Description of Canadian Temporary Resident Visas

Temporary Resident Visas issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada are coded according to the purpose of travel to Canada or, sometimes, according to the type of passport. To better understand the different types of temporary resident visas, please consult the table below.

Type of Visa Definition

V-1 Visitor visa allowing normal tourist entry.

PG-1 Parent and Grandparent Super Visa

B-1 Business visitor exempt from the requirement to obtain a Work Permit.

W-1 Worker visa.

WX-1 Worker exempt from the requirement to obtain a Work Permit. This type of visa covers work or work-related activities such as training, conference speakers, and so forth, for which a Work Permit is not required.

S-1 Student visa.

SW-1 Student visa with a work permit.

SX-1 Student exempt from the requirement to obtain a study permit.

VH-1 Visitor in transit through Canada for less than 48 hours.

C-1 Courtesy visa.

D-1 Diplomatic visa.

O-1 Official visa.

Long-term Business Visitor Visas (B-1) can subsequently be used by travellers for further entry to Canada for business visits and for tourism as long as the visa is valid