Travel Canada

non-canadians require travel documents

There are 2 types of travel documents non-Canadians can use when travelling and you must be in canada to apply for a travel document:

  • refugee travel document
    • We issue these to protected persons in Canada, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection.
  • certificate of identity
    • We issue these to permanent residents of Canada who either
      • are not protected persons and are stateless or
      • can’t obtain a passport from their country or a travel document from any other sour

The application form is the same for both types of travel documents.

They’re issued to

  • Convention refugees
  • protected persons
  • stateless persons
  • permanent residents of Canada in special circumstances

The issuing office decides how long your travel document is valid for.

Note: You cannot use these travel documents to go to your country of citizenship.

You should contact the embassy of the country you plan to visit (opens in a new tab) to check if your travel document will be accepted.

A visa is an official document, usually stamped or glued inside a passport, giving permission from a foreign authority for you to enter a country.

Visas are issued by foreign government offices in Canada. Contact your destination’s embassy or consulate in Canada well before you plan to leave on your trip to find out if you need a visa to enter the country or stay for a longer period of time. Requirements, fees and processing times vary, depending on the country and type of visa you need. The most common categories are business, work, student and tourist visas.

Remember that representatives from the country to which you are travelling need to see your passport before issuing a visa. If you cannot visit the foreign government office in person and must mail your passport, use secure mail services and enclose a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.