Canada is one of the most popular destinations for travellers from around the world, whether the plan is a holiday in Toronto, a family visit in Vancouver, or a short business trip. How to get a Canada visa is a question with a simple answer on the surface: citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt need a visitor visa, officially called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), and you apply for it online with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), then give your fingerprints and photograph at a Visa Application Centre in your country. The part that takes the work is proving you will go home again — your money, your job, your family and your travel history all count.
This guide walks through the whole process in order: what the visitor visa is, who is eligible, every document you need, how the online application and biometrics work, what it costs, how long it takes, how long you can stay, and what to do if you are refused. All figures were checked against official IRCC and canada.ca pages on 5 November 2026, and the official sources are linked at the end, because Canadian immigration fees and processing times change often and the official IRCC pages always win over any guide.
Required Documents — Canada Visitor Visa (TRV) Checklist
Gather every item below before you start the online application. An incomplete file is the most common cause of delay and refusal, and IRCC will not hold your place in the queue while you find missing papers.
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| 1. Valid passport | Valid for the whole of your planned trip, with at least one blank page. Your visa cannot be valid for longer than your passport, so renew a short-validity passport first. |
| 2. Application form IMM 5257 | Completed online in the IRCC portal, with every question answered truthfully and consistently with your other documents. |
| 3. Family Information Form IMM 5645 | Details of your spouse, children, parents and siblings, as listed on your visa office checklist. |
| 4. Proof of funds | Bank statements (usually the last 4 to 6 months), salary slips, tax returns or other proof that you can pay for your flights, stay and return home. There is no fixed amount for visitors — the money must match the length and cost of your trip. |
| 5. Proof of ties to your home country | An employment letter and leave approval, business registration, property papers, family responsibilities or enrolment in studies — evidence that you have strong reasons to return home. |
| 6. Travel history and travel plan | Copies of previous visas and entry stamps, plus a short itinerary: where you will go, where you will stay, and when you will return. |
| 7. Invitation letter (if visiting family or friends) | A letter from your host in Canada with their full name, address, status in Canada, your relationship, and the purpose and length of your visit. For business visits, a letter from the Canadian company instead. |
| 8. Photographs, fee receipts and biometrics | A recent passport-style photograph to IRCC specifications, receipts for the CAD 100 visa fee and the CAD 85 biometrics fee, and your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre. Applicants aged 14 to 79 must give biometrics. |
At a glance: visitor visa fee CAD 100 per person · biometrics CAD 85 per person (total CAD 185 for a first-time adult applicant) · processing times vary by country — check the IRCC processing-times tool for your country · each stay usually up to 6 months · multiple-entry visa valid up to 10 years or until your passport expires.
What Is the Canada Visitor Visa (TRV)?
A visitor visa, officially called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an official document that IRCC sticks in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada. It is the visa you need for tourism, visiting family or friends, or a short business trip. It is not a study permit and it is not a work permit: it does not let you study for more than 6 months or take a job in Canada, and it does not lead to permanent residence on its own.
Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt need a TRV to enter Canada. The cheaper electronic travel authorisation (eTA), which costs CAD 7, is only for citizens of visa-exempt countries — if your nationality is not visa-exempt, an eTA is not an option for you. Do not pay anyone who offers to sell you an eTA when your nationality does not qualify for one: it does not exist for you, and the money is lost.
There are two kinds of visitor visa. A single-entry visa lets you enter Canada once, and it is usually valid for up to 6 months from the date it is issued. A multiple-entry visa lets you enter Canada as many times as you like while it is valid, and it is usually valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You pay the same CAD 100 fee for either kind, and IRCC decides which one to give you based on your application. Since November 2024, a multiple-entry visa is no longer the automatic default — officers now decide case by case, so a shorter validity or a single-entry visa is possible even for a strong application. Each visit is still a separate stay: the visa's validity is not the same as how long you may stay, and the border officer decides your allowed stay when you arrive.
Who Is Eligible: The Three Things IRCC Checks
Eligibility for a visitor visa comes down to three questions, and the officer must be satisfied on all three. First, are you a genuine visitor? You must convince the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorised stay. That is where your ties to your home country matter most: a stable job with approved leave, a business, property, family responsibilities, or ongoing studies. Second, can you afford the trip? You must show enough money for your travel, your stay and your return home. IRCC does not publish a fixed amount for visitors, because the right amount depends on how long you will stay and what it will cost — a two-week stay with family needs far less than a two-month hotel stay. Third, are you admissible? You must be in good health, have no criminal or immigration history that makes you inadmissible, and hold a valid passport.
Your travel history matters a great deal. Applicants who have travelled to the UK, the USA, Schengen countries or Australia and returned on time are easier to approve, because they have already shown they follow visa rules. A first-time traveller with a blank passport is not automatically refused, but the file has to work harder: the funds, the job and the travel plan must all be clear and consistent. A medical exam is not normally needed for a short visit, but IRCC can ask for one in some cases, and you would need to see a panel physician approved by IRCC.
