visitor visa
Visitor visa
A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document that we stick in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada.
Most travellers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need one if you’re transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.
You can apply for a visitor visa online or on paper.
How long you can stay
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.
At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they’ll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document, called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave by.
To visit Canada, you must:
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- Be in a good health
- Satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
- Have enough money for stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
- A temporary resident visa, depending on your citizenship.
- A medical examination
- A letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
