CANADA VISA: REQUIREMENTS & Online Application for Filipinos

Yosh Dimen

7 years ago

Here’s how we got our Canadian Visa! A step-by-step ONLINE application guide with complete list of requirements, biometrics procedure, and other visa tips for tourists.

Applying for a Canadian visa is actually pretty simple and easy. But when I began my application, I found the whole process a bit daunting. The disconnect, I believe, comes from the visa application website. What is supposed to be an easy procedure becomes overwhelming and a bit arduous because the layout of the website and the user journey are complicated and somewhat confusing. I have been living and breathing digital for the past 10 years of my life, yet I still ended up lost and confused a few times along the way.

When I applied for a Canadian visa, I documented every step of the process in order to help guide the readers of this blog. When you break it down to the requirements and basic steps, it really is pretty straightforward. Filipinos can apply for a Canadian Visa in three ways: online, by mail, and in person. This guide focuses on online application, but you may still have to visit the Canada Visa Application Center to submit your biometrics.

CANADIAN VISA REQUIREMENTS

1. Accomplished IMM5257 Form

This is the Application for Visitor Visa Form
You can download it from here: Form IMM5257.
Fill it out digitally. You don’t need to print it out or sign it.
View the form using Adobe Acrobat. When you view the forms online, sometimes the file won’t load at all, displaying a “Please wait” message instead, especially if you’re using Chrome or Firefox. (Yep, it’s best accessed using IE.) Download it anyway. When you open it using a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, you’ll see that the form is actually there. Fill it out using Acrobat.
Leave the signature field blank. I struggled so hard finding a way to be able to type on the Signature field, but it turned out that I didn’t have to. You will be providing your electronic signature later in the process (when you’re submitting the form).

2. Accomplished Family Information Form

Sometimes, it’s the IMM5645E Form. Sometimes, it’s the IMM5707 Form. Both are Family Information Forms. To be safe, submit the form that is indicated in your Document Checklist. In my case, I was asked for the IMM5645E form.
You can download it from here: IMM5654E.
Fill it out electronically. Same with the Application Form, if the page doesn’t load, use Acrobat Reader. And don’t sign it. You will be asked for a digital signature later in the application process.

3. Valid Passport

Scanned copy of the bio page and all pages with visas and stamps.
Your passport must have at least 6 months validity and signature. If you’re using a new 10-year e-passport, you can find the signature field on Page 3, the page next to the Information Page. If you’re using a 5-year e-passport, the bio page already has a digital signature so NO NEED to sign it again.

4. Digital photo

Passport-size (35mm x 45mm).
White background.
Specs here: Canada Visa Photo
The website indicated “scanned” when I applied, but I uploaded a soft copy of the photo instead.

5. Proof of Purpose of Travel

Submit proof that you are coming to Canada for a TEMPORARY visit. You can submit any or all of the following:

flight ticket departing Canada (return or onward ticket)
your travel itinerary
hotel booking

You don’t need to submit actual tickets. You can submit flight or hotel reservations, which you can cancel in case your application is denied (so you don’t have to waste money). A few airlines allow flight blocking (although I haven’t tried any of them) and some hotel booking websites have free-cancellation policy. Travel agencies can also issue these reservation documents.

You can find one here: FLIGHT & HOTEL RESERVATIONS

IF YOU’RE INVITED BY A CITIZEN IN CANADA, you will ALSO need to provide the following:

invitation letter
a copy of their citizen card
payslips or tax docs

6. Travel History

Scanned. This can be any or all of the following:

previous passports used within the last 10 years
expired and valid visas
entrance and exit stamps

If you’re living outside your country of citizenship, submit a copy of your immigration status document.

7. Proof of Means of Financial Support

Scanned copies of any or all of the following:

Bank statement for the past 4 months
a Certificate of Employment
Income Tax Returns (ITR)
proof of assets (land titles, etc.).

If you’re a student: you must also submit proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees.

If someone else is funding your trip: also submit a letter from the person or institution providing you with money.

8. Business Registration Documents

Only if you’re self-employed or if you’re traveling for business.

You can submit SEC, DTI, or BIR registration documents, as long as it indicates the registered name of the business, the business address, and type of ownership.

