Whether an individual needs a visa to visit Canada can depend on country of residency. U.S. citizens typically do not need a visa; however, residents of many other countries do, such as Mexico, Jamaica and the Philippines.
U.S. citizens wishing to visit Canada for a period of more than 180 days must apply for a visa. For a stay in excess of this, you must apply and be approved for a Temporary Stay Visa.
Most travelers who plan on obtaining employment while in Canada will need to apply for a visa/work permit. While this document is needed for most jobs, there are a few that do not require it.
Most individuals who plan on pursuing a course of study in Canada will need a study permit; however, there are a few exceptions. Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Department encourages those interested in such studies to contact their anticipated school for more details, as these permits are regulated by province.
The application for immigrating to Canada differs according to whether the potential immigrant anticipates settling in or out of Quebec and whether they are a skilled worker, entrepreneur, government-sponsored or sponsored by a Canadian family member. Contact the Citizenship and Immigration Department for more details.