How to Apply, Step by Step
Step 1: Check You Need a TRV and Gather Your Documents
Use IRCC's "Find out if you need a visa" tool on canada.ca to confirm you need a visitor visa, then gather every document in the checklist at the top of this article. Scan everything clearly: blurry or cut-off pages are a common reason for delays. If any document is not in English or French, get a certified translation and include the translator's declaration.
Step 2: Create an IRCC Account and Fill In the Application
Apply online through the IRCC portal (an IRCC secure account or the newer IRCC portal, depending on your situation). Fill in form IMM 5257 and upload your documents, including the Family Information Form IMM 5645. Answer every question exactly as your documents show it: a job title that does not match your employment letter, or a travel date that does not match your itinerary, creates a doubt that is hard to remove later. Do not book non-refundable flights or hotels before you have your visa — a refundable booking or a simple itinerary is enough for the application.
Step 3: Pay the Fees — CAD 100 + CAD 85
Pay online by credit or debit card when you submit the application. The visitor visa fee is CAD 100 per person, and the biometrics fee is CAD 85 per person, so a first-time adult applicant pays CAD 185 in total. A family of five or more applying together at the same time pays a maximum of CAD 500 in visa fees, and a family pays a maximum of CAD 170 for biometrics. Save the official IRCC receipts — they are your proof of payment, and you will need them later. If you underpay, IRCC will return your application; if you overpay, IRCC will start processing and refund the extra amount automatically.
Step 4: Wait for the Biometrics Instruction Letter
After you submit, IRCC will send you a biometric instruction letter in your online account if you need to give biometrics. Most applicants aged 14 to 79 must give fingerprints and a photograph. Children under 14 and people over 79 are exempt. If you have given biometrics for a Canadian application in the last 10 years and they are still valid, you may not need to give them again — but a visa cannot last longer than your biometrics, so check the expiry date in your account.
Step 5: Give Biometrics at a Visa Application Centre in Your Country
Book an appointment at a VFS Global Canada Visa Application Centre in your country as soon as your instruction letter arrives, and bring the letter and your passport. The centre only collects your biometrics and handles your passport — it does not decide your application. Appointments can be booked out for days or weeks in busy periods, so do not leave this step until the last minute: the processing clock does not move much until your biometrics are in. Be careful with anyone offering to "sell" you an appointment slot — book only through the official VFS Global channel.
Step 6: Wait for the Decision
IRCC will process your application and may ask for more documents or an interview. Processing times vary by country and change often, so check the current processing time for your country on IRCC's processing-times tool before you plan your trip, and apply at least 3 months before you want to travel. The published figure is an estimate based on how long it took to finish most complete applications in the past, not a deadline, and it does not include the time you need to give biometrics. Incomplete files, extra security checks and high application volumes can all make it longer.
Step 7: Submit Your Passport and Travel
If your application is approved, IRCC will ask you to submit your passport so the visa counterfoil can be placed in it — usually through the same visa application centre. Check the visa carefully when you get your passport back: your name, the dates, and whether it is single-entry or multiple-entry. Travel only after you have the visa, and carry your supporting documents in your hand luggage for the border officer.
How Much Does a Canada Visitor Visa Cost?
There are two payments to IRCC, both made online in Canadian dollars. The visa application centre may also charge its own separate service fee, which is paid to VFS Global and is not part of the IRCC fees — check the current VFS service fee for your country before you go to your appointment, as it changes with the exchange rate. The figures below are from IRCC's official fee list, checked on 5 November 2026. Fees change, so always confirm the current amounts on IRCC's fee list before you pay.
| Cost | Amount (Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa (TRV), single or multiple entry — per person | CAD 100 |
| Visitor visa — family of 5 or more applying together | CAD 500 maximum |
| Biometrics — per person | CAD 85 |
| Biometrics — family of 2 or more applying together | CAD 170 maximum |
| Extend your stay as a visitor (visitor record) — per person | CAD 100 |
| Restore your status as a visitor | CAD 246.25 |
For one adult applying for the first time, the total is CAD 185: CAD 100 for the visa plus CAD 85 for biometrics. For a family of four applying together, it is CAD 400 in visa fees plus CAD 170 in biometrics, or CAD 570 in total. There is no extra charge for a multiple-entry visa — the fee is the same whether IRCC issues a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa. Remember that the visa fee and the biometrics fee are paid to IRCC online, while any VFS Global service fee is separate and paid in local currency at the centre's rate.
How Long Does It Take, and How Long Can You Stay?
Processing time depends on the country you apply from, and it changes often. IRCC updates its processing-time figures regularly, and the tool is the only reliable place to check the current number for your country, so check it before you book travel — and apply well in advance. The time does not include the time you need to give biometrics, and it does not include the time your application spends moving between the visa application centre and IRCC's office.
How long you can stay is a different question from how long your visa is valid. Most visitors are allowed to stay for up to 6 months per visit. The border officer decides your exact allowed stay when you arrive, and can stamp a shorter period in your passport if they have concerns. If no date is stamped, you can usually stay for up to 6 months from the day you enter, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years does not mean you can stay in Canada for 10 years straight — it means you can enter many times over that window, for up to 6 months each time.
