Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
PRACTICAL GUIDE
How to apply for a Canada visitor visa
A Canada visitor visa, officially called a temporary resident visa, is an official document placed in a passport that shows the holder meets the requirements needed to travel to Canada. [1] The processing fee starts at CAN$100, and applicants may also need to give biometrics. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- A Canada visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, is an official document placed in a passport; it shows that the holder meets the requirements needed to travel to Canada. [1]
- As of 18 October 2026, the visitor visa processing fee is CAN$100 for an individual and CAN$500 for a family of five or more, while the biometrics fee is CAN$85 for an individual or up to CAN$170 for a family if eligible. [3]
- Applications are made online through the IRCC Portal, with paper applications allowed only in limited cases such as being unable to apply online or travelling on certain refugee, stateless or non-citizen documents. [3]
- A visitor visa can be issued for up to 10 years or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first, and an officer may set a different expiry date. [3]
What is a Canada visitor visa?
A visitor visa is an official document placed in a passport that shows the holder meets the requirements needed to travel to Canada. [1] Canada also calls it a temporary resident visa. [1]
Canada's visit page directs travellers to check whether they need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). [2] An eTA is applied for online and costs CAN$7. [6]
A visitor record is not a visa; it is the document used to extend a stay in Canada as a visitor. [5]
Who can apply for a Canada visitor visa?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lists basic requirements: a valid travel document such as a passport, good health, and no criminal or immigration-related convictions. [4] The applicant must also convince an officer of ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take them home, and that they will leave Canada at the end of the visit. [4] They must have enough money for the stay; the amount depends on the length of stay and whether they stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. [4] A medical exam and a letter of invitation may also be required. [4]
Business visitors must plan to stay for less than 6 months, must not plan to enter the Canadian labour market, and must have their main place of business and source of income and profits outside Canada. [3] Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events or training for a few days or weeks. [3]
If the trip is to visit children or grandchildren for more than 6 months, the traveller may be eligible for a Super Visa, which allows visits of 5 years at a time and multiple entries for a period up to 10 years. [3]
How do you apply for a Canada visitor visa?
The reason for travel sets the application route and documents; applicants should use the personalised document checklist in the portal and check whether their local visa office requires extra documents. [3]
Every applicant needs a digital copy of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document, and it should be valid for at least 6 months from the planned travel date. [3] A passport copy must show the page with the holder's birth date and country or territory of origin, plus any pages with stamps, visas or markings. [3]
IRCC may ask for an invitation letter from a person or business in Canada. [3] For a personal or family invitation, the applicant must show proof of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate, the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) form, a birth certificate or an official document naming the applicant as a parent. [3]
Recommended documents include travel history, an itinerary, a bank account statement and an employer letter. [3] The bank statement should show the bank's name and at least 6 months of account details including balances. [3] The employer letter should be on official letterhead, dated no earlier than 3 months before the application, and include the job, the applicant's name and date of birth, salary and a signature. [3]
Applications are made online through the IRCC Portal. [3] The IRCC Portal – New version may be available to applicants who are 18 or older, applying alone, have never applied to IRCC before and are not using a representative. [3] A paper application is allowed only where the applicant cannot apply online, including for reasons of disability, or is travelling with an identity or travel document issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen. [3]
Fees are paid at the end of the application, and in most cases include processing and biometrics fees for the applicant and anyone included on the application. [3] Some applicants may be exempt from some or all fees. [3] The amounts as of 18 October 2026 are below. [3]
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa processing fee | CAN$100 individual; CAN$500 family of five or more [3] | All applicants |
| Biometrics fee | CAN$85 individual; up to CAN$170 family if eligible [3] | Applicants who need biometrics |
Applicants may need to give biometrics, and processing times do not include the time needed to give them. [1] After applying, wait for the biometrics instruction letter and book an appointment as soon as possible. [3] First-time applicants must pay the biometrics fee when they submit the application unless exempt. [3] Biometrics may need to be given again if they will expire soon, if a permanent residence application was refused, or if only partial biometrics were given. [3]
Spouses or partners being sponsored for permanent residence may get faster processing after the sponsor receives an acknowledgement of receipt, but all visitor visa requirements still apply. [3]
How long can a Canada visitor visa be issued for?
A visitor visa can be issued for up to 10 years or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first, and an officer may set a different expiry date depending on the circumstances. [3] A valid visitor visa can still be used until it expires. [1]
To stay longer as a visitor, a person applies for a visitor record, which is not a visa. [5] Students and workers in Canada whose visitor visa has expired and who plan to leave and return can apply for a new visitor visa from inside Canada. [2] Travellers who leave Canada during a temporary stay should check what they need to re-enter as a temporary resident. [5]
Exceptions and limits
- eTA for some Indonesian and Malaysian citizens. From May 26, 2026, citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who meet certain requirements may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visitor visa for travel to Canada by air. [1] The eTA costs CAN$7 and is applied for online with a valid passport, a credit or debit card and an email address. [6] Dual Canadian citizens need a Canadian passport. [6]
- Marine crew. Applicants joining a vessel as a marine crew member must submit a Seaman's Book, a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada, an Introduction Letter from the recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner, and the employment contract. [3]
- Inadmissibility. Some people are not allowed to enter Canada for reasons including criminal activity, human rights violations, organized crime, or security, health or financial grounds. [4]
- Biometrics limit. IRCC cannot issue a visa valid for longer than the applicant's biometrics, and giving biometrics again does not automatically extend a visa to 10 years. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visitor visa or an eTA to visit Canada?
Canada's visit page directs travellers to check whether they need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). [2] Certain citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visitor visa for air travel from May 26, 2026. [1]
How much does a Canada visitor visa cost?
As of 18 October 2026, the processing fee is CAN$100 for an individual and CAN$500 for a family of five or more. [3] The biometrics fee is CAN$85 for an individual and up to CAN$170 for a family if eligible, and some applicants may be exempt from some or all fees. [3]
How long can a Canada visitor visa be issued for?
Up to 10 years, or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. [3] An officer may set a different expiry date depending on the circumstances. [3]
Do I need biometrics for a Canada visitor visa?
You may need to give biometrics, and the processing time does not include the time needed to give them. [1] First-time applicants must pay the biometrics fee when submitting the application unless exempt. [3]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers Canada's visitor visa only; visitor visa and entry rules for other countries, and the full eTA, Super Visa and student or worker routes, are not covered here.
- Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) — Government of Canada, checked 18 October 2026
- Visit Canada — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, checked 18 October 2026
- How to apply for a visitor visa — Government of Canada, checked 18 October 2026
- Eligibility to apply for a visitor visa — Government of Canada, checked 18 October 2026
- Extend your stay in Canada (visitor record) — Government of Canada, checked 18 October 2026
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA) — Government of Canada, checked 18 October 2026