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 can 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. 

2. ​An official proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for current term, next term, past academic terms, and anticipated completion date. 
   • Submit the Proof of Enrolment Form, or visit The Centre, to obtain this letter. If you are studying in a Canadian high school and are not at Waterloo yet, use your Letter of Acceptance. 
   • Please note: Only University-prduced letters with an embossed University seal are sufficient for permit or visa applications. Self-serve letters (no cost) that can be produced from your Quest account and printed at home are not sufficient.
3. An official transcript from the university
   • Submit the Transcript Request Form, or visit The Centre, to obtain official transcripts.
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).

   • 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 means 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 with the minimum living expenses for at least the next year. If you don't have this, then you'll have to look at providing other documents, which could include proof of funding, proof of financial support from friends/family, or proof of employment. 
7. Digital photo of you taken in the last six months that meets the requirements. You can visit the W Store in the Student Life Centre (SLC) to have the photo taken.
8. Proof of medical exam (if applicable)
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 (if applicable)
    • As of December 3, 2019, anyone applying for a TRV from within Canada who hasn’t completed biometrics within the past 10 years will need to do so. An additional $85 fee will be charged at the time of the application submission.
    • Once you submit your application, you'll receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter in your IRCC account. After receiving the letter, schedule your biometrics appointment using the Service Canada Appointment System. The closest Service Canada office to Waterloo is located at 40 Weber Street East in Kitchener. Be sure to complete your biometrics prior to the deadline noted on your letter from IRCC.

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

Alternatively, you can apply for a new TRV by mail. Official transcripts need to stay in the sealed envelope when you apply by mail.

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 your study permit through the Canadian visa office outside of Canada or Visa Application Centre that serves your home country, or country where you have been legally admitted, 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 outside of Canada or Visa Application Centre that serves your home country or country where you have been legally admitted. 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 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) 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.