Visitor Visa
Canada temporary resident visa
Canada Visitor Visa (TRV)
A strong visitor visa application tells one clear story: why you are coming to Canada, how the trip will be funded, why the visit is temporary, and why your documents support that plan. This page is built for family visits, friends, weddings and events, business visits, short stays and tourism.
Family & friendsTourism & eventsBusiness visitsUp to 10-year visa validity possible
CAN$100current IRCC visitor visa processing fee per individual.
Up to 6 monthsis the usual stay at entry, but the border officer can allow less or more.
Up to 10 yearsvisa validity may be issued, limited by passport/biometrics and officer discretion.
Start with the right document
Visitor visa, eTA and visitor status are not the same thing
A Temporary Resident Visa is the counterfoil placed in a passport that lets a visa-required traveller present themselves for entry to Canada. Some visa-exempt travellers need an eTA instead when flying. Neither a TRV nor an eTA guarantees entry: the final admission decision is made at the border.
TRV = travel documentVisitor status = permission to remainVisitor record = status/expiry document
Purpose of visit
Build the application around the real reason for travel
IRCC asks for documents based on the applicant’s travel purpose. The evidence should match the reason for the trip rather than using one generic checklist for every visitor.
Visit family or friends
Invitation letter, relationship evidence, host status in Canada, accommodation plan, trip dates and financial support should tell one consistent story.
Tourism & sightseeing
Use a realistic itinerary, accommodation plan, travel budget and evidence of the applicant’s own circumstances. For a pure tourism-focused file, SIA’s Tourist Visa page can go deeper.
Wedding, ceremony or event
Include the event invitation or registration, dates, relationship to the event, travel arrangements and a reasonable length of stay.
Business visitor
A business visitor generally plans to stay under 6 months, does not enter the Canadian labour market, and keeps their principal business and source of income outside Canada.
Spouse/partner with PR sponsorship
If a spouse or partner has a sponsorship application in process and AOR has been received, an eligible TRV application can receive faster processing automatically. Approval is still not guaranteed.
Short study or other temporary purpose
Some short courses can be taken without a study permit, but the exact activity, duration and immigration rules must be checked before travel. A visitor visa does not itself authorize work.
Interactive readiness guide
How complete is the visitor-visa story?
This quick tool does not predict approval. It identifies which part of the application needs more evidence before filing.
Good structure — now test consistency.
Make sure dates, purpose, finances, invitation, employment and travel history agree across every form and supporting document.
Make sure dates, purpose, finances, invitation, employment and travel history agree across every form and supporting document.
Core eligibility
What IRCC expects you to establish
- A valid passport or travel document.
- Good health and no disqualifying criminal or immigration issues.
- Enough money for the trip based on length and accommodation.
- Credible ties such as employment, business, family, assets or other obligations.
- A genuine intention to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay.
Important
An invitation letter does not guarantee a visa
An invitation can explain the purpose, host, accommodation, financial arrangements and visit dates. But IRCC still assesses the applicant personally, including their finances, travel history, temporary intent and admissibility.
Documents
A stronger file is organized by evidence, not by volume
Identity & travel document
Valid passport/travel document, required digital copies, prior visas/stamps where relevant and consistent personal information.
Purpose evidence
Invitation, itinerary, hotel/accommodation, event documents, business invitation or other evidence that matches the reason selected in the application.
Financial evidence
Banking, income, employment/business evidence and sponsor/host support where applicable. IRCC does not publish one universal minimum for an ordinary visitor visa.
Home-country / residence ties
Employment, studies, business, dependants, property/assets, ongoing obligations and a realistic return plan—only where genuinely applicable.
Travel & immigration history
Previous travel, visas, refusals and compliance should be disclosed accurately. If there was a refusal, address the actual reasons instead of simply resubmitting the same file.
Medical / police / biometrics
IRCC may require extra steps. Most visitor-visa applicants need biometrics unless exempt; IRCC may also request a medical exam, police certificate, interview or additional information.
Visa validity & entry
Understand the difference between visa validity and length of stay
| Question | Current rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Single or multiple entry? | IRCC may issue either. | Do not promise that every applicant will receive a multiple-entry visa. |
| How long can the visa be valid? | Potentially up to 10 years, but not beyond the limiting passport/biometrics validity and subject to officer discretion. | Visa expiry is not the same as how long you may remain on each trip. |
| How long can I stay? | Most visitors are admitted for up to 6 months. | A border officer may authorize a shorter or longer period and may issue a visitor record. |
| Can I work? | Not just because you hold visitor status. | You need separate legal authorization to work. |
Fees & biometrics
Know the government charges before filing
Visitor visa fee
CAN$100 per person. IRCC also lists a CAN$500 maximum visitor-visa processing fee for a qualifying family of 5 or more applying together.
Biometrics
CAN$85 per individual or up to CAN$170 for an eligible family applying together. Exemptions exist, and temporary-resident biometrics can generally remain valid for 10 years.
After approval
Approval lets you travel — the border still decides admission
1
Travel with the correct passport
If your visa is in a passport, travel with the passport that contains the valid visa and any other required documents.
2
Be ready to explain the visit
Carry evidence of your purpose, accommodation, return plan and funds if requested at entry.
3
Check your authorized stay
If no different date is given, most visitors can stay for 6 months from entry or until passport expiry, whichever comes first. Follow any date on a stamp or visitor record.
4
Extend status before it expires if needed
An extension of visitor status is a separate application for a visitor record. Do not confuse extending status with extending the visa counterfoil.
Common questions
Clear answers before you apply
Is a visitor visa automatically valid for 10 years?
No. IRCC can issue a visa for up to 10 years or until the relevant passport/biometrics limit, whichever is earlier, but an officer can set a different validity based on the case.
Do I need a fixed minimum bank balance?
IRCC does not publish one universal visitor-visa minimum. The required amount depends on trip length, accommodation and who is paying. The financial evidence should be reasonable for the actual plan.
Can I change from visitor to worker or student after arrival?
Only if you qualify under the rules that apply at that time. Visitor status by itself does not give a right to work or study. SIA should assess the separate permit requirements before advising a change of status.
Does a previous refusal mean I should not reapply?
Not necessarily. But a new application should address the refusal reasons with changed facts, better evidence or a clearer explanation rather than simply resubmitting the same package.
Official verification: IRCC Visitor Visa, Eligibility, How to Apply and Prepare for Arrival. Always verify live IRCC requirements before filing.
Build a visitor visa file that makes sense from start to finish
SIA can review the purpose, invitation, funds, home ties, travel history, previous refusals and supporting evidence together before submission.
Visit us in British Columbia
Our Locations
Meet our team in Surrey or Kamloops. Choose the office most convenient for you.
