Canada Visitor Visa: Requirements, Fees and How to Apply

Do you need a visitor visa, an eTA or a visitor record?

Your nationality, passport or travel document, immigration status and method of travel affect which document you need. Check IRCC’s entry-document guidance before starting an application.

A visitor visa does not itself authorize employment. If your main purpose is work or study, check the applicable permit rules before choosing an application.

Canada visitor visa requirements

IRCC assesses whether you qualify for a temporary visit. You need a valid travel document, sufficient funds and a credible explanation of why you will leave at the end of your authorized stay. Health, criminal history and previous immigration issues can also affect eligibility.

• A clear purpose: explain who you will visit, where you will go and why the proposed dates make sense.
• A realistic budget: show how you will pay for travel, accommodation and daily expenses.
• Reasons to return: provide relevant evidence of employment, business, studies, family responsibilities or other commitments.
• Accurate disclosure: answer questions about refusals and immigration history completely and consistently.

A medical examination or invitation letter may be needed depending on your situation. Review the official visitor visa eligibility requirements. An invitation or a large bank balance alone does not guarantee approval.

Visitor visa document checklist: what to prepare

Use the personalized checklist in your IRCC account and the instructions for your country of application. The examples below help you organize supporting evidence; they are not a universal list of mandatory documents.

Follow IRCC’s translation requirements for documents that are not in English or French. Keep scans legible and name files clearly. A short explanation that connects evidence to your circumstances is more useful than a large collection of unexplained documents.

Check IRCC’s application instructions and country-specific requirements.

How much money do you need for a Canada visitor visa?

There is no single universal bank-balance requirement for every ordinary visitor visa application. The amount needed depends on the length and cost of the visit and where you will stay.

Practical example: a two-week stay with a relative has a different budget from a two-month hotel trip. Prepare an itemized estimate for flights, accommodation, food, local travel and a reasonable contingency. Identify which costs you will cover and which your host will cover.

If someone else is paying, explain your relationship and provide evidence of their ability and commitment to support the visit. Explain unusual deposits instead of assuming the closing balance tells the whole story. This example is a planning aid, not an approval formula.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa

1. Confirm the right application. Check whether you need a visa or another entry document and select your actual purpose of travel.
2. Follow the current IRCC application route. Most applicants apply online. Paper applications are limited to specified exceptions; follow IRCC’s instructions for your circumstances.
3. Prepare the forms and evidence. Use your personalized checklist and any local visa-office requirements. Resolve inconsistencies before submission.
4. Pay the applicable fees and submit. Save a copy of your complete application and payment receipt.
5. Complete requested follow-up steps. Give biometrics if instructed and respond to requests for documents, a medical examination or an interview by the stated deadline.
6. Wait for the decision and follow passport instructions. An application submission or biometrics appointment is not an approval. Follow any passport request carefully.

Before submitting, compare travel dates, employment history, family information and funding details across the application. Do not invent information or conceal a previous refusal.

Visitor visa fees and processing times

Government fees are separate from professional fees, translations, medical examinations and other application costs. Check the current IRCC fee list before paying.

How long does a visitor visa take?

Processing varies by application location and case circumstances. Use IRCC’s current processing-time tool and select the appropriate visitor visa application. Published times are estimates, not deadlines or guarantees. Allow time for requested follow-up steps and passport handling; avoid relying on a promised approval date when booking travel.

What if your Canada visitor visa is refused?

A refusal is a decision on that application. It is different from a pending application or a request for more documents. Start with the refusal letter and the evidence you submitted rather than sending the same package again.

1. Identify the concern. For example, the explanation of your travel purpose, finances or temporary plans may not have been persuasive.
2. Compare the concern with your evidence. Look for missing information, contradictions or assumptions that were not explained.
3. Choose an appropriate next step. A new application should address the reasons for refusal. Reconsideration or a court challenge may require specific legal advice and can involve strict deadlines; neither is a guaranteed remedy.

Do not assume a refused file will automatically reopen when you send extra documents. If there are allegations of misrepresentation, criminality or another admissibility issue, obtain advice before reapplying. Our denied entry to Canada guide explains related border concerns.

Discuss a refusal with our team

Visa validity, arrival and extending your stay

Visa expiry and visitor status are different. The visa’s validity concerns travel to Canada; the authorized stay is determined on entry. Most visitors are admitted for up to six months, but an officer can authorize a different period. Check your passport stamp or visitor record.

Single- or multiple-entry issuance and validity are at the officer’s discretion. A ten-year multiple-entry visa is not automatic, and a long-validity visa does not authorize continuous residence for that whole period.

Prepare for questions at the border

Keep your host’s contact details, accommodation plans, visit itinerary and funding information accessible. Be ready to explain why you are visiting, how long you intend to stay and how you will support yourself. A visa does not guarantee admission.

Need more time in Canada?

Apply to extend visitor status before your authorized stay expires and follow IRCC’s visitor record instructions. A visitor record is not a new travel visa. If you plan to leave and return, separately check the entry documents you will need.

Canada visitor visa: frequently asked questions