Visitor Visa's
Over 200,000 people visit Canada every year. Some come for the beautiful scenery, others for family and more still for business conventions and meetings. It’s a popular destination for many reasons, but it can quickly become frustrating if you don’t know what visa requirements are expected of you. We help you avoid any mishaps with your visa, so you can get here and experience Canada for everything it has to offer.
Visit As A Tourist
Most travellers need a valid entry document such as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visa to visit Canada. This will depend on your citizenship or your situation.
Basic visitor requirements you will need to meet such as:
You may also need a:
Entry Documents
In addition to the basic requirements, most visitors need a valid entry document. Find out if you need an eTA or a visa.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA):
As of March 15, 2016, travellers with passports from eTA-required countries who enter Canada by air will need an eTA.
The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Applying for an eTA is a simple process. Most eTA-eligible applicants will get their authorization within minutes of submitting the online form.
If you need an eTA, you should:
Key eTA exemptions
U.S. citizens do not need an eTA to enter Canada.
Conditions of a Visitor Visa
Travellers with passports from visa-required countries and territories need a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to enter Canada.
A visa is an official document that is inserted inside a passport giving permission for you to come to Canada.
There are two types: a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa. Both are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.
A multiple-entry visa allows visitors to come and go from Canada, usually for six months at a time, without having to reapply. It is valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.
A single-entry visa allows you to come to Canada only once. After you leave Canada, you will need a new visa to travel back to Canada.
Basic visitor requirements you will need to meet such as:
- 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, and
- have enough money for your stay. (The amount of money you will need can vary. It depends on things such as 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
- letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
Entry Documents
In addition to the basic requirements, most visitors need a valid entry document. Find out if you need an eTA or a visa.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA):
As of March 15, 2016, travellers with passports from eTA-required countries who enter Canada by air will need an eTA.
The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Applying for an eTA is a simple process. Most eTA-eligible applicants will get their authorization within minutes of submitting the online form.
If you need an eTA, you should:
- get it when you plan your trip – do not wait for the last minute to apply, and
- travel to Canada with the passport you used to get your eTA.
Key eTA exemptions
U.S. citizens do not need an eTA to enter Canada.
Conditions of a Visitor Visa
Travellers with passports from visa-required countries and territories need a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to enter Canada.
A visa is an official document that is inserted inside a passport giving permission for you to come to Canada.
There are two types: a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa. Both are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.
A multiple-entry visa allows visitors to come and go from Canada, usually for six months at a time, without having to reapply. It is valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.
A single-entry visa allows you to come to Canada only once. After you leave Canada, you will need a new visa to travel back to Canada.
Extend Your Stay In Canada As A Visitor
If you want to extend your stay in Canada, you must apply to do so. Check your temporary resident status to make sure you apply before the expiry date. This will be on your study or work permit, the stamp in your passport or, if you do not have a stamp in your passport, 6 months from the day you entered Canada. You should apply 30 days before your status expires to:
- extend your visitor, student or work status,
- change your permit type (for example, from a study permit to a work permit) or
- change your permit condition(s) (for example, if you are studying and you want to change schools, or if you are working and you want to change jobs).
Implied Status
If you apply to extend your permit, and your visitor visa expires while you are waiting for a decision, you still have temporary resident (visitor) status. This is known as implied status. However it is important to note that once you have received communication regarding your permit / visa that you must comply with either immediately leaving Canada in the case that your visa/ permit is rejected or you may remain in Canada for the validity indicated on your visa / permit.
