I always encourage my readers to get their US visa at some point. Having a US visa will open up many doors. Of course, you can travel to the US, but you can also travel to 30+ countries VISA-FREE with US visa.
But, many fear that the US visa is the most difficult to get.
Well, there is an alternative – CANADA VISA.
Canada visa is the second best visa. You can travel 20+ countries VISA-FREE with Canada visa.
The best thing about Canada visa is that there is NO VISA INTERVIEW.
The US visa interview process is frightening to many. If you have been to one, you would know what I mean. The high security at the consulate, lining up in the street outside the building, intimidating visa officers, questions that you were not prepared for, and the list goes on.
If you do not have a US consulate in your city, you have to travel to the nearest city where the US consulate is. The visa fee itself is quite steep and on top of that, these travel expenses can add up.
Why should you get a Canada tourist visa?
Though Canada visa doesn’t offer as much VISA-FREE travel as the US visa, Canada visa has its own advantages.
- Canada visa application has no visa interview.
- Canada tourist visa is also a long-term visa. Usually issued for 10 years or until the expiration of your passport.
- The fee for Canada tourist visa is much lesser. It’s only $100 CAD.
- India and China passport holders can even take advantage of the CAN+ expedited program.
- Last but not the least, Canada itself is a beautiful country. Have you ever seen the pictures of Banff National Park? Just Google it. It’s spectacular. That’s just one example. The country is vast, diverse and a nature lover’s paradise. It’s also culturally diverse and the people are the most polite in the world.
Which Canada visas are eligible?
The following Canada visas can be used
- Canada tourist visa (also called Canada TRV)
- Canada student visa
- Canada work visa
- Canada permanent resident card
Some countries require the Canada visa to be multiple entries and have been used at least once to travel to Canada.
So, without further due, let’s jump into the list.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about Canada tourist visa
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North America
English Bay, Vancouver, Canada
01. Canada
- Of course!
02. Mexico
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 180 days
- More info: Consulate of Mexico in Washington DC, USA, Consulate of Mexico in Toronto, Canada and Consulate of Mexico in India
Also Read: How to travel 30+ countries VISA-FREE with US visa
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Central America
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama
03. Guatemala
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala and Embassy of India in Guatemala
04. Honduras
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador on CA-4
05. El Salvador
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador on CA-4
06. Costa Rica
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada and Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
07. Panama
- Applies to all nationalities
- Canada visa must be valid for at least one year from the date of arrival
- Canada visa must have been used at least once to enter Canada before
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Panama in the USA and Consulate of Panama in Toronto, Canada
Also Read: 14 ways to get a travel itinerary for visa application
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Caribbean
Aruba
08. Bahamas
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bahamas.com and TIMATIC database for India passport holders
09. Cuba
- Applies to all nationalities
- Must hold the Tourist Card, which can be obtained from Cuban embassies, authorized airlines and travel agencies
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: IATA Travel Center and TIMATIC Web and Go Cuba
10. Dominican Republic
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Dominican Republic in the UK, Embassy of Dominican Republic in the US and Internal Revenue Department
11. Sint Maarten
- Applies to Bolivia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Peru passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Government of Sint Maarten
12. Antigua and Barbuda
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda and Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda in NYC
13. Aruba
- Applies to Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Peru passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Visit Aruba
14. Curaçao
- Applies to China, Dominican Republic and India passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Curaçao Tourism and Netherlands and You
Also Read: 10 mistakes that can get your visa denied. And how to avoid them
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South America
Valparaíso, Chile
15. Peru
- Applies to India and China passport holders only
- Canada visa must have been granted for at least 6 months
- Entry up to 180 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru and Embassy of India in Lima, Peru
16. Chile
- Applies to China passport holders only
- Canada visa must be tourist visa only (student, work visa or residence permit are not eligible)
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Consulate General of Chile, Washington DC and Chile Ministry of Exterior
Also Read: What to pack for international travel
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Europe
Big Ben, London, England
17. Georgia
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
18. Macedonia
- Applies to all nationalities
- The visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
- Entry up to 15 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia
19. United Kingdom
- Applies to all nationalities
- Must be in transit to/from Canada only and must have an onward ticket within 24 hours
- Available at Heathrow airport only
- Entry for 24 hours only
- More info: Heathrow Arrivals and UK Gov – Check Visa
Also Read: 15 ways to research visa requirements for any country
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Middle East
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman
20. Qatar
- Applies to all nationalities
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then avail Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Qatar Tourist Authority and Ministry of Foreign Interior, Qatar
21. Oman
- Applies to the following passport holders only
- Visa in NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eVisa
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
FREE eBook: How to travel 56 countries VISA-FREE with a visa from US, Canada, UK, Schengen, Australia, etc.