9. Letter of explanation

This is optional. It’s not really a requirement, but if you wish to provide more info about the trip, you can submit a letter of explanation.

I wrote a letter explaining why I want to visit Canada and the details of my trip. It’s short and straight to the point.

10. Visa Fee and Biometrics Fee

Visa Fee: CAD 100. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express cards are accepted.

Biometrics Fee: CAD 85. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express cards are accepted.

Important Reminders

Here are a few notes that will make your application easier:

ANY or ALL. You’ll notice that in the list of requirements above, I keep on using the phrase “any or all of these documents.” It’s because in theory, you can submit just one item per document type. However, if you want better chances of approval, we strongly recommend submitting everything that you can provide.
Only the following file types are accepted: PDF (Portable Document), JPG, TIFF, or PNG (Image), DOC or DOCX (Microsoft Word Document).
Only one file will be allowed per requirement.
– For example, for proof of means of financial support, if you want to submit a Certificate of Employment, ITR copy, AND proof of assets, make sure they’re in one file. If all your files are in PDF format, you can use apps like Adobe Acrobat to merge all the pages. If they’re image files, you can also insert all of them in a Word document to generate a single file.
– Another example, travel history. If you are want to submit multiple pages of your passport to show the different visas and stamps, you must scan and save all pages as only one file.
The size of each file must NOT exceed 4MB. That’s the maximum size. If your file exceeds, you need to reduce the size. Know that PDF files tend to be smaller in size than Word (doc) files. If your PDF files are still over, recreate your files with Adobe Distiller and set to “lowest file size.” Set it to only 96 DPI (dots per inch).
Make sure your documents are complete. You won’t be able to submit your application if any of the required files is missing.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CANADA VISA ONLINE

1. Create a GCKey (CIC Account).

What is a GCKey? It’s an account that would let you securely access the online services of the Government of Canada, including the CIC, which stands for Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada), the government agency that will be handling your application. You will be asked to create a username, password, and security questions.

Here’s how to create a GCKey/CIC account:

Visit the registration page of the CIC here: CIC Register. Click on GCKey at the bottom of the screen.
Click SIGN UP (on the right side of the screen) on the next page.
Accept the terms and conditions on the next page.
Create an account. Provide your full name, email address, desired username, password, and security questions and answers. Take note of these details because you will be entering these bits of info many times during the process.
On the next page, click “VISITOR VISA, STUDY AND/OR WORK PERMIT”. If you are logged out, you will have to log in again. Then, you will be directed to your Accounts Dashboard where you’ll see a list of applications. Since your account is new, the list is empty. Towards the bottom, you’ll find a “START YOUR APPLICATION” section. Click on “APPLY TO COME TO CANADA.”
On the next page, you will be asked if you have a Personal Reference Code. Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code,” click “VISITOR VISA, STUDY AND/OR WORK PERMIT”.
Find out if you’re eligible. You will be asked a series of questions about your trip and your background: how long is your trip, what province will you be visiting, have you been arrested for or convicted of any crime, have you overstayed a visa before? Just answer truthfully. You will also be asked whether or not you have a family member who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. If everything is alright, the next page will tell you that you are eligible for a VISITOR VISA. Click CONTINUE. On the next page, click CONTINUE again.

2. Upload your documents.

You will be asked to review all the information you entered in the previous step. Check if things are as they should be, and then click CONTINUE.

You will be presented with a Personal Document Checklist, which displays all the required documents that you need to upload. It looks like this:

To upload, simply click on the corresponding UPLOAD button on the right side.

You don’t need to upload the documents all at once. If you feel like you can’t complete it today, you can simply log out and log in another day. You have 30 days to complete the requirements.

Again, reminders:

Only the following file types are accepted: PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, DOC, DOCX
Only one file will be allowed per requirement. If you are want to submit multiple pages of your passport to show the different visas and stamps, you must scan and save all pages as only one file.
The size of each file must NOT exceed 4MB.
Make sure your documents are complete. You won’t be able to see the SUBMIT or CONTINUE button if any of the required files is missing.

Once you have completed the requirements and submitted your application, you will be prompted for an electronic signature. You don’t need to scan your signature or anything. You simply have to enter your full name. That’s your electronic signature. Just type your name.

