Multiple-Entry Visa
You may travel to Canada more than once while the visa remains valid. Each arrival is still subject to examination at the port of entry.
Visit Canada
Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV)
Planning to visit family or friends, travel as a tourist, or come to Canada for certain business activities? Depending on your nationality, travel document and how you travel, you may need a visitor visa before your trip. A visitor visa allows an eligible foreign national to travel to Canada and ask to enter as a temporary resident.
01 What Is a Visitor Visa?
A visitor visa, formally called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an entry document placed in your passport. It shows that you met the requirements to travel to Canada when IRCC assessed your application.
A visitor visa does not guarantee admission. A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) border services officer decides whether you may enter when you arrive.
Single-Entry VS Multiple-Entry Visas
A visitor visa may be issued as a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. A visa officer decides the entry type and validity period based on your circumstances.
Single-Entry Visa
You may travel to Canada once. In most cases, you need a new visa if you leave Canada and want to return.
Visa Validity Is Not Your Authorized Stay
The date on the visa and the date you must leave Canada answer different questions.
When You May Travel to Canada
A visitor visa may be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expires, whichever comes first. IRCC may set a different expiry date. You must arrive in Canada on or before the visa’s expiry date.
How Long You May Remain
Most visitors are authorized to stay for up to six months, but the border services officer may allow a shorter or longer period. Your departure deadline may appear in your passport or on a visitor record; if no date is set, the usual period is six months from entry, subject to the applicable passport or biometrics expiry.
02 Do You Need a Visitor Visa or eTA?
The entry document you need depends on your nationality, the travel document you will use, the country that issued it, and whether you will arrive by air, land or sea.
Visa-Exempt Travellers
Visa-exempt foreign nationals generally need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) when travelling to Canada by air or transiting through a Canadian airport.
When travelling to Canada by land or sea, most visa-exempt travellers do not need an eTA or a visitor visa.
Some Visa-Required Travellers
Citizens of certain visa-required countries may qualify for an eTA instead of a visitor visa when travelling to Canada by air.
To qualify, they must have held a Canadian visitor visa within the past 10 years or currently hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa. They must also be travelling to Canada for a temporary stay and flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport using a valid passport from an eligible country.
These travellers still need a visitor visa to enter Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship.
Canadian Permanent Residents
Canadian permanent residents do not need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. When returning to Canada by air, they need a valid permanent resident card (PR card). If they are outside Canada without a valid PR card, they need to obtain a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) before returning by air.
Nationality and passport classifications can change. Use IRCC’s official checker before you apply or make travel arrangements.
Check Your Document03 What Are the Requirements?
To receive a visitor visa, you must satisfy IRCC that you meet the requirements for a temporary visit. The evidence needed depends on your purpose of travel and personal circumstances.
Valid Travel Document
You must hold a valid travel document, such as a passport, that can receive the visa and be used for your trip.
Credible Temporary Visit
You must satisfy IRCC that your visit is temporary and that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. Your purpose of travel and your ties outside Canada—such as employment, family, a home or financial assets—may be relevant. A letter of invitation may be required in some cases.
Enough Money for the Stay
You must show that you can support yourself during the visit. The amount depends on factors such as the length of your stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with family or friends.
Admissibility to Canada
You must be admissible to Canada. Inadmissibility may arise for reasons including criminality, security, health, financial, misrepresentation or non-compliance with immigration requirements.
Depending on your circumstances, IRCC may require additional information or documents, such as a medical examination or police certificate.
04 How to Apply
Visitor visa applications are normally submitted online. Paper applications are available only in specific situations.
Check What You Need
Confirm that a visitor visa is the correct travel document and identify the application instructions for your purpose of travel.
Prepare Your Documents
Gather the documents on your personalized checklist, including a digital copy of your valid passport and evidence supporting your purpose, finances, ties and intended temporary stay.
Submit the Online Application
Complete the application through the appropriate IRCC account or portal, upload the required documents and pay the applicable fees.
Provide Biometrics and Other Information
If required, follow IRCC’s instructions to give fingerprints and a photo. IRCC may also request an interview, medical examination, police certificate or further documents.
Receive the Decision and Prepare to Travel
If the online application is approved, IRCC will send instructions for submitting your passport. You cannot travel on the approval letter alone; the visa must be placed in the passport. At arrival, bring the documents needed to support your entry.
05 Frequently Asked Questions
Does a visitor visa guarantee that I can enter Canada?+
No. The visa allows you to travel to a port of entry and request admission. A CBSA border services officer makes the final entry decision when you arrive.
How long can I stay in Canada with a visitor visa?+
Most visitors are authorized to stay for up to six months, but a border services officer may set a shorter or longer period. Check any passport stamp or visitor record for the date you must leave.
Can I extend my stay from inside Canada?+
You may apply for a visitor record before your current temporary resident status expires. A visitor record extends or limits your stay; it is not a visa and does not, by itself, authorize re-entry after travel.
Do I need both a visitor visa and an eTA?+
No. Travellers generally need one or the other, depending on their nationality, travel document and method of travel. Use IRCC’s official checker for your current requirements.
What are considered strong ties to my home country?+
Ties may include employment, a business, property or financial assets, family responsibilities, studies, and other ongoing commitments outside Canada. An officer considers your circumstances as a whole when assessing whether you are likely to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
How much money do I need for a visitor visa?+
There is no fixed amount that applies to every visitor visa application. You must show that you have enough funds for your stay, taking into account the length and purpose of your visit, your accommodation arrangements, and who will pay for your expenses.
Do I need travel history to get a visitor visa?+
No. Previous international travel is not a mandatory requirement for every visitor visa application. However, travel history may help demonstrate your previous travel and compliance with immigration requirements. If you have limited or no travel history, other aspects of your application become particularly important.
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Planning a Visit to Canada?
Our licensed team can assess the visitor visa requirements, identify the supporting evidence that fits your purpose of travel, and prepare your application.
