加拿大签证类型和贴纸代码

A counterfoil code is the category label printed on your Canadian visa sticker (the counterfoil in your passport). Each code identifies the type of visa you received, such as V-1 for a visitor visa, S-1 for a study permit, or W-1 for a work permit. These same codes appear in the Document Issuance section of your GCMS notes when your visa is approved and printed.

What Is a Counterfoil Code?

When IRCC approves a visa that requires a physical sticker in your passport, they print a counterfoil (also called a visa vignette). This sticker contains your photo, validity dates, number of entries allowed, and a category code. That category code tells border officers what type of visa you hold and under what conditions you can enter Canada.

In your GCMS notes, the counterfoil code appears in the Document Issuance section after approval. For example, if IRCC approved your visitor visa, you will see a reference to ‘Counterfoil Category: V-1’ along with the visa number, validity dates, and the office that printed it. For a full explanation of the Document Issuance section, see our guide on 如何阅读GCMS备忘录.

Complete List of Canadian Visa Counterfoil Codes

Below is the full list of counterfoil codes used on Canadian visas. Each code corresponds to a specific visa type and reason for travel.

Category Code	Description
B-1	Business Visitor
C-1	Courtesy
D-1	Diplomat
F-1	Facilitation Visa
IM-1	Immigrant (Single-Entry Visa for Permanent Residence)
O-1	Official
PA-1	Permit Holder
PAX-1	National Interest Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
PC-1	Permit Holder with Valid TRP
PG-1	Parents or Grandparents Super Visa
R-1	Passed Residency Obligation
RA-1	Presence at Appeal
RC-1	Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) Approval – PR Travel Document
RX-1	Attendance at a PR Hearing (within 365 days of previous presence)
S-1	Student with Study Permit
SW-1	International Student with Study & Work Permit
SX-1	Student Exempt from Study Permit Requirement
V-1	Visitor
VH-1	Visitor in Transit (up to 48 hours)
W-1	Worker with Work Permit
WX-1	Worker Exempt from Work Permit Requirement

Commonly Seen Codes and What They Mean for Your Application

V-1: Visitor Visa

V-1 is the most common counterfoil code. It covers tourism, family visits, and short business trips. If your GCMS notes show a V-1 counterfoil in the Document Issuance section, IRCC approved and printed your visitor visa. For details on what officers assess for visitor visas, see our guide on GCMS 访客签证须知.

S-1: Student Visa (Study Permit)

S-1 indicates a study permit. Your counterfoil allows you to enter Canada to attend a Designated Learning Institution. The study permit itself is a separate document issued at the port of entry. For details on study permit GCMS notes, see our guide on GCMS notes for study permit.

W-1: Worker (Work Permit)

W-1 covers work permits, including LMIA-based and employer-specific permits. For details on what GCMS notes reveal about work permits, see our guide on GCMS notes for work permit.

IM-1: Immigrant Visa

IM-1 is a single-entry visa for permanent residence. You use it to enter Canada and complete your landing. After landing, you receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence. For details on PR application GCMS notes, see our guide on GCMS notes for PR application.

PG-1: Parents or Grandparents Super Visa

PG-1 is the super visa, which allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit for extended stays of up to five years at a time.

How Counterfoil Codes Appear in Your GCMS Notes

When IRCC approves your visa and prints the counterfoil, the Document Issuance section of your GCMS notes updates to show the counterfoil category, number of entries (single or multiple), validity dates, and the print queue or office that issued it. This section confirms that IRCC physically created your visa and it is ready for passport insertion.

If you received your GCMS notes and see a counterfoil entry with ‘App Status: Closed’ and ‘Reason: Approved,’ IRCC has issued your visa and completed your case. For a full explanation of how to read this section, see our GCMS notes glossary and status codes guide.

常见问题

Questions About Your Visa?

If you experienced a visa refusal, unexpected conditions, or a processing delay, your GCMS notes show the full internal record of your application. Order your notes at our GCMS notes online order page to see what happened with your file. To understand what GCMS notes are and how they work, see our complete guide on 什么是GCMS票据.