Visiting Canada
Do I need a visa if I am traveling through Canada without stopping or visiting?
Canada requires the citizens of certain countries and territories to have visas when they enter Canada. If you need a visa to visit Canada, then you will need a transit visa to travel through Canada without stopping or visiting. You will need a transit visa even if you stop in Canada for less than 48 hours. To find out if your country is on this list, see list of countries.
There is no fee for a transit visa http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/visit/visit-faq02.asp A Transit Visa is a type of Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) required by anyone from a non-visa-exempt country who is travelling through Canada to another country and whose flight will stop in Canada for less than 48 hours. There is no cost for a transit visa but the application process is the same as that for the TRV.
How to Apply for a Transit Visa
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) has three types: single entry, multiple entry and transit. To apply for any one of these types of TRV, fill out the two-page application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada (download PDF document) or call the nearest Canada Visa Office. At the top of the application, you will choose the box named "Transit." Gather the necessary documents and mail in or take the application to a Canada Visa Office.
You will not have to include a payment as the Transit Visa is free. When to Apply for a Transit Visa for Canada?
Apply for a transit visa for Canada at least 30 days in advance of your departure or allow eight weeks if mailing it in. Good to Know about Applying for a Transit Visa for Canada
Visitors must apply for a transit visa for Canada from their country of residence. You may not apply for a visa upon your arrival in Canada. Unless told otherwise, travel agents or cruise lines will not take care of your transit visa - it is your responsibility.
Best Advice: Call a Canada Visa Office in your country or your tour operator with any questions long before your departure.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/moscow.asp - Canadian visa office, Moscow, Russia
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