The Ultimate Guide to Visitor Visas to Canada

Key Takeaways

• A temporary visitor visa  (TRV) enables eligible foreign nationals to travel to Canada for family visits, tourism, or short-term business.
• Most foreign travellers need a TRV, while visa-exempt travellers from certain countries only need an eTA.
• Canada offers multiple visa types, including Super Visas, Business Visitor Visas, Visitor Visas, Transit Visas, and Visitor Records.
• Applicants must meet IRCC eligibility requirements including proving good health, providing valid ID, and proving ties to home country.
• Invitation letters strengthen visa applications, and commissioning the letter increases credibility with IRCC.

This guide covers the different visitor visas available in Canada to help you determine which one is most suitable for your requirements.

What is a Visitor Visa to Canada?

A visitor visa, or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is a document affixed to your guest’s passport to confirm travel eligibility to Canada. It allows foreign nationals (visitors) from visa-required countries to travel to Canada for tourism, family visits, or short-term business activities.

While a Temporary Resident Visa authorizes your guest to travel to Canada, it doesn’t guarantee entrance. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers will check their identity, travel purpose, and admissibility before allowing them to enter. If your guest’s visa to Canada is accepted, and they satisfy all entry requirements, they are permitted to enter Canada.

What is the Purpose of a Visitor Visa?

A Visitor Visa serves a clear purpose under Canadian immigration rules, such as:

• Allowing foreign nationals to enter Canada for temporary stays
• Supporting tourism, family visits, and short-term business activities
• Ensuring visitors meet Canada’s immigration and security requirements
• Confirming the traveller’s intention to leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay
• Helping officers assess admissibility based on identity, documentation, and travel purpose

Who Should Apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada?

Most foreign travellers need a visitor visa to enter Canada, including visitors from any IRCC-listed visa-required countries. Your visitor may also need a Transit Visa when transiting through a Canadian airport.

In contrast, travellers from visa‑exempt countries do not need a visitor visa. These travellers may enter Canada with a valid Electronic Travel Authorization if arriving by air, provided they meet all other entry requirements. 

Single‑Entry vs Multiple‑Entry Visas to Canada

Canada issues two types of Visitor Visas, and understanding the difference helps you plan your trip accordingly. Here’s how single-entry and multiple-entry visas compare:

Single-Entry Visas

• Allow one entry to Canada during the visa’s validity period
• Permit travellers to re-enter Canada after leaving
  • Exemptions are made for travellers returning from the US, St.Pierre, and Miquelon
• Are issued when a single visit is the most appropriate option
• Are often used for short-term trips tied to specific events.

Multiple-Entry Visas

• Allow repeated entries to Canada during the visa’s validity period.
• Are often valid for up to ten years or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first.
• Let travellers enter and leave Canada as often as needed during the validity period.
• Are issued more frequently unless a situation calls for a single-entry option.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada

Ensure that your visitor meets IRCC’s basic requirements to apply for a visitor visa. The conditions below help officers confirm your guest can enter Canada safely and return home on time. 

• A valid travel document, like a passport, to prove their identity
• Good health to travel safely and meet entry standards
• No criminal record or previous immigration violations
• Strong ties to their home country, such as family, work, or property
• Proof your visitor will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay
• Sufficient funds to cover travel, accommodation, and living expenses

They may also need a medical exam. Although a Letter of Invitation from you can strengthen a visitor’s application, having one is not mandatory. Review IRCC’s document checklist to confirm your guest’s case‑specific requirements.

Who Cannot Apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada?

Aside from visa-exempt travellers, certain individuals are deemed inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for reasons such as:

• Criminal activity or prior convictions
• Human rights violations
• Security threats or espionage
• Membership in organized crime
• Serious health conditions that pose a public risk or strain health services
• Financial insolvency or lack of support funds
• Misrepresentation or false statements in applications

If the person you are hosting is inadmissible, you may apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) for justified travel. Those with prior convictions may also seek rehabilitation or a record suspension.

Different Types of Visitor Visas to Canada

Canada offers several types of visitor visas based on your guest’s travel purpose. Each option is outlined below, and has specific rules you should understand before helping them apply.

1. Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa or TRV)

• Allows your guest to visit Canada for tourism, family visits, or short business activities
• Permits visitors to stay up to six months, though border officers can grant shorter or longer periods
• May be valid for up to ten years or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first

2. Super Visa (Parent and Grandparent Visa)

• Allows for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit for longer periods
• Permits up to five years of continuous stay
• May be issued for up to ten years, allowing multiple long‑term stays
• Requires proof of income from you as the host, meeting the Low Income Cut‑Off (LICO), and private medical insurance for your visitor
• May require the applicant to take a medical exam, depending on health or travel history

3. Business Visitor Visa

• Needed for business visitors entering Canada for business activities like meetings, conferences, or contract negotiations
• Does not permit paid work or joining the Canadian labour market
• Requires proof that your guest works for a foreign business and their main source of income is outside Canada
• Suitable for short‑term business‑related travel without entering the Canadian labour force

4. Transit Visa

• Required for travellers from visa-required countries transiting through Canada en route to another destination
• Needed for stopovers under 48 hours for travellers from visa‑required countries
• Necessary for travellers who must clear Canadian immigration during transit

Note: Some travellers may qualify under the Transit Without Visa Program

5. Visitor Record (Extension)

• Is a visitor record, not a visa. 
• Is an official IRCC document that updates your guest’s status and extends the expiry date

Note: Your guest can apply online through their IRCC account and provide updated reasons for staying, proof of funds, and a valid passport. Must be applied for before a traveller’s status expires; IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before the expiry date

Submitting a Letter of Invitation with a Visitor Visa Application

A Letter of Invitation helps IRCC understand your relationship to your guest and the purpose of their visit. It explains who you are, where your guest will stay, and how you plan to support them while they are in Canada. Providing a clear and truthful letter strengthens your guest’s application and shows you understand Canada’s entry rules. See our guide on Invitation Letters to Canada for more details here.

A commissioned Letter of Invitation adds credibility because a notary verifies your identity and confirms you willingly signed the letter. This helps officers trust the document and reduces concerns about authenticity.

Prepare your letter with our free Letter of Invitation template and meet with a notary online to have it commissioned in 7 minutes — from anywhere. Commissioning gives your letter greater credibility and helps prevent fraud, making it more impactful during the application review process. 

Check out our blog to learn more about the process of commissioning.

Visitor Visa to Canada: Fees and Processing Times

The fees for a visitor visa start from CAD $100 per application, which can also include a biometrics fee of CAD $85. Processing times vary by visa office and season, so check IRCC’s online tool regularly for the most up-to-date estimates.

Help Your Guest Apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada

Ensuring your guest can successfully apply for a visitor visa to Canada is the first step in making their trip a reality. Applying early won’t speed up processing, but it gives them time to fix issues or handle delays in IRCC’s review. A complete, accurate visa application helps officers confirm your guest’s intentions in Canada and readiness to travel.

Drafting an Invitation Letter helps strengthen your guest’s visa application, increasing the likelihood of approval. You can use our free Invitation Letter template to do this in minutes.

When you’re ready, book an online notary appointment to have your Invitation Letter reviewed or commissioned in minutes!