Visas
What is a visa?
What are the general conditions that must be met in applying for a visa?
How do I obtain a visa?
Do visa regulations change?
What is a visa-on-arrival?
What is a Schengen visa?
I have a Canadian passport do I need a Schengen visa?
I want to stay longer than 3 months in a country listed under the Schengen agreement, can I?
What is consular jurisdiction?
How long will it take to process my application?
Can I apply for 2 visas at the same time?
Can you guarantee that I will be issued a visa?
Do I have to send original documents?
What is an official visa invitation?
Does the photo in my passport count as a photo for my visa application?
What is the difference between a single, double and multiple entry visa?
What is a tourist visa?
What is a business visa?
What is a work visa?
What is the Australian ETA?
Who can obtain an Australian ETA?
How do I know that I have been approved for my ETA?
Validity
Period of stay/Duration
Passports
What is a passport?
Do I need a passport?
How do I obtain a Canadian passport?
Can I renew my existing Canadian passport?
What is an epassport?
Do I have to sign my passporat?
When applying for a new passport, will my old passport be returned?
Can I add more pages to my passport?
Where do I apply for a Canadian passport?
How do I change the name on my passport?
What to do if my passport is lost or stolen?
Do children require a passport?
How long does it take to process a passport application?
Documents
What is an Apostille?
What is a Notary Public?
When would I need an Authentication certificate or DFATD stamp?
What types of documents need to be authenticated?
Where can I have the authentication of a Notary Public stamped?
What is an Authentication?
What is Legalization
What is Notarization
Operations
Hours of operation?
Which office location should I send my application to?
How do I know you have received my application package?
How do I check on the status of my application?
General
If I am a non-Canadian applying for a visa in Canada what do I need?
Do I need vaccinations for my trip?
What form of payments do you accept?
Passports
What is a passport?
(A passport is a privilege given to Canadian nations, it is not a right)
A passport is a document issued by the Canadian government that certifies the identity and nationality of the person named on the passport is a Canadian citizen.
The Canadian passport requests that the holder be granted all rights and privileges to which all travelling Canadians are entitled by international agreement.
For more detailed information on Canadian passports and their history click here www.ppt.gc.ca
Do I need a passport?
Yes. Canadians require a valid Canadian passport for all international travel, expect for some specific situations where travel across the border to the USA, can be undertaken using a Nexus card or an enhanced driving licence.
How do I obtain a Canadian passport?
For current regulations, forms and processing times follow this link www.ppt.gc.ca
Please note that if you fulfill the criteria, you may qualify for the Simplified passport renewal processing.
Can I renew my existing Canadian passport?
As of the beginning of 2013, the maximum validity of a Canadian passport was 5 years. If your passport was issued with a full 5 year validity, it can not be renewed, you will need to apply for a new passport.
If your passport was issued with a validity of less than 5 years, it may be possible to have it extended to full validity. It is anticipated that as of mid 2013, (01 July 2013) the new Canadian epassport will also be available.
What is an epassport?
An epassport is also known as a biometric passport. It looks like a traditional passport, but it contains an electronic chip that is encoded with the same information found on page 2 of the passport (surname, given name, date of birth, place of birth and gender) The addition of the electronic chip will increase security and provide greater protection against tampering and fraud. The epassport will be valid for 10 years.
Do I have to sign my passport?
Yes. A passport is NOT VALID unless it has been signed on page 3
When applying for a new passport, will my old passport be returned?
If, according to the regulations, you are required to include any existing passports with your application, there is a section on the application form where you must indicate that you would like your submitted passport/s returned. Please note that all old passports returned to you will have been cancelled and are, therefore, no longer valid for travel.
Can I add more pages to my passport?
No, it is not possible to add pages to Canadian passports. An applicant who has a valid passport in which the visa pages have become filled with visas or entry-exit stamps must apply for a new passport.
Where do I apply for a Canadian passport?
At either a Canadian passport office or Services Canada Location. Please check on Passport Canada's website for an office closest to you.
