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Coming to WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Competitor, Delegate, Exhibitors and Observers - Canadian Immigration Information

As WorldSkills Calgary 2009 approaches, organizers have been working closely with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to make it as easy as possible for all participants to gain entry to the country whether or not a visa is required.

Countries Requiring Visas
In order to facilitate the processing of visas for WorldSkills Calgary 2009 participants, CIC Offices in the participating countries require that each participant be provided with a designation letter confirming his/her status as a member of that countries team.
This letter should:
• bear the letterhead of the WorldSkills member organization in the home country (or organization representing WorldSkills in that country)
• indicate whether the individual is a participant (include area of competition), a technical translator, an expert, judge, or other delegate
• be signed by the person responsible in the member organization with the name of the responsible person printed clearly beside the signature

Participants must include this letter with their application for a Temporary Resident Visa (please note a Visitor Visa is known as a Temporary Resident Visa in Canada).

Citizens of the following countries and territories require a Visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada:

A
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
C
Cambodia
Republic of Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China, People's
Republic of
Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic
Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the
Costa Rica
Cuba
Czech Republic
D
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
E
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
F
Fiji
G
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
Honduras
I
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli "Travel Document in lieu of National Passport")
Ivory Coast
J
Jamaica
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania (holders of non-biometric passports only)
M
Macao S.A.R.
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives Islands
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia, Fed. States
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
N
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Authority
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland (holders of non-biometric passports only)
Q
Qatar
R
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
S
Sao Tomé e Principe
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Syria
T
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
U
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Y
Yemen
Z
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Countries Not Requiring Visas
Participants from countries that do not require visas to enter Canada should also have a letter in their possession when they travel containing the same information noted above that they can present to the Port of Entry officer when they arrive in Canada, confirming their status as a WorldSkills Calgary 2009 participant, delegate or visitor.

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:
• Citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;
• Persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;
• British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;
• Citizens of British dependent territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• Persons holding a British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
• Persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China;
• Persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See
 

All Participants
All participants must be in possession of a valid passport.
All participants should print a copy of the attached letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada and carry it with their travel documents so that they can present to the Port of Entry officer on arrival in Canada if required.

Click for English letter

Click for French letter

Other General Information

Permanent residents or citizens of the United States require a valid passport or visa to enter Canada as of June 1, 2009. In addition, participants who are not Canadian and carrying special goods or equipment in hand or checked luggage may need to be be in possession of a copy of the letter from Canada Customs to facilitate their entry into Canada.

Nationals of other countries may engage in exhibiting or displaying goods without a work permit from Citizenship & Immigration providing they are not selling to the general public. Direct sales to the public at large require a work permit.

If you have been convicted of a criminal offense, you must contact the Canadian Embassy in your area or check the website below, to confirm requirements for entry into Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/faq-inadmissibility.asp.

Here are two appropriate links from the CIC website that outlines the most up-to-date requirements and lists what countries and territories require visas (TRV) in order to enter Canada as visitors.

• What delegates need to know about Canada's visa and entry requirements:
  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/meeting.asp
• Visa's: Countries and territories whose citizens require visa's in order to enter Canada as visitors: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

These links are also available in French under the Français portion of the CIC website:
http://cic.gc.ca/

Some highlights are:

All visitors will require a valid passport or an appropriate travel document

The process for applying for a Visa are outlined in the "What delegates need to know" document

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Recognition of WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Letter from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)(Customs)

For reference, use and possible need to print and bring with you to Canada to attend the WSC2009 Event we have appended the letter WSC2009 has received from CBSA that recognizes the Event and outlines the various requirements re shipping goods and for people attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

• CBSA Recognition Letter

Highlights include:

• 1. Goods entering Canada for sale, free distribution or consumption may be subject to regular customs duties and taxes
• 2. Confirms North American Logistics Services as the "Official Customs Broker" and gives contact information
• 3. CBSA recommends that all participants who are not Canadian should print and have a copy of this letter with them when they enter Canada
• 4. Skill Competitors that are carrying equipment or toolboxes arriving with them should present a copy of this letter to the customs officer when they enter Canada along with the completed Inventory Control Sheet (please refer to FAQ in Customs and Immigration section regarding hand carried goods. FAQ #2)
• 5. Exhibitors (Nationals of other countries) may engage in exhibiting goods do not require a work permit.
• 6. Exhibitors (Nationals of other countries) who sell to the public at large require a work permit.
• 7. Exhibitors that carry items for display, give-a-away or sale will require to follow the process outlined in point 4 above.

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FAQs

1. Are there any US Visa requirements I need to comply with if I travel through the USA to the WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Event?

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2. What do I need to do or my Competitors need to do that bring (i.e. personally carry or accompany them as checked baggage)toolboxes or tools with them when they enter Canada to ensure they have no issues coming through Customs Services in Canada?