Before entering Canada, most foreign nationals must apply for and receive a visa or other authorization. This section establishes the legal requirement to apply from outside Canada — critical for visitors, workers, and students.
(1)A foreign national must, before entering Canada, apply to an officer for a visa or for any other document required by the regulations. The visa or document may be issued if, following an examination, the officer is satisfied that the foreign national is not inadmissible and meets the requirements of this Act.
(b)if they have made an application for protection, until five years after the day on which a final determination in respect of the application is made; or
(c)in any other case, until five years after the day on which they become a designated foreign national.
11.1 [Repealed, 2015, c. 36, s. 170]
11.2 (1) An officer may not issue a visa or other document in respect of an application for permanent residence to a foreign national who was issued an invitation under Division 0.1 to make that application if — at the time the invitation was issued or at the time the officer received their application — the foreign national(a) did not meet the criteria set out in an instruction given under paragraph 10.3(1)(e);(b) did not have the qualifications on the basis of which they were ranked under an instruction given under paragraph 10.3(1)(h) and were issued the invitation; or(c) did not meet the criteria for membership in a category that was established in an instruction given under paragraph 10.3(1)(h.2), if they were issued an invitation on the basis that they were eligible to be a member of that category.