How do I change the name on my passport?
In order to change your name on your passport, you must apply for a new passport and pay the applicable fees.
What to do if my passport is lost or stolen?
In Canada - call Passport Canada - 1-800-567-6868 and report the loss to your local police to report the circumstances of the loss or theft.
Outside Canada - Report the loss or theft to the nearest Government of Canada office abroad (www.travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies) and to the local police.
Do children require a passport?
Yes, all Canadians require a passport to travel internationally, even infants. Children may no longer be included in their parents' passport. Children 15 years of age and younger must apply for a child's passport.
How long does it take to process a passport application?
The processing times for passport applications along with applicable fees are available on the Canadian Passport Office website www.ppt.gc.ca.
Visas
What is a visa?
A visa is usually a stamp or sticker placed in the traveller's passport showing that a person is authorized to enter the country for which it was issued, subject to permission of the immigration official at the time of actual entry.
In certain cases a foreign government may wish to obtain detailed information concerning the specific travel plans for Canadian citizens before approval to travel to their country is granted. This is done through the issuance of travel visas. A visa is an official document, usually stamped or glued inside a passport (the ETA granted by Australia electronically is a notable exception), giving permission from a foreign authority for the traveller to enter their country. Visas are issued with specific limitations concerning such things as purpose of visit, length of stay, validity of visa and number of entries. Please note that final permission for entry into a foreign country is at the discretion of the border immigration officer at the port of entry, regardless of the documents in the traveller's possession.
What are the general conditions that must be met in applying for a visa?
You must have a valid passport. If your passport is not valid for 6 months beyond your dates of proposed travel please contact us at info@siatcs.com.
You must have at least 2 blank visa pages in your passport per country you are intending to visit. A "blank" visa page means a clean, clear page that does not have any stamps, stains or ink showing from any other visa pages in the passport
How do I obtain a visa?
SIAT Consular Services has been assisting travellers for more than 30 years with the acquisition of visas. Our website has full requirements and applications for the visas we process for approximately 150 countries . By following the instructions on our website processing visas through our offices insures the greatest likely hood that your visa will be issued in a timely fashion. Visa regulations can and do change without notice. Any changes that occur in regulations will be address by our staff immediately upon receipt.
Do visa regulations change?
What is a visa-on-arrival?
some countries allow visas to be obtained by particular nationalities upon arrival into that country.Ê Whenever possible, it is recommended to obtain a visa in advance of travel to avoid possible delays and unforeseen complications that may occur when obtaining a visa on arrival.
What is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa allows a traveller to move freely through all the countries who have signed the Schengen agreement using one visa. The Schengen agreement gets its name from a small town in Luxembourg where on the 14 June 1985, the five Member States; Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, agreed that they would gradually remove their common border controls and introduce freedom of movement for all nationals of the signatory Member States, other Member States or third countries. The Schengen Convention was signed by the same five States on 19 June 1990 but did not enter into force until 1995. It lays down the arrangements and guarantees for implementing freedom of movement. The objective was to remove border controls, approximate visa formalities and provide for cooperation of law enforcement agencies. There are common controls at the external borders of the Schengen area, but none at the internal borders, though document checks may still be carried out on individuals by competent police authorities. Since 1995, many other European countries have joined the Schengen area. To date, these countries participate in the Schengen agreement.
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
I have a Canadian passport do I need a Schengen visa?
Canadian citizens do not require a Schengen visa to visit the countries covered by the Schengen agreement, provided their total stay does not exceed 3 months within the Schengen Area.
I want to stay longer than 3 months in a country listed under the Schengen agreement, can I?
In order to remain longer than 3 months in either the Schengen area, or one of the member countries, it would be necessary to apply for a visa. Applications must be made in person and can not be submitted through a third party. The application should be submitted to the consular section of the country of the first port of entry into the Schengen area or to the consular section of the country where the traveller will be spending the most time. Please check the websites of each member country for specific requirements and processing times. SIAT Consular services is not able to assist with this type of visa.
