The visitor class is the most straightforward of the temporary resident classes. It includes travellers, tourists, vacationers, and family members and friends of Canadians who wish to come here for short periods of time. The foreign national must satisfy the officer that he will comply with all the restrictions imposed by the visitor visa. Generally, visitors are not allowed to work or study in Canada unless they are authorized to do so under the IRP Regulations.

There are exceptions to this rule. Certain categories of workers do not require work permits to work in Canada (for example, business workers under NAFTA) and, in certain circumstances, visitors are allowed to study in Canada without first obtaining a study permit (for example, taking a program such as English if it is less than six months in duration).

There are four types of visitor visas:

• Single-entry visa
• Multiple-entry visa
• Transit visa
• Super Visa