How can a Dominican visit Canada?

@DominicanadaMike  - as per my reply, my wife was refused based on the "needed" elements. I now await her Permanent Resident Application to be processed. IT has within it an acceptance, for life, of responsibility by myself for my wife, in Canada. AS I discussed with my Member of Parliment, I wondered why Immigration does not have that element included in the "Visitor" VISA and especially where the spouse is Canadian.......no common sense application with bean counters likely overwhelmed in many areas of the world with applications and while in Canada the system is two years behind in processing....as government pushes for refugee intake from hot spots around the world & normal applications keep falling to bottom of the pile.....

Perhaps a few people would be interested in a followup to this 2022 post. I was able to speak with an experienced Canadian immigration attorney, and will share some of what he told me.

I heard that Canadian visitor visas for Dominican citizens do get issued, though most applications are unsuccessful. Successful applications are typically prosperous professionals attending events (conferences, business meetings, weddings, funerals).

The lawyer was skeptical that there is an across the board means test or formula - and he thinks recurring income is a more important factor than bank statements or a property title.

He also noted that a Dominican who wanted to spend a lengthier amount of time in Canada would find a much easier path through a work or student visa. Perhaps an interesting angle for some.

Another thing he said is that an unsuccessful application counts against one in the future.

That's about it.

What a shame! Canadians from all walks of life are permitted to visit the DR without a visa or an invitation. Many overstay illegally, just pay the accumulated exit tax on departure. Where is the reciprocity?

What is good for the goose, is good for the gander.

Thank you for this update!  Good information.

Stealth19  it doesn't work that way at all.  Canada would be completely inundated with people from all over the world which is unsustainable!

Study the reciprocity rule case between Brazil and the USA, after they decided to impose a visa on Brazilian tourist visiting the country.

Before you were born, Dominicans didn’t need a visa to travel to Canada.

Hahahahaha  so you know how old I am?

No reciprocity.  We are talking about 2 very very different countries economically!   

From first hand experience in trying to get a "visitor Visa" to Canada for my wife. You must first go to the Canada Visa Center in Santo Domingo, get an appointment for an interview then do the interview. The results fo that interview and the accompanying paperwork is sent to the Immigration Officer in Mexico City who assesses & decides. Cost for all this is approx $400 Cdn. To be successful: you must have a healthy bank account; own property and prove you have ties int he DR that will ensure will return to the DR. It is extremely hard and frustrating.

Here are some reasons why people are not often approved for visitor visas to Canada:

Canada has a very generous support system, clean public transportation systems, clean roads, clean public bathrooms, garbage pickup, beautiful parks, fresh water lakes, reliable utilities (gas, water, electricity). 

Minimum wage (depending on the province) is $15 an hour. You are entitled to be paid when you are sick. You are not allowed to be fired from your job without alot of warnings and chances to improve. You cannot be forced to work extra hours or on public vacation days.

There are many generous government programs including payments every month when you have children (meant to help clothe and feed them).

When or if you lose your job you get paid by the government, to help you meet expenses until you find another job. They will give you free training (you get paid to go to school) so you can get a really good paying job and learn new skills. FREE

If you suffer with a major illness, like cancer, you will be treated and you dont have to pay for any of it, including the medicine and operations. While free health care is not perfect, you dont have to pay for it. Now dental care for children in lower income families is available.

Its legal to smoke or consume marijuana in candies or cakes and other products. You can buy 100's of varieties and they are in various strengths clearly identified in the packaging. Some provinces are starting to expand this to include other types of drugs (if you have them in your possession in small quantities, you cannot be arrested).

If you live in a city and in most places, utilities come to your home, in underground pipes so you just push a button or turn it on and off.

You cant live out on the street because the weather is too extreme and so alot of events happen indoors and not outside. Ofcourse we have warm weather in summer, but its a huge country, how warm and for how long depends where you live. It is expensive to live in Canada but alot less than Europe.

These are some reasons why people who visit might not return.  Thats why its very difficult.

Also, if you visit and happen to meet a Canadian and get married, guess what, you get to stay and you do not have to return home.

One way to get a visitor visa to Canada is to make sure you can prove you will return home. This means you have a good job, and responsibilities that will want you to return home to your country Republica Dominica. Your employer should give you a letter stating they expect you back to work on a certain date. If you dont have any kind of sponsorship from a friend or relative, this makes it more difficult as you dont have anyone who will guarantee your return (ie, bring you back to the airport and put you on the plane).

Karin