3. Pay the Visa and Biometrics Fee.

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are all accepted. Again, here are the fees:

Visa Fee. CAD 100. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express cards are accepted.
Biometrics Fee. CAD 85. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express cards are accepted.

Just enter your card details and click Process Transaction. It may take a while to process so be patient. Don’t click that button again because you might be double-charged.

Within a few hours, you will receive an email containing your Application Number. It starts with letter V and then a series of numbers.

You will also receive instructions to submit your biometrics.

4. Submit your biometrics.

Effective December 31, 2018, visa applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas are now required to submit biometrics. This is a new requirement. When I applied, this was not yet implemented.

But thanks to the members of our Facebook Support Group who recently applied, we have the details and we’re sharing them with you.

Note that if you have submitted your biometrics before and they are still valid, you don’t need to submit biometrics. But if you received a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL), then you have to visit the Visa Application Centre usually within the next 30 days so they could collect your biometric data. The letter has instructions already, but here it is.

Set an appointment for biometrics submission. More information on this page.
Check your email. Once you have secured a schedule, you will receive an Appointment Letter indicating the date and time of your appointment, and the address of the Canada Visa Application Center. It will also tell you if you need to bring anything.
On your appointment date, show up at the Canada Visa Application Center 15 minutes before your schedule. If you’re asked to bring some documents, don’t forget to have them with you.

Here are the addresses of the Canada Visa Application Centers:

MAKATI CITY
Canada Visa Application Centre
VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.
29th Floor The World Center Bldg
330 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
Schedule of Biometric Submission: 07:00am – 03:00pm

CEBU CITY
Canada Visa Application Centre
VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.
9F Keppel Center Unit 905 Samar Loop cor Cardinal Rosales Ave,
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City 6000
Schedule of Biometric Submission: 07:00am – 03:00pm

Special thanks to the members of our Facebook Support Group, especially Kate Villanueva and Mary Thrasher, for providing these details.

5. Wait for updates.

From hereon, you will be getting a message each time there is an update to your application. The first few messages will be updates that your application has been received.

To read your messages, follow these steps:

Visit the CIC Login page and click on GCKey again here.
Enter your username and password. You will also be asked to answer a security question.
On the next page is a summary of your application. Scroll down toward the bottom. Under “View My Submitted Application”, click the Check Status and Messages button.
On the next page, info about the application is displayed. Scroll down to the bottom again. Under Correspondence, you will see the messages. Click on the Expand button and it will reveal a “View this message” link. When you click it, a PDF document will be automatically downloaded.

6. Submit your passport.

If your application is denied, you will receive an email telling you just that.

If your application is approved, you will receive a message that they have come to a decision regarding your application and they are requesting that you submit your passport.

You have two options: by mail of in person.

If in person

Print out the passport request letter you received from IRCC/CIC. Make sure that the barcodes and application number are clear. You will bring this and your passport to the VFS Office/ Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC).
Go to Canada Visa Application Centre (address below). At the CVAC Office, the guard will give you a number and 2 forms: a personal info form and a VAC Consent Form. While waiting for your number to be called, fill out the forms.
When your number is called submit all the requirements:
– Passport
– Request Letter from IRCC/CIC
– Personal info form
– VAC Consent Form. You can also download here
Pay the CVAC handling fee. P543.15 according to the website. But in reality, I was charged P905 (cash), perhaps including the courier charges. Check out the list of fees and service charges here

If by mail

It’s a bit more complicated. here’s the complete step-by-step guide: Submission by Mail

According to the staff I talked to, the passport will be ready in 2 weeks, but she also said that it usually takes much shorter than that.

Below are the addresses of the visa centers for Canada:

MANILA
Canada Visa Application Centre
29F The World Center
350 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Philippines

Operating Hours
Passport Submission: 7am – 3pm
Passport Collection: 7am – 3pm

CEBU
Canada Visa Application Centre
VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.
9F Keppel Center Unit 905 Samar Loop cor Cardinal Rosales Ave,
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City 6000
Philippines

Operating Hours
Passport Submission: 7am – 3pm
Passport Collection: 7am – 3pm

That’s it! Once it has your visa, you may receive your passport by mail or collect it at the CVAC office, depending on what you paid for.

