Canada Visa Types 2027: Which One Fits You?
Explore the main types of Canadian visas in 2027, from visitor and study permits to work permits and permanent residence, and find the right path for your goals.
Emily Carter
Last updated
Why Choosing the Right Canadian Visa Matters
Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors, students, workers and new permanent residents every year. But each of them came with a different type of visa, chosen for a different goal. Canadian visas fall into two big groups: temporary visas for visiting, studying or working for a while, and permanent residence for making Canada your home. Knowing which one fits your plans is the first step, and it saves you time, money and the risk of refusal.
Visiting Canada: Visitor Visa, eTA and Super Visa
If you want to travel, see family or attend a short business meeting, you usually need a visitor visa. Most visitors can stay for up to six months per visit, and the visa can be valid for up to 10 years. Citizens of visa-exempt countries who fly to Canada need a quick online approval called an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for a super visa, which allows stays of up to five years at a time.
Studying in Canada: Study Permit
If you want to study at a Canadian college or university for more than six months, you need a study permit. To apply, you need an acceptance letter from a school approved to host international students, called a designated learning institution, and proof that you can pay for your tuition and living costs. Many students can also work part-time during their studies, and some can stay to work after they graduate. Under Canada’s current plan, about 150,000 new international students are expected in 2027.
Working in Canada: Work Permits
Canada has two main types of work permits. An employer-specific work permit lets you work only for one employer, and often needs your employer to get special government approval first. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer, and is often available to spouses of students and workers, recent graduates and young people from certain countries. Work experience gained in Canada can later help you qualify for permanent residence.
Moving to Canada Permanently: Permanent Residence
Permanent residence lets you live, work and study anywhere in Canada, and later apply for citizenship. The main path for skilled workers is Express Entry, an online system that ranks candidates by score and invites the highest-ranked to apply. Provinces also run their own programs to choose workers they need, and Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse or children to join them. Each path has its own rules, so pick the one that matches your skills and situation.
Can You Move From a Temporary Visa to Permanent Residence?
Yes, many people do. Work experience in Canada can help you qualify through the Canadian Experience Class. Many international students and workers become permanent residents this way.
Do You Need a Job Offer to Move to Canada?
Not always. The Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program don’t need one. Some programs, like the Federal Skilled Trades Program, do require a job offer.
How Do You Apply for a Canadian Visa?
Most applications are made online through an IRCC account. Many applicants also need to give their fingerprints and photo, called biometrics.
Check Your Express Entry Eligibility →
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