A temporary resident visa (TRV), commonly called a visitor visa, is an official document placed in your passport that shows you meet the requirements to enter Canada as a visitor. Citizens of many countries need one to come to Canada for tourism, to visit family or friends, or to take part in short business activities such as meetings, conferences and trade fairs.
A visitor visa does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border services officer will review your documents and decide whether you may enter Canada and how long you may stay. Because the visa officer and the border officer both assess whether you are a genuine temporary visitor, careful preparation of the application is the best way to avoid refusals, delays and problems at the port of entry.
This guide explains who needs a visitor visa, the eligibility requirements, the difference between tourist and business visits, the documents you should prepare, fees, biometrics, processing, how long you can stay, how to extend your stay, and what to do if your application is refused. It is based on the information published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Temporary Resident Visa
Canadian Visitor Visa at a Glance
Key facts to check before you apply.
Citizens of visa-required countries. Visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada usually need an eTA instead.
Up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. An officer may set a different date.
Most visitors may stay up to 6 months. The border services officer decides and may set a different date.
Processing $100 per person (family of 5+: $500). Biometrics $85 per person (family: up to $170).
Several Canadian immigration documents sound similar but serve very different purposes. Understanding them helps you apply for the right one.
| Document | What it is for | Who usually needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (TRV) | Travelling to Canada as a visitor by any means of transport | Citizens of visa-required countries |
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | Flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport | Visa-exempt foreign nationals and some eligible visa-required travellers |
| Transit visa | Connecting between two international flights in Canada for 48 hours or less | Visa-required travellers who will not leave the airport |
| Visitor record | Extending or changing the conditions of your stay while you are already in Canada | Visitors who want to stay longer than permitted |
| Super Visa | Longer visits by parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents | Eligible parents and grandparents |
| Work or study permit | Working or studying in Canada | Foreign nationals who plan to work or study |
Whether you need a visitor visa depends on your citizenship, the travel document you hold and how you travel. Citizens of visa-required countries need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, whether they arrive by air, land or sea. Citizens of visa-exempt countries generally do not need a visa but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if they are flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport.
Citizens of some visa-required countries may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visa when flying, if they meet specific conditions. For example, Mexican citizens may qualify for an eTA only in limited circumstances, as explained in our article on Canada’s visa requirements for Mexican nationals. Travellers who are only connecting between two international flights in Canada may need a transit visa rather than a visitor visa.
Use IRCC’s official tool to check whether you need a visa or an eTA before making travel plans. Requirements are based on the passport you will travel with, so dual nationals should check the rules for each passport.
To be approved as a visitor, IRCC states that you must:
You may also need a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada. Officers look at the application as a whole: your personal circumstances, the purpose of your trip, your finances, your travel and immigration history, and the consistency of the information you provide.
One of the most common concerns for visa officers is whether the applicant will return home after the visit. Evidence of ongoing employment or business, property ownership or a lease, family responsibilities, studies, and previous compliant travel to Canada, the United States or other countries can help demonstrate that the trip is genuinely temporary. The strength of these ties is assessed in light of your overall situation, not through a fixed checklist.
IRCC does not publish a fixed minimum amount for visitors. Instead, you should show that you, or the person supporting you, can pay for transportation, accommodation and living expenses for the length of the trip. IRCC notes that bank statements covering at least six months can help show your financial situation. Large, unexplained deposits shortly before applying can raise questions, so it is important to explain the source of funds where needed.
Most people visiting for six months or less do not need a medical exam. A medical exam may be required if you plan to stay more than six months and you have lived for six months or more in a row, in the year before you arrive, in certain countries or territories designated by IRCC. Medical exams must be performed by a physician on IRCC’s list of panel physicians.
The same visitor visa is used for tourism and for business visits. There is no separate application for business visitors, but the purpose of your trip shapes the supporting documents you should provide.
| Purpose | Typical activities | Helpful supporting documents |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism and family visits | Vacation, visiting family or friends, attending a family event | Letter of invitation, proof of relationship to the person inviting you, proof of funds, travel history |
| Business visits | Attending meetings, conferences or trade shows, without entering the Canadian labour market | Letter from your employer, invitation from the Canadian business or event, proof of funds |
According to IRCC, business visitors usually come to Canada for a few days or weeks and must keep their main place of business and source of income outside Canada. Business visitors may stay up to six months. Activities that IRCC lists as business visitor activities include:
If you plan to stay longer than six months, or to perform work for a Canadian company, you may be considered a temporary worker and need a work permit. Employees transferred by a multinational company may qualify for an Intra-Company Transferee work permit, while some citizens of the United States and Mexico have additional options under free trade agreements. If your event is registered with IRCC, include the event code in your application.
A letter of invitation from a family member, friend or Canadian business can support your application, although it does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. IRCC states that the letter should include information about the person being invited, such as their full name, date of birth, address and telephone number, relationship to the host, purpose and length of the trip, where they will stay, how they will pay for expenses, and when they plan to leave Canada. It should also include information about the host, including their full name, date of birth, address and telephone number in Canada, job title, status in Canada with a copy of proof of status, and details of their family. IRCC does not require the letter to be notarized, although some applicants choose to have it signed before a notary.
