How to Apply for Canada Visitor Visa as Philippine Passport Holder

an adventure of Pinoy backpacker in processing travel documents

* The process is almost the same with online Australia Tourist Visa application

* Visa duration is up to 10 years from the date of grant and must not work while inside Canada
* Length of Stay is 6 month(s) from the date of each arrival, multiple entries

* Tourist / Visitor Visa is called as Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

​My first visa on my freshly renewed passport (2023-2033) surprisingly. I thought the Embassy ignored my application, processing took almost THREE YEARS (countless email follow-ups have been made). 

Delay Reason: internal issues, my application was approved immediately, no further queries. 

Update as of June 2023: Eligible travellers from Philippines or Philippine Passport Holders (and other 12 more countries) are now qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Travellers MUST have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air. ETA only costs $7 CAD and applied online. To apply, you must have a valid passport, a credit or a debit card, an email address, and answer a few questions in the online application.

APPLYING FOR CANADA TOURIST VISA AS ORDINARY CITIZEN IN THE PHILIPPINES  

https://www.vfsglobal.ca/canada/Philippines/

visa fee:

PHP 6,755 (185 CAD)

requirements:

1. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a visa is to apply online using IRCC GCKey.
2. Filled-up Visitor Visa Application Form IMM5257
3. Filled-up Family Information Form IMM5645
4. Certified copy of the biographical page of the current passport
5. One recent passport sized photograph (45 mm x 35 mm)
6. Proof of means of financial support such as Salary Certificate / Bank Statement with stamp
7. Purpose of travel, itinerary for your stay in Canada.
8. Travel history, previous passport stamps
9. Invitation Letter or Hotel Booking

appointment:

- schedule on this link every Monday to Friday – 07:00 – 16:00

- passport submission after visa approval notification doesn't require appointment, walk-in between 1pm to 4pm, Mon to Fri.

address:

Canada Visa Application Centre VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.
29th Floor The World Center Bldg 330 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

Helpline Number: +632-8528-2505

Canada Temporary Resident Visa issued in Philippines (2023-2030)

Required Documents Checklist (June. 2020)

The Very Surprising Email after almost Three Years

Visa Application Update after almost 3 years (Jun. 2020 - Apr. 2023)

Passport Submission to VFS Makati (2023)

Canada Visa Approval Confirmation Update

Canada Visa Approval Confirmation Update

 

APPLYING FOR CANADA TOURIST VISA AS AN EXPAT IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/can/attend-centre/abudhabi

visa fee:

501 AED (185 CAD)

requirements:

1. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a visa is to apply online using IRCC GCKey.
2. Filled-up Visitor Visa Application Form IMM5257
3. Filled-up Family Information Form IMM5645
4. Certified copy of the biographical page of the current passport
5. One recent passport sized photograph (45 mm x 35 mm)
6. Proof of means of financial support such as Salary Certificate / Bank Statement with stamp
7. Purpose of travel, itinerary for your stay in Canada.
8. Travel history, previous passport stamps
9. Invitation Letter or Hotel Booking

appointment:

- schedule on this link every Sunday to Thursday – 08:00 - 16:00

address:

Canada Visa Application Centre VFS (GCC) LLC,
Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre,
Khalifa Bin Zayed The 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi, UAE

DATELINE OF MY APPLIED CANADA VISITOR VISA 

June 26, 2020 (Fri) - applied online using IRCC GCKey attaching the documents required per listed above and paid the visa fee of 185 CAD (502 AED) including Biometrics fee. Then, I scheduled an appointment to VFS Global Abu Dhabi for the biometrics requirement.

June 27, 2020 (Sat) - I received my Biometric Instruction Letter from IRCC email. This letter is needed to be printed together with the original passport for the Biometrics requirement VFS appointment.

June 29, 2020 (Mon) - I visited VFA Global Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE per my appointment schedule. I brought print-out Biometric Instruction Letter together with my original passport, no additional fees to be paid. Your online account will be automatically updated once you finished this Biometrics process.

April 18, 2023 (Tue) - After almost three years, I am very surprised that I received an email from IRCC for the status of my application. Final remarks is APPROVED and further instruction provided. I need to forward my passport within 30 days to local VFS branch. Since I have full of stamps of passport I registered, I phone call local VFS if I can submit renewed passport. They said YES. I printed the passport request letter attached in my IRCC account and waited for the renewed passport to release.

April 25, 2023 (Tue) - I've waited my renewed passport to release on this day since the passport I used during this visa application is already full of stamps. Passport submission is between 1pm to 4pm, Mon-Fri in Gil Puyat Branch, Makati. I submitted my renewed passport, passport request letter, VFS waiver form and paid PHP 1,029 in cash (to pick-up next week). During the submission the VFS staff asked also the old passport to verify if it's really full.

April 27, 2023 (Thu) - received an email confirming that my Canada Visitor Visa was approved already and my passport was already forwarded back to VFS Makati.

April 28, 2023 (Fri) - Re-visited VFS Makati around 2pm and claimed my passport. Canada Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor) issued with 7 years validity on multiple entry (2023-2030).