Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the full right to enter or leave Canada freely. However, all visitors intending to come to Canada, such as tourists, students and temporary workers, must obtain a Temporary Resident Visa issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada before they can enter Canada. There are several categories under which an applicant can apply for temporary resident status: (student visa, temporary worker visa and tourist visa)
A visitor is a person who does not intend to work, study or settle permanently in Canada. The assessment of a visa application for a visitor is at the discretion of the immigration officer processing the application. The officer must be satisfied that the applicant is a genuine visitor who will leave Canada at the end of his or her temporary stay.
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