The exact documents depend on your country of residence and the visa office that will process your application, so always follow the instructions provided in your IRCC account. A typical visitor visa application includes:
Documents in a language other than English or French generally need to be accompanied by a certified translation. Submitting complete, consistent and well-organized documents makes it easier for the officer to understand your situation.
Application process
Applying for a Visitor Visa in 6 Steps
Most applicants must apply online, through the IRCC Portal or an IRCC secure account. Paper applications are only available in limited situations, for example where a disability prevents you from applying online or you are travelling with certain refugee, stateless or non-citizen travel documents. You will need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents and a valid credit or debit card to pay the fees.
Most visitor visa applicants must give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after applying, once they receive a biometrics instruction letter. Biometrics are generally valid for 10 years, so if you have given biometrics for a previous application and they are still valid, you may not need to give them again. Applicants under 14 and over 79 are generally exempt. Biometrics are collected at designated service points, such as visa application centres.
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa processing fee | $100 per person; $500 for a family of 5 or more applying together |
| Biometrics fee | $85 per person; up to $170 for a family applying together |
Processing times vary by country of residence and by the time of year, and they change frequently. IRCC publishes estimated processing times on its website. Apply well before your planned travel date, and avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until your visa has been approved. If IRCC requests additional documents, a medical exam or an interview, processing will take longer.
A visa officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa and how long it will be valid. Visitor visas can be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. In January 2025, IRCC announced that it had ended the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas and updated its guidance so that officers consider factors such as the purpose of travel, finances and immigration history when deciding the type and validity of the visa. A single-entry visa generally means that a new visa is needed for each later trip, with limited exceptions for short trips to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.
When you arrive, a border services officer will ask about your trip and may ask to see the documents you used in your application, such as your letter of invitation and proof of funds. Carry them in your hand luggage. The officer decides whether you may enter and how long you may stay. Answer questions honestly and consistently with your application; inaccurate information can lead to refusal of entry and, in serious cases, a finding of misrepresentation.
Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to six months. If the border services officer stamps a different date in your passport or issues a visitor record, you must leave by that date. If your passport is not stamped, you may generally stay six months from the date you entered, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first.
If you wish to stay longer, you must apply for a visitor record before your current status expires; IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days in advance. A visitor record is not a visa and does not allow you to leave and re-enter Canada. If your status has already expired, you may be able to apply to restore it within 90 days, but you cannot work or study while you wait. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for much longer stays under the Super Visa.
Each child needs their own visitor visa or eTA, as applicable, and their own passport. When a child travels without one or both parents or legal guardians, the Government of Canada recommends carrying a signed consent letter. A consent letter is not legally required in Canada, but border officials and airlines may ask for one, and the Government of Canada strongly recommends that a notary public witness the signature. Our notary services can help with this document.
Some people are inadmissible to Canada, for example because of certain criminal convictions, serious health concerns, security concerns, previous immigration violations or misrepresentation. A past conviction does not always prevent travel; depending on the circumstances, options may include showing that you are deemed rehabilitated, applying for criminal rehabilitation, or requesting a temporary resident permit. These are complex assessments, and it is important to obtain legal advice before applying. Our lawyers also prepare opinion letters explaining how a criminal charge or conviction may affect immigration status.
Officers must be satisfied that you meet every requirement. Common reasons for refusal include:
A refusal is not the end of the road, but the next step should be chosen carefully. Since July 29, 2025, IRCC sends most temporary resident applicants, including visitor visa applicants, an officer decision note with the refusal letter explaining the reasons for the decision. Reviewing these reasons is essential before deciding whether to reapply or challenge the decision.
| Option | When it may be appropriate | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Reapply | The refusal reasons can be addressed with new or better evidence | Simply resubmitting the same application rarely changes the outcome |
| Judicial review | The decision appears unreasonable or procedurally unfair | An application for leave and judicial review must be filed at the Federal Court within strict deadlines: generally 15 days for decisions made in Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada |
| Request reconsideration | There is a clear error on the face of the record | Officers are not required to reconsider, and this does not stop the judicial review deadline |
With over 30 years of experience in Canadian immigration and refugee law, our Toronto lawyers help visitors, families and businesses with every stage of the visitor visa process:
A visitor visa can be issued for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. The officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and may set a different expiry date.
Most visitors may stay up to six months. The border services officer decides how long you may stay and may set a different date in your passport or a visitor record.
No. Business visitors may take part in activities such as meetings, conferences and trade fairs, but they cannot enter the Canadian labour market. Working in Canada generally requires a work permit.
Visitors may take short courses or programs that last six months or less in some situations. Longer programs generally require a study permit.
No. A border services officer decides at the port of entry whether you may enter and how long you may stay.
It depends on your citizenship and how you travel. Citizens of visa-required countries need a visitor visa, while visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada usually need an eTA.
IRCC does not require it, and a letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa. It must, however, include the information IRCC lists about both the visitor and the host.
Review the refusal letter and officer decision note, then decide whether to reapply with stronger evidence or seek judicial review at the Federal Court within the applicable deadline. Legal advice is recommended before taking either step.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing practices change frequently; always confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada website before applying.
To discuss your situation with an immigration lawyer in Toronto, contact Lewis & Associates LLP or call +1 (416) 924-2227.