What is consular jurisdiction?
Consular jurisdiction is a geographical area for which a Consulate or Embassy is responsible. Certain countries use consular jurisdiction when issuing visas.Ê Meaning, based on the province in which you reside, your visa will be processed through a particular consulate within Canada.Ê It is possible for consulates to have varying requirements from one jurisdiction to another.
How long will it take to process my application?
The times published on our website are a total of the processing times stipulated by the Embassies, plus an additional day for submission of the application and a day to collect the passport and visa. In addition, when deciding on the length of processing, please take into account the number of days required to ship the package to our office and to return it to you. Please also note that all Embassies are well within their rights to take as much time as they require to insure that their national interests are being addressed. On the other hand, circumstances will occasionally enable an Embassy to process the application in a time slightly shorter than the ones published.
Can I apply for 2 visas at the same time?
In most cases, as each Embassy has to be in possession of your original passport , visas applications must be processed sequentially. Of course, you may submit multiple applications to our office. Our experience ensures that the applications will be submitted to the Embassies separately taking into account visa validities and travel dates.
Can you guarantee that I will be issued a visa?
It is unusual that a visa not be issued when the application documents meet the Embassy's requirements. However, Visas are issued at the discretion of the Consular office and they are fully within their rights to refuse to grant a visa, without giving a reason, if they feel that their interests are not being served. As the final decision is not SIAT's, we are not able to guarantee that a visa will be issued.
Do I have to send original documents?
Yes. The protocol for applying for a visa requires that the passport, photograph and the signature on the application form MUST be original. In some circumstances, the Embassy or Consulate may accept supporting documents as photocopies, but they always have the right to demand the original document.
What is an official visa invitation?
An official visa invitation is a document issued by a government organization in the country to be visited. In many cases this document is issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Labour. The letter of invite can be in the form of a document or it can be a reference number linking an invite or authorization that is sent directly to the Embassy.******
Does the photo in my passport count as a photo for my visa application?
No. Original, professionally taken photographs printed on photographic paper with a white background, no hats or dark glasses should accompany any visa application. Each country has specific requirements regarding the number of photographs required and the dimensions of the photographs. Usually photographs should not be older than 6 months although there are some exceptions, so check the requirements on our website carefully.
What is the difference between a single, double and multiple entry visa?
A single entry visa allows the traveller to enter the country one time within the validity of the issued visa. A double entry visa allows the traveller to enter two times within the validity of the issued visa, and a multiple entry visa allows the traveller to enter unlimited times within the validity of the visa. Please note that in many cases, even though the visa may allow the traveller to enter multiple times, there are still restrictions on the total number of days the traveller is allowed to have stayed in the country. For more specific information please contact us at info@siatcs.com.
What is a tourist visa?
In general, a Tourist visa is issued specifically for the purpose of travel from pleasure and sightseeing. Some countries do not require a visa for Canadian citizens travelling as a tourist for a short period of time. In these cases, it may be sufficient for the traveller to present upon arrival in a non-visa destination, a valid Canadian passport, a return/onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds. Other countries may require the traveller to complete a tourist card or arrival/departure card for presentation to the admitting customs officer upon arrival in that country. Whether a tourist visa is required, or available upon arrival, the period of stay in the country is usually authorized for a specific limited period.
What is a business visa?
Each country defines "business" in a different way. Generally, business activities can include the following:
- attending meetings and discussions
- visiting customers
- providing non-technical sales support
- gathering marketing information
- business seminars
- negotiation business contracts
What is a work visa?
A work visa allows a person to work and stay in the country for longer periods of time than is available on a business visa. In many instances they will receive financial payment in the country they are working and in most cases, in order to obtain a work visa, the sponsoring company must obtain an authorization from the Ministry of Labour in the destination country.
What is the Australian ETA?
An Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is an electronic visa. It authorizes the traveller to travel to Australia without providing a stamp in the passport. An ETA is applied for online.
Who can obtain an Australian ETA?
