How to get a Canada visa from Mauritius
Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for Mauritian passport holders travelling to Canada.
Visa types & fees
3 visa options for travelling to Canada.
Student visa
Visitor Visa
Work visa
Application requirements
Documents Mauritian applicants need to provide.
- A valid Mauritius passport with at least one blank page and photocopies of the information page
- Appropriately completed and signed application form filled online or on paper
- Two recent passport photographs (35mm x 45mm) with a white or lightly colored background. At the back of the photograph, the applicant’s name, address of where the photograph was taken and the photographer’s stamp and signature must be added
- Proof of paid visa fees
- Proof of financial means( e.g. bank statement)
- Proof that the applicant will not stay beyond the duration of the visa
- Civil status documents
- Police clearance
- Medical report
- Invitation letter
- Letter explaining purpose of travel
- For minors (children below 17 years of age) the following documents are required:
- Valid passport
- A copy of birth certificate
- Letter of authorization signed by both parents or guardians
- Name, address and phone number of the adult that will look after the child in Canada
Visa type details
Visitor Visa
- Visitor visa is also known as temporary resident visa.
- This visa kind is issued to individuals who intend to visit Canada for tourism purposes or to visit their families.
- It is categorized into two entry types
- Single Entry
- Multiple Entry
- The single entry visa is usually valid for 6 months and allows you enter Canada just once.
- The multiple entry visa type is what all applicants are automatically considered for. It is valid for 10 years or a month before your passport expires.
- Note that even though the visa lasts for up to 10 years, this doesn’t mean that you can remain in Canada for 10 years at once. Each visit is of 6 months maximum stay.
- For an extension of visa, it takes 96 days to process application online and 113 days via paper application.
- You are not allowed to work,or take up long study programs with this visa.
- Applicant must be at least 18 years of age before applying for the visa.
- All documents should be translated from other languages into English and French.
- You must provide proof of clean criminal history.
- Documents should be signed and well dated where appropriate.
- A physical interview or bio-metric information might be required.
- A Visa Application center (VAC) consent form should be filled and signed.
- You must prove that you do not plan to work or study in Canada.
- It is possible for one to lose their temporary resident status in Canada if the individual applies for an extension before the visa expires and is refused or they forget to apply for an extension before their visa expires.
- When a person loses their status, they must apply for a restoration within 90 days and should not leave Canada. If the individual leaves Canada they will have to apply for a new-entry on their return.
- Persons awaiting restoration have lost their status and may not continue to work or attend school.
- These are the fees for Canada visitor visa:
- $100 (per person) for both single and multiple entry types
- $500 (family of 5 or more) for both single and multiple entry types
- $100 (for visa extensions)
Work visa
- Temporary work visa is a combination of a temporary resident visa and a work permit.
- Work visa is issued to individuals who want to find an employer in Canada or sign a contract.
- There are two types of work visa
- open work permit
- employer-specific work permit
- The open work permit is not specific to a particular job. It allows an individual work for several employers for as long as the visa is valid
- An open work permit is the only work permit type that allows the individual to change employers at will unless the employer has failed to meet certain government conditions and considered ineligible.
- The validity period of this visa is six months or less and could be completely unrestricted or slightly restricted based on whichever the consulate deems fit.
- To qualify for an open work permit, the following should be noted:
- You must prove that you will not overstay your visa
- You must have a clean criminal record
- You must submit a proof of sufficient funds for the duration of your stay
- You must be willing to accept the permit even if it is restricted
- You must be in good health
- You must submit all the application forms and supporting documents
- The supporting documents includes: passport which must be valid for more than 6 months after planned date of entry into Canada; photocopy of your passport and all its pages; two passport photographs; valid job offer from your employer; proof of current immigration status (if you stay in a country different from your country of citizenship); police record certificates; your resume; your education certificates;
- If you will be working in Quebec, you need a Certificate d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ)
- You will be required to attend a physical interview
- An employer-specific work permit allows an individual to work according to the conditions on the work permit which are: the name of the employer you can work for,how long you can work and the location where you can work.
- If you need to extend your work permit, you must apply for an extension at least 30 days before the expiry date. It is however not possible to extend your permit beyond the expiry date of your passport.
- An extension takes 98 days to be processed when submitted online and 121 days when paper filled.
- The fees for a Canadian work permit are as follows:
- $155 per person including extensions
- $465 for a group of 3 or more people including extensions
- $155 for a new work permit and $200 to restore status
- $100 for an open work permit
Student visa
- The student visa is basically a combination of a visitor visa or an eTA with a study permit
- It is usually valid for the duration of the course of study plus an extra 90 days to prepare to leave or extend the stay
- Canada study visa is granted only to individuals who study at designated learning institutions(DLI)
- All primary and secondary schools in Canada are under DLI but not all universities and higher institutions
- If while attending the institution it loses its DLI status, the individual is allowed to complete the course of study in the institution.
- A minor in Canada does not need a study visa
- To qualify for a Canadian study visa, the following documents must be provided:
- A valid acceptance letter from a DLI printed on the letter headed paper of the institution
- Copy of tuition fee amount, degree that will be obtained and the start and finishing dates of the program
- Court documents to prove clean criminal record
- Proof that you will return to your country after the expiration of your visa
- Travel history
- A valid passport
- A declaration letter written to the Canadian government by the applicant stating why you should be given a visa and a study permit.
- Medical certificate
- A proof of sufficient funds (e.g. bank statement from the last four months, student loan, scholarship)
- There are two types of fund requirements that must be met before a Canadian study visa can be issued: Students studying outside Quebec and students studying in Quebec.
- 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. The institution will provide information on how to apply for a CAQ.
- All the documents must be translated in English and French with proof of the accuracy.
- Study permit costs:
- $155 per person including extensions
- $350 for restoration of status and for a new study permit.
- To process an extension for a study permit,40 days is required for an online application and 112 days for paper submission.
- It is possible to leave and return to Canada for the duration of the visa validity
Where to apply
Canada embassy & visa application centers in Mauritius.
Port Louis
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Tue | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Wed | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Thu | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Fri | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Sat | — | — |
| Sun | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How big is Canada
With Russia on the first spot, Canada is the world’s second biggest country. It has an area of about 9,984,670km² and a population of 35,540,419 (2014 estimate).
Is USD the same as CAD
No. USD is not the same as CAD.
1 USD= 1.32 CAD (USD is short for US dollars and CAD is Canadian dollar)
What is the drinking age in Canada
Which languages are spoken in Canada
There are over 60 indigenous languages spoken in Canada however, only English and French are recognized as the official languages. 56.9% of the people speak English as a mother tongue and 21.3% French. New Brunswick is the only Canadian state that has both English and French speakers in the same proportion.
When is the best time to visit Canada
The weather during the months of September through to November (the fall) are the best times to visit Canada. During that season, the weather is generally comfortable, prices are reduced and crowds are lesser. Although due to the large size of the country, this may not apply to every state.a