Obtaining the Appropriate Travel Visa

If you intend to work and backpack around Canada for more than a few months and you are a national of one of the following countries, you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States.

If you intend to work while in Canada and do not come from one of the above listed countries, you will almost certainly have to apply for a Temporary Work Visa.

For short term travelers to Canada, citizens of the following countries do NOT require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport Holders only), Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa.

Also, persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card), or can provide other evidence of permanent residence, will not require a visa to enter Canada.

British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;

Persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China;

Persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See.

Temporary Resident Visas are valid for up to 6 months, depending on the terms of their entry or the conditions places on their visa.