone’s requirements. Apart from the general requirements, Canada has special programs including an eTA, a Working Holiday Program, and other international study programs.
eTA Applications
Being a part of the joint agreement with the USA, from 2015 onwards Canada has introduced a special visa waiver program for certain countries including Australia. Under this, citizens can apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization Document).
Although an eTA has the same purpose as a visa, its process is much faster, needs fewer documents, and is thus obtained more easily. Like an e-visa, you can also apply for it online and it is valid for tourist, business, and even transit purposes.
An eTA allows multiple entries with a validity of over five years and a duration of not more than six months. This means that in the five years of its validity, you can visit Canada any time you want to but stay for six months at a time.
Requirements for an eTA
You will need this information to apply for an eTA. These include:
- Personal information. This includes your name, date, and place of birth.
- You will also need to submit your passport number, date of issue, and expiry.
- Your contact information including email and address is also vital.
- Another vital requirement is your job details.
Working Holiday Visa
This visa is designated for citizens with an Australian passport who plan to work and travel in Canada. People generally do this by looking for part-time jobs or temporary employment choices. Such an opportunity often helps them sustain for over 24 months.
It has been made to provide people with an opportunity to travel and work overseas without needing to save up a huge amount. With a working holiday visa, you can work temporarily and explore the beautiful nation.
This visa is a part of Canada’s International Mobility Program. This allows Canadians to hire part-time international workers. Like working holiday visas in other nations that allow having a work permit for a short time. This means that,
- You don’t need to have a job while applying for it
- You can work with several employers at a time
- You have to be of an age between 18 to 35 (some countries have a cut-off of 30 years)
There are certain requirements for this, however. These include:
- You must have a passport from a country that is eligible
- Your age has to be between 18-35 years
- You should not have another dependent
- Enough funds to cover return tickets
- Health insurance for your stay
Canada Visa Application Requirements
While filling up your Canada visa application, it is vital to be fully sure about the purpose of your visit. However, every eTA or visa doesn’t need to have different requirements.
The general eligibility criteria and process remain the same whereas certain pointers may change. This means that no matter the purpose of your visit, the general information requirements are the same, but you may be asked for additional information depending on your visa type. For instance,
- For a visitor visa, you may need certain documents specific to a tourist visa. This includes a specific timeline for the duration of your stay along with proof of having sufficient funds.
- Similarly, for a student visa, your requirements remain the same as a tourist visa. However, you may be asked to show proof of enrollment in a Canadian Institution, followed by your financial support and an intent to study.
- As for a work visa, you will need to show your appointment or offer letter from a Canadian employer along with some relevant qualifications and your work experience.
- If you apply for a permanent resident visa, your Canada visa application requirements may vary. This includes showing proof of sufficient funds that support your stay in the country. You will also have to go through the Educational Credential Assessment and submit original documents, along with their translation, if needed that support your application.
How Long Can You Stay?
As an Australian citizen, your date of departure should be within the first six months of your arrival. Those with a valid Australian passport need to have an eTA, even if they are coming for a short stay, be it for a day or six months.
In case you need to stay for long, you need to apply for a visa that is relevant to the purpose of your visit. You should also remember that although an eTA offers multiple entries, it will be valid for five years. Thus, make sure to be thorough about the purpose of your visit. This will help you apply for the right one.
Can You Get an Extension?
Canada eTA, by law, will allow you to stay there for over six months or up to a date your CBSA (Canada Border Security Agency) officer has given.
If that does not work for you, you can easily apply for an extension. However, it has to be applied for before the expiry of your current visa. You should also apply for the same using your visitor record.
A visitor record is neither an eTA nor a visa but it has an expiry date within which you will have to return to your home country. Thus, you can use it to extend your stay but make sure you do it well ahead of time.
Get Your eVisas Now!
Visit the Land of the Maple Leaf and seize your slice with a Canada visa for Australian citizens! With the various programs that Canada has initiated, traveling from not only Australia but any part of the world has become easy. So, apply for the one that fits you the best!
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