Documents and requirements to travel to canada for dominican nationals

  • By:Vianela Morillo
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It is no secret that Dominican nationals have limitations to enter many countries, where they are required to obtain a visa or permission to enter. Canada is no exception, for Dominicans to enter Canada, they are required to have a visa or entry permit contingent on the purpose or interest requested.

In this article we will talk about:

  1. How to obtain a temporary visa for Canada.
  2. Documents and requirements for you to obtain a visa and be able to travel to Canada.
  3. How and where to apply for a visa to travel to Canada.

The application for any type of visa is processed before the consular representatives in each country. There is no Canadian consulate in the Dominican Republic, there is a Visa Application Center (VAC) and you can find their information below:

  • It is the visa application center for Canada.
  • Located in Torre Piantini – First Floor
    Gustavo Mejía Ricart corner
    Ave. Abraham Lincoln

The Visa Application Centers (VAC) are the only ones authorized by the Government of Canada to accept applications for:

  • Study Permits.
  • Work Permits.
  • Temporary Resident Visas.
  • Travel Document for Permanent Residents.

These are subsequently sent to the Canadian Embassy in Mexico. The VAC staff has the responsibility of receiving applications and ensuring that they are completed correctly, signed and that all necessary documents are included in addition to verifying that the application fee has been paid. They also arrange the shipment of the visa passport with DHL or the delivery of the response directly to the VAC. The VAC is not authorized to accept Permanent Resident applications.

Requirements and Documents required for a visa application for Canada:

  • 1-Completed and signed Application Form (two copies).
  • 2-Valid passport.
  • 3-Family information form.
  • 4-Photographs complying with the specifications, signed on the back and including your name and date of birth.
  • 5-Work Letter, if employed.
  • 6-Company certifications (if you are an employer).
  • 7- Flight itinerary.
  • 8- Bank reference letters.
  • 9- Copies of title certificates or registration of vehicles, if you have assets.
  • 10- Show that you have ties that bind you to your country of origin, e.g., children, spouse, etc.
  • 11- Pay US$75.00 for the visa.
  • 12-The application fee payable to VAC is RD$2,949.00.

Temporary Residence Visas:

A temporary residence visa is required in order to enter Canada, it is a travel document. This visa does not confer the right to work and is generally valid for stays of 6 months. Those who enter with a visitor visa may study, but only courses that last less than 6 months. They may study languages for example.

What should I take into account to apply for this visa?

To obtain a Canadian visa, there are several factors taken into account by the immigration agent. All are important but some are more relevant than others.

To approve a visa, the officer seeks to determine that the applicant will leave Canada at the end of the authorized period of stay. For this purpose, the likelihood that you will not stay illegally in that country is taken into account. The factors considered are:

  1. Employment status and job prospects upon return. This can be verified with a work letter, proof of salary, tax return or proof of social security contributions. If you are:
  • Unemployed
  • You do not have a business or activity in your country.

The agent might assume that you are looking for illegal job opportunities or that you do not have significant enough reasons to return.

1- The funds. You need to show enough money for the purpose of your trip (for transportation, food, medical insurance, tuition if you want to study, etc.).

2- The goods. The properties, businesses, lands and vehicles under your name, constitute a strong bond with the country, which would make an individual return to manage them.

3- Family ties in your country and in Canada. Based on the information on their forms, the officer will analyze these ties. An example is when an individual wants to travel to visit their girlfriend or boyfriend, and also has a sibling in Canada. The officer may doubt their intention to return, given how strong their ties with Canada are.

4- The purpose of the trip. This factor is quite subjective and at the discretion of the official. The purpose of the trip needs to make sense in the eyes of the Canadian official. For example: An individual has a stable job in their country and the purpose of the trip is to study English for 5 months. This trip may result in them losing their job and the accompanying child would miss school for the same period, thus there could be doubts. However, if the employer pays for the course and confirms that this course is needed for professional development, that is a different matter.

5- The length of stay. Let us say for example that the purpose of the trip is to spend Christmas with Canadian friends. If the stated length of stay is 3 months, there is an inconsistency and the request loses its credibility.

6- Travel history. This is a very important factor, especially for people from Latin American countries. A trip within the last 10 years to a country that requires a visa, e.g., the United States, Australia or a country in Western Europe, shows that the applicant is a trusted traveler. In other words, they have received a visa previously.

All these factors are considered together, not separately. In other words, it is not always mandatory to comply with every single one of these points. The officer will analyze the file as a whole to determine the likelihood that the applicant will return to their country at the end of the authorized period of stay. It is very important to provide true and complete information and ensure you do not hide any details.

The duty of the officer is to refuse visa applications when there are suspicions. As a result, it is very important to present a file as solid as possible

How long does the Canada visa application process take?

This visitor visa process takes twenty (20) business days and is processed at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico. The Embassies in the Dominican Republic, located in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, only handle matters pertaining to its Canadian citizens.

Types of Temporary Visas: 

  • Single entry: allows you to enter once, for a stay of no more than 6 months (under certain conditions). The stay can be extended within Canada, but another visa is required to get in and out again.
  • Multiple entry: it is usually issued for 5 or 10 years, without exceeding the validity period of your passport. It allows you to enter Canada several times. Always for stays of a maximum of six months without the right to work.

This article merely refers to Canadian temporary visas, focused on:

  • Tourism
  • Short duration studies.
  • Visit family and friends.

We will write another article to talk about matters related to Canadian immigration assistance programs. There are more than 60 of the aforementioned programs. Among them, the ones requested the most by Dominican citizens are:

  • Express Entry is a selection system, designed to select skilled workers for immigration to Canada.
  • Skilled or professional worker, with several options to consider. For example, you may be eligible to submit an application under the Federal Skilled Worker Class of Canada. If your intended destination is Quebec, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program may be the way for you and your family, if applicable. Additionally, if you know which province or territory you plan to reside in, you may submit an application through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs.

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