Enjoy Canada!

Search for Hotels: Canada Hotels

CANADIAN VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does the whole Canada Visa process take?

It varies. Case-by-case basis. It can take as short as two weeks or as long as months. In my case, the entire process from the moment I submitted my application to the moment I received my passport spanned 16 days. Here’s my timeline:

June 27: I created a CIC account and submitted my application online.
June 28: I received an update that my application has been received/read.
July 5: I received an update that they have made a decision and that I should submit my passport.
July 6: I went to VFS to submit my passport in person.
July 11: I received an SMS from VFS that my passport with the visa is ready and to be delivered.
July 12: I received my passport with a multiple-entry visa.

How early should I apply for a Canadian visa?

3 months in advance, to be safe.

Although mine took only 2 weeks, I know people whose waiting game lasted for over a month! So to be safe, I would say 3 months in advance is ideal.

How long is the validity of Canada visa?

I’m not sure if this is standard, but I was given a multiple-entry Canada visa that is valid for until the end of my passport’s validity. In my case, 2 years.

Any recommendations on how to save up for a trip to Canada?

Use LISTA, a mobile app that will help you watch your spending before and during the trip.

Although it was originally created for tracking expenses, it has a SAVINGS CHALLENGE feature. To use it, you need to enter the target amount that you need to have for the trip. You’ll be asked to choose the saving frequency that you’re most comfortable with. Think of it as a saving buddy that will remind you how close you are to your travel goal! Not only will it motivate you to save, it will also get you excited about your trip.

To be honest, we didn’t know about LISTA until they approached and partnered with us to give it a try and see for ourselves. And we were hooked. We have been using it to track our spending and savings!

To be clear, this is NOT a requirement when applying for a Canadian visa. But it could help you watch your finances especially if you have yet to take care of your funds for this trip.

May next trip ka na ba? I-LISTA mo na!

✅ DOWNLOAD LISTA HERE!

I keep on getting “Please wait” when I open the form. What can I do?

Regarding IMM5257 and IMM5645E Forms: When you view the forms online, sometimes the file won’t load at all, displaying a “Please wait” message instead, especially if you’re using Chrome or Firefox. (Yep, it’s best accessed using IE.) Download it anyway here:

Form IMM5257: Download here.
Form IMM5645E: Download here.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD

If you’re using Chrome, right click on the page and choose SAVE AS. Save the document as PDF.
If you’re using Firefox, the link will automatically prompt a download window. Choose SAVE FILE and click OK.

After downloading, open it using a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional. You’ll see that the form is actually there. It’s just not compatible with other programs.

How do I add my signature to the form? Do I need to print out the form?

Ha! Not reading well. I explained it twice above. But okay, I’ll explain it again.

Leave the signature field blank. You don’t need to print out or sign the form by hand. You don’t need to type anything in the signature field.

Upload the form with the signature field blank. You will be providing your electronic signature later in the process. After you have completed the requirements and submitted your application, you will be prompted for an electronic signature.

Once prompted, you simply have to enter your full name. That’s your electronic signature. Just type your name. No need to actually sign anything.

I struggled so hard finding a way to be able to type on the Signature field, but it turned out that I didn’t have to.

Can I use just 1 GCKey for my family members who are traveling with me?

According to some of our readers who have tried it, you can.

When you start your application, you will be asked if you are also applying for a family member. They say that if you answer yes, your checklist will include requirements for them too.

I haven’t tried this personally so I’m not really sure, but that’s what they say.

What is UCI number? What do I write in the UCI field on the application form?

UCI stands for Universal Client Identification number, an 8-digit or 10-digit number given to anyone who has made a transaction with Canada Immigration/CIC. Every individual gets their own unique number.

If it’s your first time to apply for a Canadian visa or anything issued by CIC, you don’t have a UCI number yet, so you can write NOT APPLICABLE or N/A in the UCI field. If the form doesn’t accept N/A or NOT APPLICABLE, you can leave it blank. I left mine blank.

If you have been issued a Canadian visa before, you have your own UCI number. Check your account to see it.

What is Form IMM 5257 Schedule 1? Do I have to submit it?

