Canada visa requirements for Eritreans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Eritreans visiting Canada

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Canadian Visa.

  • An Eritrean international passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • You must have other travel documentation. When you apply for a Canadian visa, you have to provide photocopies of the information page of your passport. It must include:
  • Your passport number.
  • The date of issue and expiry.
  • Your personal information: name, photo, place of birth, and date of birth.
  • When you apply for a Canadian visa, you will have to download an Application Package from the IRCC website. There, you will find an instructional guide, a document checklist, as well as all the forms you have to complete and submit.
  • A correctly filled Canada visa application form.
  •  You will have to pay the necessary fees and attach the receipts on your application. There are two types of fees:
  • Application processing fees
  • Biometric fees
  • Two (35mm x 45mm) passport-sized photographs taken within the last 6 months on a plain white or light-colored background.
  • Proof of financial means should be provided. This could include:
  • Letter of employment showing annual earnings.
  • Evidence you have arranged to receive financial support from friends/family to cover the duration of your stay.
  • Evidence of income of your Canadian host or family member.
  • Proof you will return to your home country once the Canadian visa expires.
  • Identity and Civil Status Documents.
  • Police clearances from your home.
  • Medical exam.
  • A cover letter that explains the purpose of your travel to Canada.
  • A Letter of support/invitation to Canada.

Canada Visa for Eritreans

Facts about Canada

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. It also covers  9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square mile area making it the second-largest country by total area. Ottawa is Canada's capital city while its largest metropolitan cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Canada is a parliamentary and constitutional democracy, the Elizabeth ll serves as its queen while a prime minister is the chair of the Cabinet and head of government.  


The Canadian economy is the tenth-largest in the world. It has a mixed economy system.  Canada is a net exporter of energy having  13th percent of the global oil reserve which makes it the third-largest share after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. 

Types of Canada Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Business visa 2-20 weeks 180 days
Visitor Visa 2-20 weeks 180 days
Work visa 2-20 weeks 6-12 months
Student visa 2-20 weeks Study duration

General Requirements for Canada Visa

  • An Eritrean international passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • You must have other travel documentation. When you apply for a Canadian visa, you have to provide photocopies of the information page of your passport. It must include:
  • Your passport number.
  • The date of issue and expiry.
  • Your personal information: name, photo, place of birth, and date of birth.
  • When you apply for a Canadian visa, you will have to download an Application Package from the IRCC website. There, you will find an instructional guide, a document checklist, as well as all the forms you have to complete and submit.
  • A correctly filled Canada visa application form.
  •  You will have to pay the necessary fees and attach the receipts on your application. There are two types of fees:
  • Application processing fees
  • Biometric fees
  • Two (35mm x 45mm) passport-sized photographs taken within the last 6 months on a plain white or light-colored background.
  • Proof of financial means should be provided. This could include:
  • Letter of employment showing annual earnings.
  • Evidence you have arranged to receive financial support from friends/family to cover the duration of your stay.
  • Evidence of income of your Canadian host or family member.
  • Proof you will return to your home country once the Canadian visa expires.
  • Identity and Civil Status Documents.
  • Police clearances from your home.
  • Medical exam.
  • A cover letter that explains the purpose of your travel to Canada.
  • A Letter of support/invitation to Canada.
Canada Business visa Canada Visitor Visa Canada Work visa Canada Student visa

Canada Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Canada business visa is available for Eritrean business travelers who want to go to Canada with the purposes of doing business with a Canadian company to enter the country and engage in the following activities:
  • Attend meetings.
  • Participate in conferences or workshops.
  • Sign agreements, etc.
  • You must have your own business in a country other than Canada or be an employee of a business registered in a country other than Canada.
  • You must have an income from a place of work that is located in a country other than Canada, so you cannot be an employee in Canada.
  • It is advisable to have a record of respecting other business visas from other countries.
  • You must have proof that you are developing a business relationship with a company in Canada or that you have been invited for a meeting, conference, or workshop.
  • A letter of invitation for Canada visa application from the company you are visiting from the workshop, conference, or trade show organizers.
  • Registration documents of the company you work for.
  • A letter from your employer stating your job title, salary, and the reason why you are visiting Canada;
  • Registration documents from the Canadian company which has invited you to Canada.
  • A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a visa.

Canada Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Canadian tourist visa allows Eritrean tourists to visit Canada for the purpose of tourism and leisure.
  • A Canadian tourist visa is also known as the Canadian visitor visa or Canadian temporary resident visa (TVR). 
  • The Canada tourist visa is valid for a maximum period of six months.
  • The Canada tourist visa is of two types:
  • Single entry visa
  • Multiple entry visa
  • Both the visas are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.
  • The single entry visa allows the visa holder to enter Canada just once.
  • After the visa holder leaves Canada, except for traveling to the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon, he or she will need a new visa to enter Canada again.
  • If the tourist is traveling to the United States (including its territories and possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon, he or she will not need a new visitor visa to return to Canada.
  • A multiple entry visa allows a visitor to come and go from Canada for six months at a time, without having to reapply each time.
  • The multiple entry visa can be valid for up to 10 years, or one month before the visa holder’s passport expires, whichever happens first.
  • A Canada visa letter of invitation from your family or friends if you are visiting them.
  • The immigration statuses of your family or friends if you are visiting them.
  • Bank statements or other financial statements of your friends or family if you are visiting them.
  • A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a Tourist visa.
  • Your employment or education status through a resume or diplomas, as well as a letter from your employer stating that you have contractual obligations to fulfill and you must return to your home country.
  • Proof that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your visit is over, such as a lease, property deed, and so on.
  • Proof that you do not plan to work or study in Canada.
  • Court documents that prove you have a clean criminal history.

