Canada Visitor Visa (TRV): Requirements, Documents and Fees
Planning a holiday or a family visit to Canada? If your country needs a visa, this is the one. Here is exactly what the officer wants to see, the documents to include and how to avoid the most common refusals.
- Visa fee$100
- Biometrics$85
- Usual stay6 months
- Longest validity10 years
- Extend stay$100
- Biometrics booking30 days
Fees are set by IRCC and paid online when you apply.
- Visa fee
- $100 per person
- Biometrics
- $85
- Usual stay
- Up to 6 months
- Validity
- Up to 10 years
Document checklist
Is your visitor visa application ready?
Tick what you already have. Missing items are the most common reason for refusal.
Tick the documents you already have.
Get my file reviewedWhat is a Canada visitor visa (TRV)?
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), usually called a Canada visitor visa, is a sticker placed in your passport. It shows that a visa officer has approved you to travel to Canada as a temporary resident. Citizens of visa-required countries need one to visit Canada as a tourist, to see family or friends, or for a short business trip.
The same visa sticker is also issued to students and workers from visa-required countries when their study or work permit is approved. This page covers the visitor visa for tourism and family visits. If you are not sure you need a visa at all, start with our Visit Canada guide.
A visitor visa lets you travel to Canada. It does not decide how long you can stay. The border officer decides that when you arrive, and the usual answer is up to six months.
Who can get a Canada visitor visa
You can get a visitor visa if you:
- Have a valid passport
- Are in good health and have no serious criminal or immigration history
- Can convince the officer you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- Have enough money for your stay and your return trip
- Have ties to your home country, such as a job, a business, property, studies or family
- Have a clear and believable reason for the trip
Some people may also need a medical exam, for example if they plan to stay more than six months and lived recently in certain countries, or a letter of invitation from someone in Canada.
Documents required for a Canada visitor visa
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Passport and old passports | Your identity and your past travel |
| Bank statements for the last 4 to 6 months | You can pay for the trip, with a normal pattern of savings |
| Employment letter, leave approval and pay slips | You have a job to return to |
| Business registration and tax returns (if self-employed) | Your business is real and earns money |
| Property papers or family documents | Your ties to your home country |
| Letter of invitation from your host in Canada | Who you are visiting, where you will stay and who pays |
| Host's proof of status and income | Your host is a citizen, permanent resident or legal resident who can support you |
| Travel plan or itinerary | How long you will stay and what you will do |
Do not buy a flight ticket before you get your visa. A flight reservation or plan is enough.
Letter of invitation for a Canada visitor visa
If you are visiting family or friends, a letter of invitation makes your application much stronger. It is a letter written and signed by your host in Canada. It should include:
- Your full name, date of birth, address and relationship to the host
- The purpose of your trip, how long you plan to stay and where you will stay
- How you will pay for the trip, or if the host will pay
- The host's full name, date of birth, address, phone number, job and status in Canada
- A copy of the host's passport, PR card or citizenship proof, and an employment letter or recent notice of assessment
A letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa. The officer still needs to be satisfied that you meet every requirement on your own.
How to apply for a Canada visitor visa
- Check you need a visaUse the IRCC tool or our visa finder. If you only need an eTA, do not apply for a visa.
- Gather your documentsScan clear colour copies. Translate anything that is not in English or French and include the translator's statement.
- Apply onlineCreate an IRCC account, fill in the forms, upload documents and pay $100 plus $85 for biometrics.
- Give biometricsBook a visa application centre appointment after you get your biometrics letter. You have 30 days. If you gave biometrics in the last 10 years, you may not need to again.
- Send your passportIf approved, IRCC asks for your passport so the visa can be placed in it.
- Travel and meet the border officerCarry the same documents you used to apply. The officer decides how long you can stay.
Visitor visa fees and processing time
| Item | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa, per person | $100 |
| Family applying together (maximum) | $500 |
| Biometrics, one person | $85 |
| Biometrics, family applying together (maximum) | $170 |
| Extend your stay (visitor record) | $100 |
Processing times depend on the country you apply from and change every week. Check the current time on the IRCC website before you plan your trip, and apply well in advance for weddings, graduations and other fixed dates.
Single entry vs multiple entry visa
A single entry visa lets you enter Canada once. A multiple entry visa lets you come and go as many times as you like while it is valid, up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires.
Since November 2024, officers no longer give the longest possible multiple entry visa by default. They decide the number of entries and the validity based on your purpose and your history. If you need to travel often, explain why in your application.
Visitor visa refused? Common reasons and what to do
Refusal letters usually point to one or more of these reasons:
- Purpose of visit: the officer was not convinced the trip is what you say it is.
- Family ties: your closest family lives in Canada, or you are travelling without the people who would bring you home.
- Financial situation: funds were too low, unexplained or recently deposited.
- Employment: your job or business does not show strong ties at home.
- Travel history: little travel, or past refusals that were not disclosed.
Before you reapply, get the officer's notes (called GCMS notes) so you know exactly what went wrong. A new application with the same documents will usually be refused again. In some cases, a Federal Court review is possible, but the deadline is short.
Frequently asked questions
How much bank balance is needed for a Canada visitor visa?
There is no fixed amount. You need enough to cover your flights, stay and daily costs for the length of your trip, or proof that your host will pay. A steady balance over several months is better than a large recent deposit.
Can I apply for a Canada visitor visa without a letter of invitation?
Yes. A letter of invitation is only expected when you are visiting family or friends. Tourists can show hotel bookings and a travel plan instead.
Can I apply for a visitor visa after a refusal?
Yes, there is no waiting period. But you should only reapply after you fix the reasons for the refusal and add new evidence. Getting your GCMS notes first is the best way to see what went wrong.
Does a visitor visa allow me to work in Canada?
No. You cannot work in Canada on a visitor visa, and you cannot switch to a work permit from inside Canada as a visitor. You need to qualify for a work permit separately.
How long is a Canada visitor visa valid?
Up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first. The officer decides the validity and the number of entries. Each stay is usually up to six months.
Can my parents visit for longer than six months?
On a visitor visa they can apply to extend their stay. For longer visits, the Super Visa lets parents and grandparents stay up to five years at a time.
About this guide. This page is written by 4Ways Canada Immigration, a team of licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) based at 2250 Bovaird Drive E, Unit 418, Brampton, ON. It is based on official information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and was last updated in October 2026.
Immigration rules change often. This page is general information, not legal advice. Contact us or check the official sources below before you apply.
Official sources: IRCC: Visitor visa, IRCC: Letter of invitation, IRCC: Fee list, IRCC: Check processing times