Canada is a home of opportunities. The opportunities there are not always for only the citizens. There are also a lot of opportunities that are opened to foreigners, and even some of these opportunities are usually through fully funded visa programs.
Here, employers and institutions in Canada sponsor qualifying foreigners to come over to Canada to work or study. These fully funded visa programs usually come from time to time every year. And many people usually benefit and have been able to move to Canada through the program.
Moving to Canada is not a child’s play, as it involves a lot of things including visa costs, travel expenses, accommodation, and a whole of others. However, through a fully funded travel visa, you can easily get to Canada without paying all these, as the sponsoring institution or establishments are going to take care of every cost.
If you would like to move to Canada with a fully funded visa, then continue reading this content as we are going to give you every guideline you may need.
What is a Fully Funded Travel Visa?
When we talk of fully funded travel visa, it means you are getting a visa without having to cover most of the costs yourself. This kind of visa usually comes with financial support from a third party like a Government body, educational institution, organization, or even a private sponsor.
When you get this funded travel visa, you will no more need to worry about how to pay for your visa fees, flight tickets, accommodation, or even day-to-day living expenses in Canada; as someone else handles that for you. That’s why it is called fully funded.
Who Gives Fully Funded Travel Visa in Canada
Just as said before, there is no type of visa that is called a fully funded travel visa in the Canada visa system. It is called fully funded when an institution, organization, or establishment pays for a specific type of visa for a specific type of person. Let’s look at those that mostly give fully funded travel visas in Canada.
1. Canadian Universities and Colleges
There are a lot of universities and educational institutions in Canada that regularly offer scholarships with fully funded travel visas to qualifying foreign students to come over to study in Canada.
This means that the scholarships usually come with a fully funded travel visa, including other things like monthly stipends, health insurance, return flight tickets, and so on.
2. Government and International Organizations
There are some Government programs that also offer fully funded travel visas to Canada. Some of these programs are: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship, and so on. These programs usually provide fully paid offers for foreigners to study, research, or work in Canada.
3. Employers Offering Jobs with Visa Sponsorship
In some cases, employers, companies or private establishments in Canada also hire skilled workers from abroad and cover the cost of the work visa, flight, and sometimes temporary accommodation. For instance, if you get a job as a healthcare worker, IT specialist, or truck driver, your employer might be the one to take care of your travel and living expenses.
4. NGOs and Charities
There are also several NGOs in Canada that regularly offer fully funded travel visa for some events, humanitarian missions, or volunteer programs in Canada.
So, Is This Visa Free?
It doesn’t mean the visa is free. It is not actually free. Rather, it’s just because another person is paying the cost for you. That’s why some people call it a free visa, but the right name is a fully funded visa.
How to Get the Fully Funded Travel Visa to Canada
Now that we have explained what a fully funded travel visa is all about, let’s now look at how to go about it if you want to get the fully funded travel visa.
Everyone wants to move to Canada for free if possible. But it’s not just about mere wishing for it. You need to know where the opportunity is, when the opportunity is open, how to apply, steps and actions to take, and so on.
1. Define Your Purpose
The Canada fully funded travel visas come with a specific purpose. There is one for those that want to study in Canada; there is one for those that want to work in Canada; there is one for those who want to go to conferences, and so on.
Before you start your step in looking for a fully funded travel visa in Canada, you need to first define what you are going there to do. this will determine which opportunity to apply for.
2. Research for Available Offer
Now that you have a specific reason that you want to go to Canada, you can now proceed to find any available program that is offering a fully funded travel visa for your specific purpose.
You can search this online just as you are doing here, or check some career websites like LinkedIn.com, and so on. If you know a specific institution offering the fully funded travel visa, then you can always check their official website as they might always publish the offer there.
3. Prepare Your Documents
Now that you have found an open offer to apply for, you can then prepare your documents. Check to know the kinds of documents they require of you, and then put them together.
4. Submit Your Application
Now that you have put all the required documents together, you can now go and submit your application. Sometimes they may require you to submit your application through their email; while some may require you to submit the application directly on their website.
6. Attend Your Visa Interview
Some applicants will be invited for an interview at the Canadian Visa Application Centre (VAC) or embassy. Not all applicants are interviewed, but if you are, go with confidence.
Try as much as possible þo be honest and consistent with your documents.
Types of Canadian Visa
Canada has a very structured immigration system, and the visa you will apply for depends on what you are going there to do. Whether you are planning to study, work, visit, or move permanently, there is a visa type made just for that purpose. Let’s look at some of the types.
1. Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
This is the most common one for tourists or anyone planning a short visit to Canada.
If you are attending a conference, going for a vacation, or visiting family and friends, this is the visa you need. Some people mostly call it a Canada tourist visa, but the official name is Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
In most cases, it is usually valid for up to 6 months. And may not allow you to work or study for a long-term.
For people applying under fully funded conferences or short-term programs, this is the visa that serves for you.
2. Study Permit (Canadian Student Visa)
Dreaming of studying in Canada? Then what you need is the Canada Study Permit.
This visa allows you to study full-time in Canada. Most students who go on fully funded scholarships or sponsored academic programs apply under this visa category.
This type of visa is valid for the duration of your study program and can also allow you to work part-time even while you study.
There are a lot of Universities in Canada that regularly offer this type of visa on their sponsorship programs. Some of such universities are: University of Toronto, UBC, McGill, and so on.
3. Work Permit (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)
This type of visa is usually for skilled foreign professionals going to work in Canada.
If you are hired by a Canadian employer who is willing to sponsor you, then you will have to apply for a Canada work visa or work permit.
There are different types of work permits, depending on the job and employer, but the two major categories are: Open Work Permit which allows you to work for any employer. And Employer-Specific Work Permit which allows you to work for only one employer
4. Express Entry (Permanent Residency – PR)
The Express Entry system is Canada’s flagship immigration program for skilled workers. Unlike a temporary visa, this one is for people who want to live, work, and settle in Canada permanently.
If you are selected, you will get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency. This visa is the path to becoming a Canadian citizen eventually.
Conclusion
The fully funded travel visa to Canada can be a great way to get into Canada without having to spend anything. The sponsoring institution is going to pay for the visa cost and every other cost for you to come over to Canada.
Some of those that usually offer this fully funded travel visa are educational institutions, companies, employers, NGOs, and so on. The sponsorship could be for those that want to study in Canada, work in Canada, go to an event in Canada, and so on.
Whatever one is the reason you want to come to Canada, you just need to identify available sponsorship programs for it, and apply. Luckily you might be selected.