Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

If you need to apply for a new TRV and extension of your study permit from within Canada, the study permit extension application is completed first, and the application for a TRV is submitted after the new study permit is received. 

Online application steps

1. Go to the Government of Canada’s website and create/sign in to your IRCC account. You can watch our video on creating an IRCC account if you haven't done this before. 
2. Under 'start an application' in your online account, select 'apply to come to Canada'.
3. Under 'determine your eligibility and apply online', select ‘visitor visa, study and/or work permit’, and answer the eligibility questions. 
   • If you have a valid study permit, when asked "what would you like to do in Canada?", select 'study' not 'visit'. Selecting 'visit' would generate a visitor extension, which is an application to change your status in Canada from student to visitor.
4. Upload the application form and your supporting documents to your document checklist. 
   • The application form does not need to be signed when applying online. Make sure you re-validate and re-save the form after making any changes.
5. Keep all files used in your application for your records and take a screen shot of your document checklist page.
6. Click 'next' to start the submission process and then pay the fee.
7. Take a screenshot of the payment confirmation page. On the application’s status page, download the submission confirmation and payment receipt, and any future letters or messages from IRCC.
8. Once your application has been processed, the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Ottawa will contact you through your online IRCC account with a link to further instructions for Canada about when, where, and how to send your passport to them. It is very important that you send your passport using a safe, secure, and trackable method. IRCC recommends sending your passport via Canada Post – Xpresspost. You should include an additional prepaid Xpresspost envelope, addressed to yourself, for IRCC to return your passport to you. If you don’t include an additional prepaid envelope, they’ll return your passport via regular mail without a tracking number.

Document checklist summary

1. Application form IMM5257

   • You need to download the form from your online document checklist and open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free. 

   • Please use this IMM 5257 form template containing additonal instructions on how to complete specific sections.

   • You do not need to sign the application form when applying online. Make sure you re-validate and re-save the form after making any changes.

2. A proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date. This is to be uploaded to your online application under Letter of Acceptance.
   • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest which will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date.
   • If you receive a message directing you to order a modified proof of enrolment letter, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Note there is a fee for students who require a modified proof of enrolment letter.
   • If you are studying in a Canadian high school and are not at Waterloo yet, use your Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance.

3.  An official transcript from the University  

   • Request an official transcript — now processed online through MyCredsTM. Follow these steps to email yourself a link to download your official transcript. You then upload the purchased official transcript PDF file to your application.   

     • In Quest, go to ‘academics’. 

     • Select ‘official transcript request’ in the menu. 

     • Read the page, and select ‘submit’. 

     • You will receive an email within 1-2 business days from the University with a link for MyCredsTM to register using your WatIAM. 

     • You then pay in MyCredsTM by adding a share credit by clicking on ‘add more’. The cost per individual share is $12 plus tax. 

     • Once you add a share credit, you can then click ‘share’. (You can watch MyCredsTM how-to videos for help). 

     • Select ‘generate a link to my documents’. 

     • Only ‘purpose of share’ and ‘recipient email’ are required. 

     • You will receive an email with a link to download your official transcript. 

   • You can also go in person to the Student Service Centre on the first floor of Needles Hall to request a physical official transcript or submit the official transcript – paper copy form and pick it up there. You would have to open the sealed envelope and scan the official transcript for your online application. 

4. Passport scans

   • Include the biographical page and all pages that include content from Canada or another country: e.g. stamps, visas, or markings. 

   • Include your current study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable).

   • If you have renewed a passport since beginning your studies in Canada, include the past passport(s) with the newest passport first in the file. 

   • All images will need to be merged into 1 file which must be less than 4MB.

5. Study permit (and co-op work permit if you have one)
6. Proof of financial support
   • Generally this means proof of tuition payment for the current term and next term (if available) from Quest and your past four months of bank statements showing the minimum living expenses of $20,635 for the next year or more if you have dependents in Canada with you. If you don't have this, then you'll have to look at providing other documents, which could include proof of funding​ or scholarship, proof of a job, ​or proof of financial support from family ​shown through a letter of support from them and their bank statements or proof of their employment. 
7. Digital photo of you taken in the last six months that meets the requirements
8. Proof of immigration medical exam (if applicable)
   • A medical exam is required if you were outside of Canada in one or more of the designated countries in the last year for a minimum of six months or if you want to work in one of the listed occupations. 
9. Family Information form (if requested in your document checklist)
   • Directly download the version given to you in your document checklist. Fill it out, print, and sign the form where required, then scan and upload it.
10. Schedule 1 (only if you answered the IMM5257 Background Information questions 3-6 with yes)
11. Letter of explanation or any additional documents (if applicable)
12. Biometrics

    • Biometrics collection is required for in-Canada temporary residence applications, if you have not completed biometrics in the past. 

    • If you have not provided biometrics before, you will need to select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 biometrics fee. After submitting your application, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) in your online IRCC account with further information on how and where to provide your biometrics 

    • If you have provided biometrics to Canada in the past, use the check status tool to find out if your biometrics are still valid. 

    • NOTE: although biometrics is valid for 10 years, and although you had completed biometrics in the past, if the status tool indicates that your biometrics are NOT valid, we recommend that you still select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 fee for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application. 

    • Your status documents will not be issued beyond a biometrics expiry date. If your biometrics is expiring in the near future, and the biometrics validity does not encompass the full duration of your temporary residence application, we recommend that you still pay for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application. 

    • Please book an appointment with us for assistance! 

IRCC can ask for any other documents throughout the application process.

You can check estimated application processing times on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. The IRCC Client Support Centre is available from within Canada to answer questions by phone or web form. If your application is taking longer than the processing time posted, you can contact CPC-Ottawa.

If you are applying for a study permit through the Canadian visa office outside of Canada that serves the country where you are currently residing, your temporary resident visa (TRV) would be issued upon an approval of that application. 

If you are outside of Canada and your study permit is still valid to legally study in Canada at the university level, but your TRV has expired, apply for a new TRV through the Canadian visa office that serves the country where you are currently residing. Please see TRV exemption for solely United States travel.

A TRV gives you permission to enter Canada. A study permit gives you permission to study in Canada. Many permits include the phrase “does not authorize re-entry” as a reminder that additional documents, like a TRV or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), are required to enter Canada. The Border Services Officer for Canada makes the final decision whether to allow someone entry.

If you are travelling between Canada and the United States and not entering any other country, there is a TRV exemption policy R190(3)(f) in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations regarding re-entry into Canada. If you are travelling by air, we strongly recommend that you have a valid TRV.

To visit you in Canada, your family members or friends may need to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) based on their country of citizenship.

If your family members are currently in Canada with you, they must hold a valid study or work permit to apply for a new TRV in Canada. A visitor record holder is not eligible to apply for a new TRV from within Canada. 

You are not able to apply online for more than one family member's TRV in the same application in Canada. If you want to apply all together in the same application, you must submit a paper-based application by mail.

More information can be found on our documents for your family page.