VISITOR VISA (TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA)

What is a Visitor Visa

A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, is an official document that IRCC puts in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada. Most travellers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need one if you are transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.

A visa officer has discretion to issue you a single-entry visa or a multiple entry visa, and to decide how long it will be valid for. Generally, a visitor visa may be valid for up to a maximum of 10 years, or until the expiry of either your passport or biometrics, whichever comes first.

You must obtain a visitor visa before your departure. You cannot obtain one upon arrival in Canada.

As of May 26, 2026, citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who meet certain requirements may be eligible to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa to travel to Canada by air. If you already have a valid visitor visa, you can use it to travel to Canada until it expires.

As of May 27, 2026, foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda cannot travel to Canada.

How Long You Can Stay

Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.

At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If that is the case, they will put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave by.

If you do not get a stamp in your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until the expiry of your biometrics or your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Super visa holders who enter Canada after June 22, 2023 can stay for 5 years.

Eligibility Requirements

To get a visitor visa, you must:

• Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince an immigration officer that you have ties — such as a job, home, financial assets or family — that will take you back to your home country
• Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• Have enough money for your stay — the amount depends on how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives

You may also need a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Who is Not Allowed to Enter Canada

Some people are inadmissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

• Criminal activity
• Human rights violations
• Organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Required Documents

All applicants must include:

• A digital copy of your valid passport or travel document — your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel. If you need to renew your passport, do it before you apply for your visa.
  • You must provide a clear colour copy of the page that shows your birth date and country of origin, and any pages with stamps, visas or markings

Recommended Documents:

• Travel history — copies of previous visas, entry and exit stamps, or previous passports used within the last 10 years show that you have been able to get a visa in the past
• Itinerary — documents showing how long you plan to stay and what you will do in Canada, including flight details, proof of accommodation, and registration for any events
• Bank account statement — at least 6 months of account details including balances, showing the bank name and confirming the account is yours
• Employer letter — printed on your employer’s official letterhead, dated no earlier than 3 months before you apply, confirming your job, your full name and date of birth, date you started the job, brief description of your job, current salary, and contact information of your manager

Minor Children Travelling to Canada

Make sure you know what documents are required if minor children (children under the age of 18) will be travelling with you, with someone else, or alone. A letter authorizing a minor child to travel to Canada may be required.

Super Visa — Parents and Grandparents

If you plan to visit your children or grandchildren in Canada for more than 6 months, you may be eligible to apply for a Super Visa. A Super Visa lets you visit your children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time. It is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years.

Business Visitors

To apply for a visitor visa to visit Canada on business, you need to qualify as a business visitor. To qualify, you must show that:

• You plan to stay for less than 6 months
• You do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market
• Your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada

Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events, or training for a few days or weeks.

Faster Processing for Spousal Applicants

If you are being sponsored for permanent residence by your spouse or partner, you may be eligible for faster processing of your visitor visa application. You may be eligible if you have submitted an application to be sponsored for permanent residence and received an acknowledgement of receipt confirming the application is in progress. You must still meet all eligibility requirements for a visitor visa.

How to Apply

Visitor visa applications must be submitted online through the IRCC Portal. You can apply on paper only if you cannot apply online, including for reasons of a disability, or if you are travelling with a travel document issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen.

To apply online you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents and a valid credit or debit card.

Biometrics

After you apply, wait for your biometrics instruction letter, then book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as possible to avoid processing delays. Biometrics must be given if you are between 14 and 79 years old. You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years.

Extending Your Stay

If you want to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor, you need to apply for a visitor record. You should apply at least 30 days before your current status expires. If you do not get a stamp in your passport, your stay is authorized for 6 months from the day you entered Canada.

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ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (eTA)

What is an eTA?

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. An eTA allows you to travel to Canada if you are eligible, but does not let you work or study. Most people need a work permit to work in Canada or a study permit to study at designated learning institutions.

An eTA is electronically linked to the passport you used to apply. You need to present this passport when you check in to your flight to Canada. The airline staff will scan your passport to confirm that you have a valid eTA. You do not need to print out any special document.

An eTA does not guarantee entry to Canada. When you arrive, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents. You must convince the officer that you are eligible for entry to Canada.

Who Needs an eTA

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. These travellers do not need an eTA when arriving by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship.

Who Does NOT Need an eTA:

• Canadian citizens, including dual citizens — must travel with a valid Canadian passport
• Canadian permanent residents — must travel with a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document
• United States citizens — must carry a valid US passport
• Lawful permanent residents of the United States — exempt as of April 26, 2022, and must carry valid proof of US status and a valid passport from their country of nationality

eTA for Citizens of Some Visa-Required Countries

As of May 26, 2026, citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who meet certain requirements may be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa to travel to Canada by air. If you already have a valid visitor visa, you can use it to travel to Canada until it expires.

Citizens from some other visa-required countries may also be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa to travel to Canada by air, if they meet all of the following requirements:

• They have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa
• They are coming to Canada for a temporary stay (normally for up to 6 months)
• They are flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport using a valid passport from one of the eligible visa-required countries

If you do not meet all of these requirements, you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. Travellers with a passport from an eligible country still need a valid visitor visa if they are arriving by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship.

How to Apply for an eTA

Applying for an eTA is a simple online process. You should apply for an eTA before you book your travel to Canada.

To apply you need:

• A valid passport
• A credit or debit card
• An email address

The eTA fee is CAD $7. You can only apply and pay for one person at a time.

Most applicants receive eTA approval by email within minutes. However, some applications can take several days to process if you are asked to submit supporting documents.

When your eTA is approved, check that the passport number in your approval email matches the number in your passport. If they do not match, you need to apply for a new eTA.

eTA Validity

An approved eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new eTA.

If your work or study permit is approved, IRCC will automatically issue you an eTA.

 

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws change frequently. Please consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Last updated: July 1, 2026.