The Minister has extended the ministerial instructions requiring that all applications for a temporary resident visa (including a transit visa), work permit or study permit submitted by foreign nationals who are outside of Canada at the time of application, must be submitted online, unless an exception applies.
Updates have been made to related pages reflecting the following:
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- These instructions have evolved from a temporary measure in response to COVID-19 restrictions to now supporting IRCC’s commitment to reduce inventories and processing times. As such, the relevant information has been integrated into the regular program delivery instructions.
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- Language has been revised to more clearly convey the applicant’s obligation to apply online (for both outside and in-Canada applications).
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- The instructions have also been updated with revised wording to expand the exception to foreign nationals who are outside of Canada, and who are unable to apply online, including for reasons of a disability, and therefore require accommodation for the use of electronic means.
Study permits: Making an application
Foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada must apply for a study permit before presenting themselves at a Canadian port of entry (POE) unless they are one of the following:
- exempt from requiring a study permit (section R188)
- eligible to apply for a study permit on entry (section R214)
- eligible to apply for a study permit after entry (section R215)
Temporary Foreign Worker Program and International Mobility Program: Applying at a visa office before entry
A foreign national may apply for a work permit at any time before entering Canada as per section 197 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
As per ministerial instructions 62 (MI62), all applications for a work permit submitted for foreign nationals who are outside Canada at the time of application must be submitted using electronic means—meaning they must apply online. The following are the exceptions to the requirement to apply online:
- foreign nationals who are outside Canada and who are unable to apply online, including for reasons of a disability, and require accommodation for the use of electronic means
- foreign nationals in possession of an identity or travel document described in R52(1)(c) issued by a country, that does not prohibit travel to Canada, that the foreign national may use to enter the country of issue and that is of the type issued by that country to non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons who are unable to obtain a passport or other travel document from their country of citizenship or nationality or who have no country of citizenship or nationality
- foreign nationals applying for a work permit and intending to perform work under an international agreement or arrangement between Canada and one or more countries concerning seasonal agricultural workers
The following persons cannot apply on entry to Canada [subsection R198(2)]:
- all persons who require a temporary resident visa (TRV)
- all persons who require an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- all persons who require a medical examination, whether TRV-required or visa-exempt, unless valid medical examination results are available at the time of entry
- international youth exchange program participants other than US citizens or permanent residents, (exemption code C21) (see International Experience Canada)
- seasonal agricultural workers
Method of application for temporary resident visas (TRVs), electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), study permits, work permits and visitor records
Applicants worldwide are required to submit an application for a TRV, study permit or work permit electronically through the IRCC secure account, IRCC portal or the Authorized Paid Representatives Portal, unless an exception applies. Applicants can submit an online application from anywhere in the world.
The electronic travel authorization (eTA) application is available online only. Applicants can apply using the eTA application form.
Learn more about the eTA process:
Applying from outside Canada
As per ministerial instructions 62 (MI62), all applications for a temporary resident visa (including a transit visa), work permit, or study permit for foreign nationals who are outside Canada at the time of application must be submitted using electronic means—meaning they must apply online. The following are the exceptions to the requirement to apply online:
- foreign nationals who are outside of Canada and who are unable to apply online, including for reasons of a disability, and require accommodation for the use of electronic means
- foreign nationals who are in possession of an identity or travel document described in paragraph R52(1)(c) issued by a country that does not prohibit travel to Canada, that the foreign national may use to enter the country of issue, and that is of the type issued by that country to non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons who are unable to obtain a passport or other travel document from their country of citizenship or nationality or who have no country of citizenship or nationality
- foreign nationals applying for a work permit and intending to perform work under an international agreement or arrangement between Canada and one or more countries concerning seasonal agricultural workers
Applicants outside Canada for whom an exception to applying online applies are required to submit their TRV applications to the visa application centre (VAC) that is responsible for serving
- the country in which the applicant has been lawfully admitted
- the applicant’s country of nationality or, if the applicant is stateless, their country of habitual residence
For example, a business person from India visiting London will be able to apply for a TRV at the VAC in London, as long as they were lawfully admitted to the United Kingdom. Similarly, a Chinese student lawfully admitted to Singapore for studies will be able to apply for a Canadian study permit at the VAC in Singapore. A Brazilian national who is physically in Brazil, however, may not submit a work permit application by mail to the VAC in New York City; they must submit it in Brazil.
Applying from inside Canada
In accordance with subsection R9.2, foreign nationals who are in Canada and seeking to extend their temporary resident status or change their temporary resident status (if eligible) must submit their application online unless an exception to applying online applies. For more information, refer to subsections R9.4 and R9.5. See also the list of programs that are exempt from the in-Canada mandatory electronic application requirement.
Foreign nationals who are in Canada, have a valid study or work permit and require a visa may choose to apply for a new TRV counterfoil before leaving Canada. The application must be submitted online, unless an exception to applying online applies.
