Temporary Residence: Work, Study and Play in Canada! But don’t over-stay…

Temporary residents in Canada are broadly divided into three main categories: visitors, students, and workers. 

Whether you’re coming to visit work or to study, there is one overarching thing to remember if you are interested in applying for a temporary status in Canada; first and foremost, all temporary residents must demonstrate an intention to leave at the end of their period of authorized stay.  

For visitors, particularly those requiring a visitor visa, this may mean having a return ticket, travel itinerary, and strong ties to their country of residence.  In other words, a job, a home, or a family to return to.  Visitor visas can be very difficult to get where an applicant has strong family ties to Canada and weak ties to their country of residence.  Something an applicant can do to demonstrate their intention to leave is include all details of their connection to their country of origin: a letter from their employer or school saying they’re expected back at a certain time, a letter from their spouse or long-time partner expressing their expectation that the applicant will return to help care for their family, and even proof that the applicant owns property in their country of residence. 

For students, demonstrating this intention to leave means mapping out a study plan which explains how obtaining a Canadian educational credential will improve their employment prospects and career in their country of origin.  Expressing their intention to return upon graduation if no further temporary status or permanent residence is obtained can be crucial to a study permit application.  Again, for applicants with strong family ties to Canada, study permits can be difficult to obtain.

For workers, there can be more leniency with regards to the intention to leave.  Part of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations allows for something called “dual intention” when entering Canada.  Technically, it does apply to both visitors and students, but in my experience is more readily accepted with workers.  Essentially it allows temporary residents to hold both the intention to enter Canada on a temporary basis, intending to leave at the conclusion of their period of authorized stay, AND hold the intention to regularize their stay as permanent residents.  The core thing is to prove to the decision maker that, in the event that a permanent residence application is not successful, the applicant will leave Canada.