The Canada Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), allows foreign nationals to enter Canada for up to six months.
In this article, we will outline Canada Tourist Visa requirements, explain the visa process, and list the necessary documents to help you prepare for the application.
Understanding the Canadian Visitor Visa
This visa category is designed for tourism, visiting family, or business purposes such as meetings and conferences (although there is also a Business Visitor Visa available).
It is a standard Tourist Visa for people from visa-required countries, including Türkiye, Brazil, Argentina, China, and Mexico. People from visa-exempt countries (the US, most of the EU, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and others) only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and not a visitor visa.
This official document is usually added to your passport.
Once you enter the country, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less than or over six months. They may also give you a visitor record document with the latest date on which you have to leave Canada.
Canada Visitor Visa Requirements
To obtain a Canadian Tourist Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- Having a valid passport or other traveling documents, in some cases
- Being in good health
- Having no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Convincing an immigration officer of strong ties to your home country, such as a job, property, financial assets, or family
- Proof of funds to support yourself or your family during your stay
- A plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit
In some cases, your visa officer will require a medical exam or a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada. You may also be asked to provide biometrics such as fingerprints.
However, meeting all these requirements does not guarantee entry.
Canada Visitor Visa Application Process
To get approved for a visa, you must complete the visa application process promptly and accurately while providing all required documents. We will go through the process step by step and explain the details:
- Determine your eligibility – Before you apply for a visa, ensure you meet all the entry requirements, including having a passport, enough money, and a way to demonstrate ties to your home country.
- Gather documents – Gather all necessary documents, including certified translations of all non-English documents, a letter of invitation, a passport, and other documents that we will list in detail in the next section.
- Complete the application forms – There are several forms necessary for the Canadian Visitor Visa, which we will also list in the next section as they vary by circumstances.
- You can apply in person or online – It’s possible to apply via a Visa Application Center (VAC) or through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Canada (IRCC) portal.
- Submit biometric information – You may be asked to submit biometrics. If that’s the case, you will receive a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) to your account. In this case, you must visit the Visa Application Centre to submit your fingerprints and photos.
- Pay the application fee – You can pay the application fee with credit and prepaid cards from Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, JCB®, and UnionPay®. You may also need to pay the biometrics fee.
- Submit your application – Upload your forms and documents online through your account or submit them at a VAC.
- Wait for processing – Once you pay the fees, you will get a receipt with a tracking number. With this mnumber, you can track the application status through your IRCC account.
- Submit passport (if requested) – If your application is approved, you’ll receive a request to send your passport for visa stamping. Mail it to the designated visa office or VAC.
- Receive the visa – Once your passport is returned with the visa, you’re ready to travel to Canada.
In most cases, you must apply online. To do this, you need an IRCC Portal account.
A paper application is available for people with disabilities who cannot apply online, as well as stateless persons and refugees with travel documents.
- Prepare for the online application – The process requires a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents and a valid credit card to pay the fees.
- Create an IRCC Portal Account – You will receive an invite code to register, after which you can complete the online form and upload your documents (which you have prepared in advance).
- Old or new IRCC Portal – There is also a new version of the portal available for people over 18 who are applying alone, for the first time, and without using a representative. Other people can apply using the old portal. Links to both are available on the official government website.
Supporting Documents
The required documentation will vary depending on the purpose of your visit (a business, tourist, family visit, or compassionate purposes).
Prepare the following documents before you start your visa application process:
- A valid passport or travel document – Most applicants will use their passports. In special cases, people need an alien’s passport, US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571), or other refugee travel documents for non-citizens.
- Use of Representative form where applicable – If a third party, such as an immigration consultant or a family member, applies on your behalf, you need this completed form.
- Family Information Form – All applicants over 18 must complete this form.
- Documents for minor children – If a minor travels with you to Canada and you are not the sole guardian, they must have a letter of authorization.
- Proof of relationship (if applicable) – It may include a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, adoption papers, or a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union. This is especially important if the host wants to sponsor you for a permanent residence.
- A letter of invitation – It may be necessary if you’re visiting family members in Canada.
- Travel history – It helps you prove you have been accepted for visas in the past.
- Itinerary – Describe what you plan to do in Canada and how long you will stay. This can include hotel and flight reservations.
- Photographs – Provide photographs that meet the specifications on the portal.
- Bank statements – Prove you have funds to support yourself during your stay.
- Employer information – This can help you prove that you need to return to your country.
- Additional documents – Documents that show the purpose of your visit, such as invitations, event schedules, or other documents depending on your circumstances.
Canada Visitor Visa Application Fees
Most applicants will need to pay fees when applying for a visa, including a super visa for parents or grandparents of Canadian residents. The costs are shown below.
- Visitor visas cost CAD100 per person (single or multiple entries).
- Visitor visas (per family) cost CAD500 and are available if your family applies at the same time and the children qualify as dependants (minors and children under 22 without a partner or spouse)
- If you want to extend your stay, it will cost CAD100.
- If you want to restore your status as a visitor, it costs CAD229.
These are the costs of biometrics:
- CAD 85.00 per person
- CAD170 per family of two or more people who are applying at the same time.
- CAD255 for a group of performing artists
Other expenses may include legal advice, advice from immigration experts, or certified translation services, which are required for all non-English documents.
Processing Time
Each visa application is different, with some being more complex and requiring more time. This is why there is no single typical processing time – that depends on the complexity and completeness of your application, the workload of immigration services, and your nationality.
For example, the wait time for a visitor visa for Australian citizens is 27 days. For people applying in Greece, it is 117 days.
If your application is incomplete, this may delay the process or require you to start it over.
The processing time does not include the time it takes for you to give your biometrics, or the time it takes your application to reach the IRCC office.
Tips for a Successful Application
While nothing guarantees that your visa application will be successful, there are still things you can do to increase your chances of success. Here are some tips from immigration professionals:
- Research your visa category and follow all instructions from your application guide
- Send an accurate, signed, dated, and completed application form or forms
- Respond to biometrics, medical examination, or police clearance requests as soon as possible, ideally within one month
- Ensure you pay the correct amount with an approved payment method (credit and prepaid cards from Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, JCB®, and UnionPay®)
- Include the receipt with your application
- Check your application carefully before you send it
- If your case is more complex, consult an immigration expert or legal professional
Canadian Visitor Visa FAQs
How long can I stay in Canada with a visitor visa?
With a Visitor Visa, in most cases, you can stay up to six months in Canada. An immigration officer may let you stay longer or more briefly at the Canadian port of entry and provide you with the latest possible departure date.
Can I extend my stay in Canada?
Yes. However, you must apply to extend your stay before your Visitor Visa expires. You do this by applying for a visitor record, which is a document that allows you to stay longer as a tourist, visitor, or someone with a study permit or work permit. This record will have a new date by which you need to leave Canada. However, if you receive this document, it doesn’t mean you can leave and re-enter Canada.
What should I do if my visa application is refused?
You can re-apply for a visa. However, you should only do that once your circumstances have changed or you have new information that you think will get you approved next time. Before you apply, you can also contact an immigration expert to prevent wasting your resources on another refusal.