If you want to stay longer than the officer allowed, you must apply to extend your stay from inside Canada before your status expires. That is called a visitor record, and it costs CAD 100 per person. Apply at least 30 days before your authorised stay ends. If your status has already expired, you may be able to apply to restore it within 90 days, which costs CAD 246.25 plus the CAD 100 extension fee — but do not rely on this; apply before your status runs out.
What You Can and Cannot Do on a Visitor Visa
With a visitor visa you can travel around Canada, visit family and friends, attend business meetings and conferences, and take a course that lasts less than 6 months. You cannot work in Canada, and you cannot study for more than 6 months — a longer course needs a study permit. You also cannot use a visitor visa to move to Canada permanently, and you cannot apply for most public benefits. If you are offered a job while visiting, you must leave Canada or apply for a work permit from outside Canada in the normal way; a visitor visa does not turn into a work permit.
Other Canada Visa Routes, Briefly
The visitor visa is the right route for a short trip, but it is not the right route for everyone. A study permit is for a course longer than 6 months at a Designated Learning Institution in Canada. It costs CAD 150 per person, plus CAD 85 for biometrics, and you need a letter of acceptance, a provincial or territorial attestation letter in most cases, and proof of funds — from 1 September 2026, IRCC asks for CAD 23,448 a year for a single student outside Quebec, on top of tuition and travel. The fast-track Student Direct Stream was permanently closed on 8 November 2024, so there is now one regular study permit route for everyone.
A work permit is for a job in Canada. It costs CAD 155 per person, plus CAD 85 for biometrics, and an open work permit costs an extra CAD 100 holder fee. Most employer-specific work permits need a job offer supported by a positive LMIA from the Canadian employer, or a job offer under an LMIA-exempt category. You cannot get a work permit just by arriving in Canada on a visitor visa and looking for work. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents should also look at the super visa, a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years that allows stays of up to 5 years per entry, with its own requirements including Canadian medical insurance of at least CAD 100,000. If none of these routes fits your situation, check the family sponsorship and permanent residence programs on canada.ca instead of trying to force the visitor visa to do a job it was not designed for.
Common Reasons Canada Visitor Visa Applications Are Refused
Most refusals are not bad luck — they are paperwork problems that could have been avoided. The most common reasons are: weak ties to your home country, such as no job, no leave approval and no property or family responsibilities to return to; funds that do not match the trip, or bank statements that show a large deposit made just before applying; no travel history and a long planned stay with no clear purpose; an itinerary that does not match the invitation letter or the hotel booking; documents that are inconsistent, such as a job title that differs between the form and the employment letter; and a previous visa refusal or overstay that was not explained. Read every question on the form slowly, answer exactly what it asks, and keep copies of everything you submit.
If you are refused, read the refusal letter carefully — it tells you the exact reasons, usually in the standard wording about purpose of visit, funds, ties or travel history. There is no appeal for a visitor visa refusal, but you can reapply at any time once you have fixed the problem, and you should address each reason in the letter directly with new evidence. A second application that repeats the same file will usually get the same answer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Canada Visa
Do I need a visa to visit Canada?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt need a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) to enter Canada. The eTA, which costs CAD 7, is only for citizens of visa-exempt countries. If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you apply online with IRCC and give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre in your country.
How much does a Canada visitor visa cost?
The IRCC fees are CAD 100 for the visitor visa and CAD 85 for biometrics, so a first-time adult applicant pays CAD 185 in total. A family of five or more pays a maximum of CAD 500 in visa fees, and a family pays a maximum of CAD 170 for biometrics. The visa application centre may charge its own separate service fee on top of that.
How long does a Canada visitor visa take?
Processing times vary by country and change often. Check the current processing time for your country on IRCC's processing-times tool — it is an estimate, not a deadline, and it does not include the time to give biometrics. Apply at least 3 months before you want to travel.
How long can I stay in Canada on a visitor visa?
Usually up to 6 months per visit. The border officer decides your exact allowed stay when you arrive and can stamp a shorter period. A multiple-entry visa may be valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, but that is the visa's validity — not the length of one stay. If you want to stay longer, apply for a visitor record before your status expires.
Can I work in Canada on a visitor visa?
No. A visitor visa does not let you work or study for more than 6 months. If you want to work, you need a work permit, which usually requires a job offer supported by a positive LMIA or an LMIA-exempt job offer. A visitor visa does not turn into a work permit.
Sources and Disclaimer
Sources (checked 5 November 2026): IRCC / canada.ca — Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) (overview, fees from CAD 100, processing times), Pay for your visitor visa (IRCC fee list: visitor visa CAD 100, family maximum CAD 500, biometrics CAD 85, family maximum CAD 170, extend CAD 100, restore CAD 246.25), and the IRCC processing-times tool (check the current processing time for your country — times vary by country and are updated regularly). Study permit CAD 150 and work permit CAD 155 are from the same IRCC fee list. Immigration rules and fees change — always re-check the official IRCC pages before you apply or pay.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not immigration advice. It does not replace the official IRCC guidance on canada.ca or advice from a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. If your case is complicated — a previous refusal, a criminal record, a medical condition, or a long stay with no clear purpose — speak to a licensed adviser before you apply.