Canada Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This is a visa issued to Eritrean citizens are craving to work in Canada for a period of time.
  • Eritreans can work in Canada on a temporary basis but they will require a work permit.
  • An offer of employment from a Canadian employer is usually required before the worker may be granted a Temporary Work Permit by the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
  • Depending on the foreign worker's country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also be needed in order to enter Canada.
  • Before a Temporary Work Permit can be issued, the Canadian employer who wishes to hire a temporary foreign worker may need to apply for and be granted a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) by ESDC.
  • The ESDC will grant a positive LMIA if it is satisfied that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do the job.
  • Work Permits may be issued by Canadian immigration officials without the LMIA requirement in a limited number of situations.
  • Once the LMIA is granted, the Canadian employer can provide a temporary job offer to the foreign worker.
  • A Temporary Work Permit may be issued for a period of time ranging from a few days to a few years.
  • The maximum amount of time you can work temporarily in Canada with all extensions is 4 years.
  • In most cases, the process of applying for a Work Permit is two-fold.
  • First, the Canadian employer must receive government permission to hire outside Canada.
  • Once this permission has been granted, the designated employee must apply for and receive his or her Work Permit.

Canada Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Canada student visa is a combination of either a visitor visa and a study permit or an eTA and a study permit.
  • This student permit also serves as a Canadian student visa for the duration of your stay.
  •  The study permit allows you to stay in Canada until your program ends and in some cases work while you are enrolled in school or work after you graduate. To keep the Canada study visa, you must fulfill these conditions:
  • Always be enrolled in a DLI.
  • Be working to complete your study program.
  • Meet the requirements of the student visa.
  • Stop studying if you do not meet the requirements of the student visa.
  • Leave Canada immediately once your study permit expires.
  • Your passport scan to prove that it is valid.
  • Your travel history, meaning your whole passport scanned to also prove that you have blank pages in it.
  • Letters from the court and police in your country to prove you have a clean criminal record;
  • A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a visa and study permit.
  • Two photos that meet the Canada Photo Requirements of 35mm x 45mm.
  • Medical examinations.
  • Your employment or education status through a resume or diplomas.
  • If you are going to study in Quebec, then you will also need to submit a Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ) which is issued by the Quebec government. You will get the instructions from your school on how to apply for a CAQ.
  • You must submit a letter of explanation saying why you want to study in Canada and guaranteeing that you accept and understand your responsibilities as a student in Canada.
  • If a minor is going to Canada to study and need a custodian that is not a parent of the minor, then you also need to submit a Custodian Declaration Form which states who the custodian of the child is and must be signed by the parents or legal guardians of the child.
  • If you are applying for the first time, then a document number on the study permit that is called a Unique Client Identifier (UCI) is not required for you. If you have applied for a study permit before, you are required to write your study permit document number which you can find in any letters that have been sent to you by the Canadian Government.
  • If your family members (spouse or common-law partner and minor children) are also accompanying you, you must also have the application forms ready for them and apply together as a family.
  • You will also need to make sure you have enough money to pay for transportation to return home.
  • All the documents must be translated into English or French and you must have certifications and proof that the translation is correct.

Canada Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Business visa

150.00 (USD)

Visitor Visa

150.00 (USD)

Work visa

150.00 (USD)

Student visa

150.00 (USD)

Canada Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Eritrea

Location

Address

Asmara

Canadian Honorary Consulate in Asmara, Eritrea Warsay Street, House #87/89 P.O. Box 3962 Asmara Eritrea

mkcca@ctscom.er

(+291) (1) 18 19 40, (+291) (1) 18 64 90

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medical examination compulsory before applying for Canadian visa?
If the duration of your visit is six months or less:
Generally, no medical examination is required. However, a medical examination is required if you intend to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential.
If the duration of your visit is more than six months, You will need a medical examination if:
you have resided or stayed temporarily for six or more consecutive months in a designated country or territory in the one year immediately preceding the date you sought entry into Canada. This applies even if you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to enter Canada.
you are coming to Canada to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential.
you are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
Why is Canada open its door to foreigners all around the world?

Canada has one of the world's lowest birth rates and an aging population, it needs immigrants to contribute to her economic activity. Otherwise, as the Conference Board of Canada's research shows, the country's labour force will shrink and economic growth will be hindered.

Is it safe to visit Canada?

Canada is very safe, especially for tourists. Crime in Canada is very minimal and seem non-existent. However, like any other places in the world, you have to be careful when dealing with people.

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