Visit Canada

Tourist visa to Canada

If you want to come to Canada for tourism or leisure you will most likely need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa, also known as Tourist Visa or Visitor Visa. However, people coming from certain countries may be visa-exempt and must apply for eTA instead.

We’re here to help you with your temporary stay in Canada…

 

Temporary Resident Visa

Apply for a Tourist Visa to Canada

Whether you’re applying for the first time or it’s your second or even third application for a Visitor Visa to Canada - we will work with you on preparing a solid Canada TRV application.

Visitor Record

Extend your temporary stay in Canada

If you’re already in Canada on a Temporary Resident Visa or in any other status, we can assist you with preparing a Visitor Record application to help you stay longer in Canada.

challenge a refusal

Help you overcome a refusal of a TRV

Was your Tourist Visa refused and you don’t think the refusal is fair or reasonable? These are the scenarios where challenging a refusal in the Federal Court may be a sound option for you.

Visitor Visa to Canada or ETA?

Do you need a visa to come to Canada?

Planning a trip to Canada for tourism or leisure? The first step is determining whether you need a Visitor Visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). This depends on several factors:

  • Type of Travel Document: Your passport, refugee travel document, alien's passport for stateless persons, or green card.

  • Nationality: The country that issued your travel document.

  • Mode of Travel: Whether you plan to enter Canada by air, sea, train, car, or on foot.

 

Visa-Exempt Visitors

Get an eTA to visit Canada

Canada has established international agreements with numerous countries, allowing citizens from these countries to visit Canada for tourism or leisure without needing a Visitor Visa, provided their stay is less than 6 months. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you only need to obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before traveling to Canada.

Non-Visa-Exempt Visitors

Apply for Canadian Temporary Resident Visa

If your country does not have an international agreement with Canada for a visa-free regime, you will need a Canadian Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) stamped in your passport before you can board a plane and appear at a Canadian Port of Entry. This visa is essential for verifying your eligibility to visit Canada and ensuring a smooth entry process.

Properly explaining your temporary intent, demonstrating strong ties to your home country, and submitting an application with a detailed submission letter and solid evidence are crucial to pre-empting any concerns the officer might have about your intent to leave Canada before the end of your authorized stay. Essentially, the onus is on you to convince the officer that you will comply with the conditions of your Tourist Visa to Canada. We’re here to help you with this uneasy task!

How to apply for a Tourist Visa to Canada?

To apply for a Temporary Resident Visa in Canada you must meet some basic requirements, such as:

  • have a valid travel document;

  • you must be admissible to Canada, not be a risk to the security of Canada, and have no criminal or immigration-related convictions;

  • satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay;

  • show that you have enough money to maintain yourself and your family members in Canada and to return home;

  • you must not intend to work or study in Canada (unless you’re authorized to do so).

What documents you need to apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada?

 

To apply for a Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) to Canada you must fill out the application forms and collect supporting documents. The list of documents you’ll need to prepare greatly depends on your individual circumstances and your country-specific requirements. Below is a typical and non-exhaustive list of the documents you will need to submit when you apply for a Temporary Resident Visa to Canada:

  1. Valid Passport

  2. Completed Application Forms (Signed and validated.)

  3. Proof of Financial Support (Such as bank statements, pay stubs, employment letters, or other proof of income or savings.)

  4. Photographs

  5. Letter of Invitation from your host (If you’re visiting family or friends.)

  6. Travel Itinerary (A detailed plan for the duration of your stay, round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, etc.)

  7. Proof of Ties to Your Home Country (This could be your employment, ownership of real property, family commitments, or other obligations that require your return to your home country. The list is dependent on your individual circumstances - what works for one applicant, may not work for another, so make sure you speak to an immigration practitioner to check what should be added as evidence of your ties to your home country to minimize the risk of refusal.)

  8. Purpose of Travel (A detailed Letter of Intent, outlining the purpose of your trip, highlighting your ties to your home country, and explaining your financial and familial circumstances is key to filing a well-prepared application for Temporary Residence in Canada. This is your chance to convince the officer that your trip to Canada will only be for a short period of time and that you will leave Canada before the end of your authorized stay.)

  9. Medical Examination (Depending on your country of residence and the length of your stay, you may need to undergo a medical examination.)

  10. Biometric Information (You may be required to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometrics) after you submit the TRV application.)

  11. Application Processing Fees

Important!

Having a Canadian Tourist Visa or an eTA does not guarantee entry into Canada. Your Visa or eTA only allow you to appear at the border (or board a plane and fly to Canada) and be examined by a Border Services Officer, who will make the final decision on whether to admit you to Canada.

Frequently asked questions

You probably still have many questions about Canada Tourist Visa.

We’ve got some answers for you here:

  • A Visitor Visa typically allows you to stay in Canada for up to six months. The exact length of your stay will be determined by the CBSA officer when you arrive in Canada.

  • Yes, you can apply to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor. You must submit an application for a Visitor Record before your current TRV visa expires, explaining why you need more time to stay in Canada.

  • The processing time for a Canadian Visitor Visa varies depending on your country of residence and the volume of applications. It can range from a few weeks to several months, so it’s best to apply well in advance of your planned travel dates.

  • No, a Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) and a Visitor Record are not the same. A TRV is a document that allows you to enter Canada, while a Visitor Record is issued if you extend your stay and indicates the new expiration date of your authorized stay in Canada.

  • There is no set amount, but you must demonstrate that you have enough funds to cover your expenses during your stay in Canada. This includes accommodation, transportation, food, and other living expenses.

  • No, a Visitor Visa does not permit you to work in Canada. If you want to work, you must apply for a Work Permit.

  • Most likely no! Normally you would need a study permit to study in Canada. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if your course or program is six months or less. For longer programs, you need to apply for a study permit.

  • You can prove your intent to leave Canada by providing sufficient evidence of ties to your home country, such as a job, family, property, or other obligations. Properly explaining the purpose of your trip is also important. Reach out to our team of Canadian Immigration Lawyers to determine what documents you should include in your Canada Visitor Visa application.

  • No, you do not need a lawyer to apply for a TRV in Canada. The process is designed to be straightforward enough for individuals to apply on their own. However, you should carefully consider reaching out to a lawyer to avoid making any mistakes in your TRV application. Getting your first application right is crucial to avoid any further complications when and if you reapply for a Visitor Visa after your first refusal.

  • If your Visitor Visa application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal. Those are not very informative, so you’d also want to request the GCMS notes for more detailed reasons. Our lawyers can help you with that and will guide you on the strategy you should choose.

  • You’d need to apply for a Visitor Record if you want to extend your temporary stay in Canada. Visitor Record allows you to remain longer in Canada. TRV allows you to appear at the border before the immigration officer before you’re admitted to Canada.

    VR and TRV are designed for different purposes, and in some situations, you need one over the other. In some scenarios, you’d need both.