HOW TO APPLY

Apply for a study permit, work permit, visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or travel document for permanent residents.

Important Note: Effective 31 July 2018, Nationals of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or any other country that requires biometric enrolment, who are applying for a visitor visa, study or work permit, or permanent residence, may be required to present themselves to enrol biometrics and submit photographs at the Visa Application Centre. Visit Canada.gc.ca/biometrics for more information

Depending on your nationality, you may need to give your biometrics:

• Starting 31 July 2018 Nationals of Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Starting 31 December 2018 Nationals of Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas

Effective 03 November 2018, prior appointment is mandatory for Biometric Enrolment at all the Canada Visa Application Centres (CVAC) in Vietnam. Depending on your nationality, you may already need to give biometrics.

Since July 31, 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa

Starting December 31, 2018 – applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas

To find out if you need to give biometrics, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp

Please note that appointments are mandatory in order to enroll biometrics at the Visa Application Centre. A planned visit with a preferred time slot at the Visa Application Centre guarantees prompt service thus eliminating longer waiting time resulting in inconvenience.

Please note, for the sole purpose of scheduling appointment VFS Global will collect Personal Information from the applicant. A consent form to this regard will be required from the applicant.

• Applicants requesting emergency appointments for the purpose of biometric collection may do so provided suitable proof of the emergency is presented at the time of the appointment. Suitable proof may include a note or other documentation from an official. Please note that this proof only needs to be presented and will not be collected by the VAC, and that this will provide an emergency biometric appointment but not affect IRCC’s processing time for the application. For any further information or questions, the Contact Centre is able to assist with any inquiries
• Please click here to Schedule an Appointment

Temporary resident visa, study and work permit applicants only need to give biometrics once every 10 years

• However, permanent residence applicants will need to give biometrics with each application.
• If you have applied for a temporary resident visa, study or work permit in the past and are unsure if the biometrics have been provided, please refer to the IRCC website (Canada.gc.ca/biometrics), and “Find out if your biometrics are still valid”
• Refer to the IRCC website for a list of countries that require a visa for temporary residents: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html
• For the purposes of biometric collection, nationality is based on the nationality you have declared in question number 6 (*Citizenship) on the IRCC application form
• It is advised that you keep your hands henna-free at the time of your Biometric Appointment to ensure unimpeded biometric enrollment. Non-compliant applicants will be asked to visit the Visa Application Centre with a fresh appointment after 30 calendar days. Kindly adhere to this requirement to avoid delays and multiple visits to the centre.

Two ways of submitting visa application to Canada

1. Paper Application
2. E-Application

Paper Application

Step 1

Read complete information on the visa/permit requirements on the IRCC website and download the appropriate application forms and checklist relevant to the purpose of your visit. Please refer to the “Prepare Your Application” page to obtain details on visas/permits.

Step 2

Fill out the application form and other relevant documents electronically and print. . For best results print on white, bond-quality, non-glossy paper.

Use of a laser printer is recommended.

Important Note: Please inspect your printed form to confirm that barcodes appear on the last page (page 5 of 5). Insert the barcode sheet on the top of the all forms. The barcodes should appear clear and be free of any distortions smudges or fading otherwise it may slowdown the application process.

If you are unable to provide all the supporting documents as mentioned in the official IRCC document checklist, you are required to fill out and sign the Canada Visa Application Centre waiver form and attach it with your application form.

Failure to provide a completed and signed Canada Visa Application Centre waiver form may result in additional delays or refusal of your application for a visa, permit or travel document.

Read the Privacy Policy, fill out the VFS Consent Form and attach it with your application.

Step 3

Mandatory requirement: Applicants are advised to read the attached privacy policy, fill out the IOM Consent Form and attach it with their application form. Note: If a completed and signed Canada Visa Application Centre consent form in not included with the application, we will not be able to assist you, and will be obligated to return the application to you.

Step 4

Pay visa fees as per instructions in the IRCC fee list, and also pay the service fee.

Please note that when submitting application via the Canada Visa Application Centre, visa fees must be paid in addition to Canada Visa Application Centre service fee.

Step 5

Visit your local Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC), make sure you bring your passport, photographs (if you do not need to give your biometrics), completed forms and all supporting documents as per checklist and IRCC fee instrument. Applicable service charges will be levied.

If you are NOT REQUIRED to submit biometrics, visit your local Canada Visa Application Centre along with your passport, photographs, completed forms, the Government of Canada Fee, and all the supporting prelisted in the IRCC document checklist. Applicable Visa Application Centre service charges for package transmission and Assisted Service – Paper application will be charged to you at the time of the application submission.

If you are REQUIRED to submit biometrics, prior appointment is mandatory for biometric enrolment.

Please note that appointments are mandatory in order to enrol biometrics at the Visa Application Centre. A planned visit with a preferred time slot at the Visa Application Centre guarantees prompt service thus eliminating longer waiting time resulting in inconvenience.

Important Note: If you need to give your biometrics, the Canada Visa Application Centre will collect your biometrics at the same time you submit your application. DO NOT submit your application by mail to this Canada Visa Application Centre.

