Canada Visitor Visa: Requirements, Documents and Application Process

What is a Canadian visitor visa?

A visitor visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa or TRV, is an official document placed in a passport that allows a foreign national to travel to a Canadian port of entry for a temporary visit.

A visitor visa is not an immigration program, does not provide permanent resident status and does not guarantee entry to Canada. A border services officer makes the final decision about admission and the authorized length of stay.

Most visitors are allowed to remain in Canada for up to six months. A border officer may authorize a shorter or longer period and may place a departure date in the passport or issue a visitor record.

CUSC is a private independent company and is not part of IRCC, CBSA or the Government of Canada. Applications are decided exclusively by the appropriate Canadian authorities.

Visitor visa or eTA: which document is required?

A traveller generally needs either a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization — eTA. In most cases, both are not required.

The required document depends on:

• citizenship;
• the country that issued the travel document;
• the type of passport or travel document;
• whether the traveller enters by air, land or sea;
• the traveller’s current immigration status.

Citizens of certain visa-required countries may qualify for an eTA for air travel if they meet specific conditions. Different requirements may apply when entering by land or sea.

Applicants should use the official IRCC travel-document checker before applying.

Purposes of a temporary visit

A visitor visa application may be based on:

• tourism;
• visiting relatives or friends;
• business meetings and conferences;
• visiting a spouse or partner;
• short-term study;
• family or compassionate circumstances;
• another lawful temporary purpose.

Tourism and a family visit are different purposes, but the official document is generally the same visitor visa.

A business visitor must generally show that the intended stay is for less than six months, that the person does not plan to enter the Canadian labour market and that the main place of business and source of income and profits are outside Canada.

A Super Visa is a separate process for eligible parents and grandparents. It may authorize visits of up to five years at a time but has additional requirements.

Basic eligibility requirements

An applicant must satisfy an officer that they meet the requirements for temporary entry.

Applicants generally need to:

• have a valid passport or other acceptable travel document;
• have a lawful and credible purpose of travel;
• demonstrate sufficient funds;
• show ties to their country of residence;
• satisfy the officer that they will leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay;
• not be inadmissible to Canada;
• complete a medical examination if required;
• provide biometrics if required.

Ties may include employment, business activities, studies, property, financial assets, family and other responsibilities. No single document guarantees approval. The application is assessed as a whole.

• Is an English-language test required? IRCC does not impose a standard IELTS, CELPIP or other language-test requirement for an ordinary visitor visa.English or French ability may be useful during the trip, but an official language result is not a standard visitor visa eligibility condition.
• Separate requirements may apply if the person intends to study, work or perform regulated professional activities.
• What documents may be required? The exact list depends on the purpose of travel, the country of application and the applicant’s circumstances. The IRCC portal provides a personalized document checklist.

Documents may include:

• a copy of a valid passport;
• passport pages containing previous visas, stamps and markings;
• a written explanation of the purpose of travel;
• proposed travel dates and itinerary;
• accommodation information;
• evidence of available funds;
• bank statements;
• an employment letter or business documents;
• study documents;
• evidence of family, financial, property and other ties;
• previous travel history;
• a letter of invitation, where relevant;
• proof of the relationship with the inviting person;
• proof of the inviting person’s status in Canada;
• authorization for a minor child to travel, where applicable;
• additional documents required by the local visa office.

In some situations, IRCC recommends at least six months of bank-account details and a recent employment letter. There is no single mandatory amount of money for every applicant. The required funds depend on the length of the visit, accommodation, transportation and other expenses.

All information must be truthful and consistent. False documents, withheld information or misleading explanations can result in refusal and other serious consequences.

Is a letter of invitation required?

A letter of invitation may help explain the purpose of travel, the relationship between the parties, accommodation and financial arrangements.

An invitation does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. The officer assesses the applicant and the complete application.

How is an application submitted?

The main steps are:

1. Determine whether a visitor visa or eTA is required.
2. Identify the correct purpose of travel.
3. Obtain the personalized IRCC document checklist.
4. Prepare the forms and supporting evidence.
5. Submit the application through the official IRCC portal.
6. Pay the government fees.
7. Provide biometrics after receiving instructions, if required.
8. Respond to any additional IRCC requests.
9. If approved, follow the passport-submission instructions.
10. Travel with documents supporting the purpose and conditions of the visit.

Applications are normally submitted online. Paper applications are available only in limited situations.

Government fees and processing times

As of August 12, 2026:

• visitor visa processing fee for one person: CAD 100;
• maximum visa fee for a qualifying family of five or more applying together: CAD 500;
• biometrics for one person: CAD 85, if required;
• maximum qualifying family biometrics fee: CAD 170.

Government charges must be shown separately from CUSC professional fees. All amounts must be checked against the live IRCC fee table before payment.

Processing times vary by country and individual circumstances. Biometrics time may not be included. The website must not promise a fixed or expedited processing time unless an official IRCC process applies.

Visa validity and authorized stay

A visa officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determines its validity.

A visitor visa may be valid for up to ten years, but not beyond the expiry of the passport or biometrics. An officer may issue it for a shorter period.

Visa validity is not the same as the length of an authorized stay. Most visitors are admitted for up to six months per entry, but a border services officer makes the final decision.

Can a visitor work or study?

A visitor visa or eTA does not by itself authorize employment in Canada. In most cases, a separate work permit is required.

A program lasting six months or less may, in some situations, be completed without a study permit. This does not automatically authorize the person to work while studying.

How can CUSC help?

CUSC can help clients:

• determine whether a visitor visa, eTA or Super Visa is appropriate;
• identify the correct purpose of travel;
• identify potential issues before submission;
• prepare an individualized document plan;
• check consistency between forms, dates, finances and travel history;
• prepare a clear purpose-of-travel explanation;
• review a letter of invitation;
• organize evidence of funds and ties to the country of residence;
• review translations and file completeness;
• submit an application through an authorized representative under a written agreement;
• respond to IRCC requests within the agreed scope;
• review a previous refusal and determine whether a new application is supported by additional or improved evidence.

Using a representative is optional. Applicants may submit their own applications through the official IRCC portal.

CUSC does not issue visas, control an officer’s decision or guarantee approval, processing time or admission to Canada.