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Asia
Abra, Philippines
22. Taiwan
- Applies to Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam passport holders only
- Visa is EXEMPT but must apply online for Republic of China Travel Authorization Certificate (Valid for 90 days) before arrival
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
23. Philippines
- Applies to only India and China passport holders
- Entry up to 14 days for India passport holders
- Entry up to 7 days for China passport holders
- A 7 day extension is possible
- More info: Embassy of Philippines in Singapore and Embassy of Philippines in India
24. South Korea
- Applies to all nationalities except Afghanistan, Cuba, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia, Nigeria, Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Yemen
- Must be in transit to reach Canada as final destination
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Republic of Korea Visa Portal and Hi Korea (e-Government for Foreigners)
25. Singapore
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Must be traveling to or from India
- Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
- Entry up to 96 hours
- More info: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Also Read: What is Visa on Arrival and how to get it successfully every time
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VISA-FREE travel with Canada Residence Permit (Permanent Resident Card)
If you have been living in Canada and hold your Residency Permit (Permanent Resident Card), you can also travel VISA-FREE to these additional countries.
01. Aruba
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Visit Aruba
02. Bahamas
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bahamas.com, Consulate General of Bahamas in Washington DC and Nassau Paradise Island
03. Curaçao
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Curaçao Tourism and Netherlands and You
04. Sint Maarten
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Government of Sint Maarten
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There you have it! List of 20+ countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa. If you don’t have a Canada visa already, it’s time to apply for one and add another 20+ to your list of VISA-FREE countries.
Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) that offers visa exemption for Canada visa holders? Let me know in the comments below.
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Great post again Thirumal. I hold a US B1/B2 visa as well as a Canadian PR. Are there any countries which I can access with my Canadian PR that are not accessible by just a US B1/B2 visa?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. You can access all countries with your US B1/B2 that you can access with your Canadian PR.
I have a Canadian student visa. Can I travel to any country using my student visa? Btw I’m from India.
Hi Azhar! Most countries in this list accept Canadian student visas. Do you know which country you are planning to travel? I can give you specific information for that country.
Sir, I am having a Canada visa for 10 years. How many countries I can travel without a visa?
Hi Manish! You can travel to most of the countries listed in this article. If you let me know your passport, I can provide you with the exact list.
Dear Manish,,
Could you please tell me if I have a Canadian PR am I eligible for the travel to US without any American visa?
Thank you,
Hi Leili! Unfortunately, the answer is “no”. You would still need a US visa to visit the US. Only, Canada passport holders are visa exempt for the US.
Dear Sir,
I am an Indian citizen and I have a Canadian TRV visa for 10 years. Can you please list countries where I can travel absolutely without Visa.
Best regards.
All the countries mentioned in this article EXEMPT visa for Canadian TRV holders, except Qatar, Oman and Taiwan. You would need to apply for eTA for Qatar and Taiwan and eVisa for Oman.
Applying for eTA (Qatar and Taiwan) is quite simple and the approval is immediate. You just have to enter your flight details, hotel details and your Canada visa details.
Hi,
I am from Iran and have Canada visitor visa..
Would you please advise me if I can enter UK with CA visitor visa?
Hi Forough! If you traveling to Canada via the UK, then yes, you can enter the UK for up to 24 hours using your CA visitor visa. The entry will be granted for 24 hours only. You must have the boarding pass to your flight to Canada within 24 hours. This provision is available only at London’s Heathrow airport. The issuance of the entry depends on the discretion of the immigration officers at Heathrow airport.
If you would need to travel to the UK directly or stay in the UK for more than 24 hours, then you would need to secure a UK visa.
Hi,
My parents have Canadian PR Card with Pakistani passport. I live in UK. Do my parents need UK visa to visit me in UK or would they benefit from same on arrival 90 day visa as applicable on Canadian citizens.
Hi Basil! Your parents would still REQUIRE a UK visa to visit you. Canadain PR holders are required to obtain a UK visa prior to their arrival in the UK
Note: With their Canada PR, your parents may request for a 24 hr entry at London’s Heathrow airport if en route Canada via the UK. Granting of 24 hours entry in London depends on the discretion of the immigration officers in Heathrow airport.
Hi Thirumal,
I want to travel in Central America, I have my PR card and my Philippine passport has a US visa in it, do I still need to get visa for the country I want to travel? I’m so confused.
Thanks!
Hi Blue! You can “probably” use your US visa to enter Guatemala and other Central American countries. Lack of official websites and documents from these countries make it harder to research or confirm visa requirements.
But, according to TIMATIC, Philippines passport holders with a visa from Canada, US or Schengen can enter Guatemala for 90 days. Therefore, the airlines will not object you from boarding the flight to Guatemala. Guatemala is not too strict with their visa requirements. Once you land there, they will most probably grant you entry. From there, you can enter the other Central American countries by land.
Oh nice…
This means a lot.
Thank you Thirumal!
Hi,
I have a Bangladesh Passport and i currently hold a valid Canadian Student Visa. I have a flight from Vancouver to Heathrow to Brussels to Entebbe. My layover at Heathrow airport is 19hours. So do I need any visa to get out of the airport and meet family and tour UK in the 19hours that i have?
