Within the Temporary Resident Visas there is also a category which allows pregnant women to go to Canada for the sole purpose of giving birth. This visa does not prohibit women to enter Canada just because they are pregnant and the officials evaluating the application take into account the pregnancy but do not use it as a criterion to deny someone’s visa.
This article will go through the visa for temporary resident persons wishing to enter Canada for the purpose of giving birth and its relevant information.
What is the Visa for Giving Birth in Canada?
The visa for women to give birth in Canada is a simple Temporary Resident Visa. There are no differences in the procedures or what is allowed, except for the fact that the woman might or will be giving birth in Canada.
This visa is temporary, usually valid for 6 months of less. It allows women to go to Canada to visit family, friends, or travel, but at the same time go to a hospital and seek assistance in giving birth. It does not allow the woman to claim medical and social benefits given to Canadian citizens. It also does not allow the woman to stay permanently in Canada, apply for citizenship, or try to apply for Canadian issued documents.
It only allows the woman to go to the hospital and pay for the treatment to give birth. Once she gives birth, the child automatically becomes a Canadian citizen and may claim a Canadian passport even if the parents are not residents or citizens.
What are the Visa Eligibility Criteria for Giving Birth in Canada for Non-residents?
In order to qualify to get a visa which allows a woman to go to Canada to give birth, there are certain requirements that she must fulfill. These requirements are not different from the requirements of a Visitor Visa.
The reason for this is that the Canadian Consulate does not consider women who are pregnant as special cases for visa applications. The fact that an applicant is pregnant, unless it is medically dangerous, cannot make a woman ineligible for a Canadian Visa. Because of this, the requirements for this are as follows:
- The eligibility requirements for all Temporary Resident Visas.
- Have enough funds to pay for your hospital stay to give birth.
- Be ready to go through a medical examination if the Canadian Consulate asks you to. For this visa it is usually not required unless you have a high-risk pregnancy.
If you do not meet these requirements, the Canadian Consulate will require further proof and will give you a chance to submit more documents to convince them that they should give you a visa.
What Are the Documents Required for the Canada Visa for Giving Birth?
Within the application page, you will also have to submit the following supporting documents:
- The mandatory Canada visa documents.
- Your bank or other financial statements to prove you have enough funds for the trip to Canada and the stay in the hospital to give birth.
- A travel itinerary if you have already booked your flight tickets, or just a description of what you plan to do once in Canada, so you can state that you plan to give birth.
- A letter of invitation from your family or friends if applicable.
- A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a visa for the purpose of giving birth in Canada;
- Two (2) photos that meet the Canada Photo Requirements.
In addition, if you have documents in any other language except for English or French, you must translate them. The translation must be verified by a certified translator.
How to apply for the visa for giving birth in Canada?
If you are coming to Canada to give birth, then you must apply for the visa. The application process is not much different from a visitor visa, but there are several steps you must follow.
- Confirm your eligibility for the Canada visa for the Purpose of giving Birth.
- Submit the documents required for a Canada visa for giving birth.
- Submit the application.
- Wait for processing and respond to additional requests for information.
- Send your passport for stamping.
It is recommended that you state that you are pregnant somewhere in your application. If you try to hide your pregnancy because you do not know whether they will give you the visa, then the Canadian Consulate can deny your visa because you were not truthful. They call this a misrepresentation of yourself.
So, in your Declaration Letter or any place in the application forms where they ask you for the reason why you want to go to Canada, you can state that you want to visit Canada but that you are also pregnant.
Also, in the forms where it asks whether you have a medical condition, you can state “No” because pregnancy does not qualify as a medical condition according to the Canadian Government.
Once you submit all the documents, you can then proceed to submit the application. After that, you will have to pay the visa application fee and your application will be completed.
What are the fees for this visa to give birth in Canada?
The fees for the visa to give birth in Canada are the same as all Temporary Resident Visas. You will have to pay CAD$100 for the application and an additional CAD$85 if you have to give your biometric information. Finally, if your visa is approved, you will have to pay around CAD$45 for the passport processing.
What is the processing time for this visa?
Depending on the workload of the Canadian Consulate, you might have to wait from 1 week to around 5 or 6 weeks for your visa to be processed and for them to let you know whether you got the visa or not. Since you are planning to give birth in Canada, you must apply earlier so as not to be close to your due date if the application processing takes longer.
How long is this visa valid?
As with all Temporary Canada Visas, you can only stay in Canada for 6 months or less with this visa. The Consulate might give you a visa for a longer period and in some cases until your passport expires, but you cannot stay for more than 6 months at a time.
Can I bring my dependents to Canada with this visa?
Since this is a temporary visa, your spouse and other children cannot come with you to Canada with the same visa. They must all apply for the Canada Visitor Visa and you can submit the application together so that the Consulate can process you as a family instead of as individuals.