When you reach the UPLOADING stage of the application, you’ll find under the Optional Documents an item called Schedule 1 – Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside Canada (IMM 5257).

We get a lot of questions about whether or not it is the same as the actual application form 5257. The answer is NO. Schedule 1 of IMM5257 is different from the actual Form IMM 5257. It’s a supplementary form that asks for military and government service history that you need to fill out ONLY IF you answer YES to any of the questions under the BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION of the actual IMM 5257 form (pages 3-4). You don’t need to fill it out if it doesn’t apply to you. (I didn’t submit that form.)

What’s the difference between Family Information Form IMM5645E and IMM5707? Which should I submit?

Both are Family Information Forms. Some applicants are required to submit IMM5645E. Some are asked for an IMM5707 Form. Who needs to submit what is not clear. But the right form is whatever is written on your Documents Checklist.

In my case, my checklist included the IMM5645E Form, so that’s what I submitted. On the other hand, I have friends that were asked to submit the IMM5707 Form. It varies. Just submit whatever is written in your checklist.

I received a message asking me to submit my passport. Does that mean my application is approved?

Most probably. According to the VFS person I talked to, it’s almost always the case. If you’re refused a visa, you will simply receive an email saying that your application has been denied.

How much money should I have in the bank to get approved?

Hmmm, I don’t know for sure. But like I said in my previous visa posts for other countries, the rule of thumb is to always add the cost of the flights, cost of hotel accommodations, and an allowance of probably USD70 per day.

Every country has its own daily allowance requirement. Most Schengen countries require around EUR60 per day, so we can assume that Canada’s is probably around that figure too. Add all those and that should be the minimum amount in your bank. Minimum, because of course, that can’t be the only amount in your account. You can’t be broke after your trip and expect the embassy to approve your application.

Because of this, my personal rule is P10,000 per day of stay + cost of hotel + airfare.

What does a Canada Visa look like?

Like this:

Do I really need plane tickets before applying? What if I get denied? Sayang the moolah.

As mentioned above, you don’t need plane tickets. You can submit just an itinerary or a cover letter, if you think you have a strong reason to visit. Again, it’s ANY or ALL of the items in the list.

HOWEVER, if you want better chances of getting approved, you can submit flight and hotel reservations. These are different from actual tickets or bookings. “Reservations” are just proof that you have blocked these plane seats or rooms, and you can cancel these in case your application is denied (so you don’t have to waste money). A few airlines allow flight blocking (although I haven’t tried any of them) and some hotel booking websites have free-cancellation policy.

Travel agencies can also issue these reservation documents. If you don’t have time to go to a travel agency, you can have it reserved online. When we apply for hard-to-get visas like Canada and Schengen, we hire Gazelle Travel and Tours, a DTI-registered and DOT-accredited agency. We created a form here so you can contact them completely ONLINE:

✅ GET FLIGHT RESERVATIONS HERE

What are the reasons why my application would be denied?

This applies not just to Canada Visa but also other developed countries. The reason is often any of the following:

You can’t prove that you can financially support yourself on this trip. You probably have insufficient funds or your sponsor is not in a good financial standing.
You can’t prove that you intend to return to your home country (rootedness). You probably don’t have a stable job at this point, newly employed, or newly resigned, and it’s giving the impression that you intend to work there.
Your intention/purpose in Canada is unclear. This is why it is best to be specific when you’re detailing the reasons for your visit.

More info here: Reasons Why Visa Applications are Denied

My monthly salary is this much, my money in the bank is this much, and I will be submitting these documents. What are my chances of visa approval?

It is incredibly difficult to say, especially with very limited information. And even if you give me more details, it will still be tough. There are way too many factors at play here.

The truth is, no one and nothing can guarantee approval. The only person who can answer this question is the visa officer evaluating your application.

Sometimes, no matter how qualified you think you are, you can still end up denied getting refused.

This post is brought to you by Philippine Airlines. PAL flies to Vancouver every day and to Toronto 3X a week.

This post is based on my own application as a tourist in Canada, so if you have questions about anything outside my personal experience or if you’re applying to work there, I’m afraid I won’t be of assistance. But feel free to post them in the comments section below because some of our readers might help.

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