Kind Regards.
Hi Alam! YES, you REQUIRE a UK tourist visa to leave the Heathrow airport in order to meet friends or tour London.
That being said, with your Canadian visa, you can request a 24-hour visa/entry at Heathrow airport. All my readers who tried have been issued the 24-hour visa/entry at London’s Heathrow airport without any issues.
Remember that the issuance of this 24-hour visa/entry is completely dependent on the discretion of the immigration officers at Heathrow airport. There is no harm in trying. You may also be denied. So be prepared for both scenarios. If you were given entry, then meet your friends or tour London. If not, be prepared to spend those 19 hours in the airport itself.
Hi, Thanks for your reply. Just to be on the safe side, which type of visa should i apply for to get out of the Heathrow airport to tour UK? Is it the Visitor in Transit visa or some other visa? Keeping in mind that i have only 19hrs only.
If you want to leave the airport, then you would need a proper “Tourist” visa. “Visitor in Transit” visa is only if you have to go through the immigration in order to transit, but I’m not sure if you can leave the airport on that visa.
Sir, I have a Canadian TRV visa valid for 10 years. So my question is do I need a transit visa of Germany, Paris or Italy while I’m traveling to Mexico from India??
Hi Jagdish! No, you don’t need a transit visa for Germany, France or Italy.
EXPLANATION: India passport holders DO NOT REQUIRE a transit visa for France and Italy. India passport holders DO REQUIRE a transit visa for Germany but are EXEMPTED if holding a US/Canada visa.
Thank you, sir! As you said we don’t need to get a Mexican visa for traveling while I have Canadian TRV visa valid for 10 years. So my question is do I need any Mexican visa stamp on my passport and how Delhi immigration would know I’m traveling to Mexico because I have just a Canadian visa on my passport.
The immigration officers at Delhi will know that you are going to Mexico by looking at your flight boarding pass. If you have a layover in Frankfurt, then you will have 2 boarding passes. One Delhi-Frankfurt and another Frankfurt-Mexico city. You have to present both of those boarding passes at the passport control in Delhi airport. They will ask you why are you going to Mexico and what is your purpose.
If they ask whether you have a Mexico visa, you can tell them that you don’t need a separate Mexico visa since you already have a Canada TRV.
I have a flight from Delhi to Mexico, but my layover at Frankfurt airport in Germany is 4 hours. I’m not going outside the airport so do I need a transit visa? If yes, then can I get at the Frankfurt airport or do I need to get it from India?
No, you don’t need a transit visa for Germany since you are holding a Canada visa already.
Hey
I have a Chinese passport with a Canadian student visa. Can I go to Cancun, Mexico?
Hi Lee! Yes, you can use your Canadian student visa to travel to Mexico.
Hi, I’m a Thai citizen. And I hold a Canadian study permit visa. Can I travel to Mexico?
Hi Jay! Yes, you can use your Canadian student visa to travel to Mexico.
Hello
You seem to be very knowledgeable.
Iam Indian citizen working in US on EAD/AP( have been in green card line for a while).
I also have a Canadian visitor visa. If I want to got o Costa Rica–Would I need their visa?
Thanks for your reply.
Hi Deepak! You can use your US EAD or Canada visa to travel to Costa Rica. You don’t need to secure a separate visa for Costa Rica.
I have traveled to Costa Rica myself once on US H1B visa and once on Canada visa. At the immigration in Costa Rica, you just present your passport and tell which visa you’ll be using. Probably Canada visa is better in your case as your US EAD will not be in the passport. Good luck and have a great time in Costa Rica!
It’s literally so meaningful for me. Thanks, sir!
One last thing. I’m still looking for my flight to Mexico but all flights have very long layover time around 20 hours. So I wanna ask, would they let me stay at the airport? I mean transit visa? I’m not going outside of the airport but the layover is around 20 hours in Rome.
So I can choose that flight?
A layover of up to 8 hours within the same day is considered as an airside transit. But over 8 hours or departure flight on the next day will have different rules. Airside transit areas in some airports are closed after midnight. I suggest checking with the airline or the airport for specific information.
A quick Google search says that for Frankfurt airport it should be less than 12 hours. I couldn’t find exact info for Rome airport.
okay sir so i finally bought my ticket of Lufthansa airline from delhi to mexico city so firstly i have my layover at frankfut 5h55mins
And on return i have my layover 6h55 at munich franz josef strauss airport.
So i have canadian TRV visa valid for 10 years nd i have gone once to canada last year..don’t i need a mexican visa for traveling ??? And also transit visa for germany??
Good! You don’t need a Mexico visa since you have a Canada visa. You can use your Canada visa to enter Mexico.
You don’t need a transit visa for Germany since you have a valid Canada visa. Good luck and enjoy your trip.