What's the difference between a Canadian maple leaf card and a Canadian visa? Seek expert answers

Canadian maple leaf card refers to immigrants, that is, to obtain permanent residency in Canada. Maple leaf card is valid for 5 years. As long as you have lived in Canada for two years within five years, you can automatically get an extension for the next five years. Holding a maple leaf card can enjoy the same rights as Canadian citizens in study and employment, and can enter and leave Canada indefinitely. But maple leaf card does not mean that it is a citizen and does not have the right to join the army and participate in politics. You still need a China passport to enter or leave the country, and you are still a citizen of China, enjoying all the rights of China citizens in China.

A visa is an entry permit for Canada. In addition to visa-free countries (such as citizens of developed countries such as the United States and Britain), citizens of other countries (including China) must obtain visas to enter Canada without a maple leaf card. Once you enter Canada, the role of a visa is over. The length of your stay in Canada depends on the validity of the permits you have obtained (such as study permit, work permit and temporary visit permit) rather than the validity of the visa.