With natural beauties and incredible cities, Canada has become a much sought after destination for those who want to enjoy the best of these two worlds. But when planning such a special trip, one step must receive extra attention, since to start your adventure, you must have the Canadian visa in hand.
Usually this kind of documentation requires attention and a lot of patience, because the withdrawal process ends up being very complicated, but this is not a problem for those who choose Canada. When compared to the North American option, the process is fast (with a maximum durability of 6 weeks), and has a very low rejection rate.
The country currently offers two document options for those who will visit, the ETA, known as electronic travel authorization, or the conventional tourist visa, which is usually valid for 6 months. To learn more about these two types of documents and enjoy your trip without worries, check out the tips from Happy Tours!
Visa Option for Canada - Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
As we commented, travelers who choose Canada as their destination have two visa options available to ensure their legal presence in the country. ETA, or electronic travel authorization, is a cheaper and faster opportunity to secure your tourist visa for the country.
The document can be withdrawn by any Brazilian citizen who already has the US visa valid or has withdrawn a Canadian visa in the last 10 years. But please note, it can only be used for air entry, if you arrive in the country by car or by sea transport the conventional visa will be required.
To withdraw the eVisa you need to gather the necessary documents, which are: passport valid for at least 6 months, international credit card and a valid email address. Then, fill out the forms available on the Government of Canada website, which has a manual in Portuguese to facilitate the process.
The last step to finish your ETA is to follow the instructions on the website to pay the C$ 7.00 fee, remember to use your credit card and check if you are really authorized to make this request, because the amount is non-refundable.
This type of visa usually arrives in a few minutes, but its maximum term is up to a week. To use it, it is not necessary to present any paper or confirmation, its practicality already provides all the information at your check-in with the airline and the direct migration officer in Canada.
The ETA is valid for up to 5 years, but the most important thing is to pay attention to the validity of the passport, which strictly accompanies this date. When renewing the document, you will also need to renew your Canadian electronic authorization.
Traditional Canadian TRV Visa - An option without restrictions
The TRV, or traditional Canadian tourist visa, is a mandatory document for visitors arriving in the country, whether by plane, ship or car. The document can be requested by any Brazilian citizen who wishes to visit Canada and is usually easily accessible, with a low rejection rate.
The first step in the TRV request process is to gather the following documents:
- Proof of payment of basic application fees;
- Copy of the passport sheets showing name, photo, document number and other data;
- Two photos that follow the standards present in the manual available on the site;
- Proof of income;
- Certificate of marriage/birth;
- Letter of intent, explaining the purpose of your trip.
With the order of requests complete, start filling out the forms according to your reality, since the government website provides options for families and couples in stable union, for example. At the end, a barcode will be available for payment, as well as the necessary guidelines to finish this step.
Like ETA, the traditional visa must also be paid with the international credit card. The fees vary from C$100.00 per person, or C$500.00 for families of up to 5 people. Biometrics also offer an additional fee of C$85.00 per person and C$170.00 per family.
A tip on payment fees is to keep at least two copies of the receipt of payment, as they will not be available again, and it will be necessary to send at least one of them along with the other documentation.
The last step of the process is to submit your visa application, and it can be done online or in person at one of the VFS Global units, an intermediary between travelers and the Canadian consulate that has offices in 3 cities in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasília.
Online, with a scanner or camera, make copies of the requested documents and create a single file to submit your application on the website. After your approval, you will need to send the passport to VFS following the instructions and with the proof of payment of the transmission fee, in the amount of C$27.93.
When everything is settled, you will receive a new e-mail with a notice that you can pick up your documents or receive them at home. Read the instructions and check the shipping rates to choose the best option for your budget.
If you choose to perform the process directly at a Canadian application center (CVAC), you will need to pay an extra service fee of C$34.91. In this format, the passport is already sent to the consulate in the same envelope as the documents and forms filled out.
For the return of the passport and the already approved visa, whoever chooses to go in person to the CVAC has the same options as online: withdraw the papers already on site or pay the fee so that they are sent directly to your residence.
The process of regularization and withdrawal of the Canadian visa may seem complicated, but with dedication and attention to each step, it is much easier to do it smoothly and have a positive result in the end. Follow our tips Happy Tours USA and have a nice trip!
And don't forget to check out the other car travel tips for Canada directly here on our blog!