Step 6

Once you are at Canada Visa Application Centre, pay the service fees, submit complete application and obtain a receipt. This receipt contains a unique tracking number which is important as it is required to track the progress of your application online.

Important Note:If you need to provide biometrics, your $85 CAD biometric fee covers the Canada Visa Application Centre service fee for application handling.

E-Application

Important Note: Effective 03 November 2018, prior appointment is mandatory for Biometric Enrolment at all the Canada Visa Application Centres (CVAC) in Vietnam. Depending on your nationality, you may already need to give biometrics.

Since July 31, 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa

Starting December 31, 2018 – applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas

To find out if you need to give biometrics, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp

Please note that appointments are mandatory in order to enroll biometrics at the Visa Application Centre. A planned visit with a preferred time slot at the Visa Application Centre guarantees prompt service thus eliminating longer waiting time resulting in inconvenience.

• Applicants requesting emergency appointments for the purpose of biometric collection may do so provided suitable proof of the emergency is presented at the time of the appointment. Suitable proof may include a note or other documentation from an official. Please note that this proof only needs to be presented and will not be collected by the VAC, and that this will provide an emergency biometric appointment but not affect IRCC’s processing time for the application. For any further information or questions, the Contact Centre is able to assist with any inquiries.
• Please click here to Schedule an Appointment
• It is advised that you keep your hands henna-free at the time of your Biometric Appointment to ensure unimpeded biometric enrollment. Non-compliant applicants will be asked to visit the Visa Application Centre with a fresh appointment after 30 calendar days. Kindly adhere to this requirement to avoid delays and multiple visits to the centre.

Step 1:

Complete instructions on how to submit a visa application via E-Application can be found on the IRCC website “Apply Online”.

Applicants who are REQUIRED to submit biometrics after successfully submitting an E-Application will receive a notification in a form of a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). Upon receipt of the BIL, you will be required to visit the Visa Application Centre to submit biometrics.

Step 2 :

If you are REQUIRED to submit biometrics, prior appointment is mandatory for biometric enrolment.

Once an appointment is scheduled, an appointment letter will be generated along with a reference number.

The appointment letter will provide details of the date, time and location of the appointment, along with other relevant information regarding security at the centre, additional services, etc.

If you are NOT REQUIRED to submit biometrics, please wait for the decision of your application and check your MyCIC account for further instructions.

Step 3 :

On the date of your appointment (if applicable) please arrive at the centre 15 minutes prior to your appointed time.

Please bring your original passport, appointment letter, and Biometric Instruction Letter.

Upon completion of biometric enrolment, you will be provided a receipt confirming that your biometric has been collected at the Canada Visa Application Centre.

Step 4 :

Once a decision has been taken on your visa application, you will be notified via email to submit your passport through a Passport Request Letter. If you are unsure of emails from IRCC getting delivered to you, please check your my CIC account periodically for updates.

Upon receipt of the Passport Request Letter, please submit your original passport, along with the Passport Request Letter, at the Visa Application Centre.

For complete guidance on how to submit your passport, please click on Submit Passport

If you have received a notification from the Government of Canada requesting your passport, you have either:

1. Applied online as E-app or;
2. You are a Permanent Resident applicant whose application has been finalized and now requires the passport to be submitted. Your additional documents and/or passport, along with the request letter issued by the IRCC Office may be submitted through the Canada Visa Application Centre of your choice.

• You go to the same Canada Visa Application Centre where you initially submitted your biometrics AND have not previously submitted additional documents and/or passport to support your current application through that Canada Visa Application Centre.

  Information about the “Package Transmission” service charge is here. Please note that the VFS Consent Form must always be provided when using VAC services.   

  You can submit your passport:

• In person – Bring your original passport, along with the passport request letter to the Visa Application Centre (VAC). Submitting your passport at the VAC can entail a service charge for Package Transmission (see above).
• Through an authorized representative – Send in your original passport, along with the pre-printed passport request letter and a duly filled VFS Global Consent Form for the authorized representative, to the VAC. Submitting your passport at the VAC can entail a service charge for Package Transmission (see above).

For complete details on VAC service charges, please check Service and Service Charge Schedule

Important Note:

In the case of a PR applicant whose application has been finalized and who has been instructed to submit his/her passport, a photograph as per required specifications and a completed Appendix B might be requested as well. Please check the instructions sent to you for complete information and guidance. Submitting your passport at the VAC entails a service charge of package transmission fee (see above).

Please click here for photograph specification as required by IRCC.

Upon completion of the passport submission process you will be provided a receipt in the form of an Invoice-cum-Receipt (ICR), indicating the total amount paid based on additional services availed at the VAC. ICR will likewise contain the application reference number and tracking number which can be used to track the application online

Upon return of the passport from the Canada Visa Office to the VAC, applicant may either:

• Collect the passport in person at the CVAC. Bring a valid ID and the receipt issued at the CVAC at the time of submission.
• Authorize someone on your behalf to collect the passport. To do so please complete the VFS Global Consent Form and ensure that the authorized person brings along valid government issued identification for him/herself and the applicant, along with the receipt issued at the CVAC at the time of submission.
• Have your passport delivered to your preferred location. Please check Additional Services offered at the VAC for applicant convenience.