In order to be eligible for an Australian ETA, you must reside outside of Australia and hold a passport from an approved country.
Countries eligible for an ETA are:
- Andorra
- Malaysia
- Austria
- Malta
- Belgium
- Monaco
- Brunei
- The Netherlands
- Canada
- Norway
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Finland
- Republic of San Marino
- France
- Singapore
- Germany
- South Korea
- Greece
- Spain
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Ireland
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Italy
- United States of America
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Taiwan - only is residing and applying in Taiwan
- Luxembourg
How do I know that I have been approved for my ETA?
Once your ETA has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email from DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia). Generally business ETA's take slightly longer to be approved.
Validity
Is the period of time for which the visa is useable. Validity usually starts by date of issuance of the visa. In most cases the end of the validity marks the date by which you must have completed your travel. In a few cases (e.g.China) the end date of the validity marks the last date by which you must have entered the country.
Period of stay/Duration
Is the maximum number of days that you can remain in the country after each entry.
Operations
Hours of operation?
Monday to Friday: 8.30 - 5.00pm
Offices are closed on National and Provincial statutory holidays.
Which office location should I send my application to?
General
How do I know you have received my application package?
How do I check on the status of my application?
If I am a non-Canadian applying for a visa in Canada what do I need?
As a non-Canadian residing in Canada, you will be required to show proof of your status in Canada. This can be a permanent resident card, work permit or student visa.
Do I need vaccinations for my trip?
If an immunization or vaccination is required for the issuance of a visa, this will be listed in on the Checklist on our website for that specific country. Often times, certain immunizations will be recommended for travel to particular countries, but will not be required for issuance of a visa. For an up to date list of recommended immunizations visit ***** Health Canada? Travel.gc.ca?
What form of payments do you accept?
SIAT Consular services accept Visa, Master Card and American Express.
Documents
What is an Authentication?
An Authentication can be either a certificate issued by a Provincial government office or a stamp issued by DFATD (Department of Foreign Affairs) that states that the signature and seal of the Notary Public are valid.
We use this term to denote the process by which the stamp and seal of a Canadian governmental authenticating body (e.g. DFATD, Provincial authorities etc. as indicated in the requirements of the Embassy) verify the entitlement of Canadian Notaries, Lawyers who are notaries and Commissioners of Oaths to notarize a document.
What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is functionally similar to an Authentication Certificate or DFATD stamp subsequently legalized by the embassy of the country where the document will be used. It is used by the United States and other countries that signed the Hague Convention in 1961. Canada is not a signatory to the Hague Convention so documents in Canada have either an Authentication Certificate or a stamp from DFATD with a subsequent embassy legalization.
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is a person who is authorized to sign and seal documents that will be sent outside the Province of issuance and worldwide. Most Lawyers are Notaries Public.
When would I need an Authentication certificate or DFATD stamp?
The requirement of an Authentication certificate or DFATD stamp comes from thfor documents maybe required for documents that are being sent outside Canada and worldwide. Not all documents need to be authenticated. If this is required, it will be listed on our website under the specific country. The Authentication certificate/DFATD stamp assures the Consulate and country that is receiving the document that it has been properly signed by a Notary Public.
What types of documents need to be authenticated?
Documents that may need to be authenticated are notarial copies of the following:
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage or Divorce certificates
- Proof of non-marriage
- Powers of attorney
- Invitation to visit
- Degrees or student transcripts
- International business contracts
- Adoption papers
Legalization
We use this term to denote the process by which a foreign embassy acknowledges the stamp and seal of a Canadian governmental authenticating body (e.g. DFATD, Provincial authorities etc. as indicated in the requirements of the Embassy) rendering the document legal in the country of destination.
Notarization
We use this term to denote the process by which Canadian Notaries, Lawyers who are notaries and Commissioners of Oaths a fix their seal and signature to a document certifying its authenticity and verifying the document.
Where can I have the authentication of a Notary Public stamped?
On our website, under the country where the document is going to be used, we have listed the appropriate office location.