Canadian Visitor Visa (TRV): Who Needs One and How to Apply

TL;DR — A Canadian visitor visa, formally a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is required for citizens of visa-required countries to enter Canada for tourism, business, family visits, or transit. The application is filed online through the IRCC portal in most cases, costs CAD $100, and includes biometrics collection (an additional CAD $85 individual fee or $170 family fee). A visa may be issued as single-entry or multiple-entry, valid for up to 10 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Who needs a visitor visa

All travellers to Canada need either a visitor visa, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or — in the case of U.S. citizens and a small number of other exempt categories — neither.

Visa-required countries: passport holders from approximately 140 countries (including India, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and most of Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia and Latin America) need a visitor visa to enter Canada by any means.
Visa-exempt eTA countries: passport holders from approximately 57 countries (including the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, and most of the European Union) do not need a visitor visa for short stays but must obtain an eTA when flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport.
eTA-conditional countries (introduced in 2017 and expanded since): citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico (post-February 2024 changes), Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay can apply for an eTA instead of a TRV if they hold a valid United States nonimmigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years. Without those qualifying conditions they need a TRV.
U.S. citizens: do not need a visa or eTA. A valid U.S. passport is sufficient.

IRCC publishes an authoritative "Find out if you need a visa" tool on canada.ca that returns the correct answer based on a traveller's citizenship, passport type, mode of travel, and intended purpose.

Eligibility requirements

In addition to citizenship-based requirements, every visitor-visa applicant must:

Hold a valid travel document (passport or equivalent).
Be in good health (a medical exam is required for some applicants depending on duration and country of residence).
Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions that would make them inadmissible.
Convince an immigration officer that they have ties to their home country (employment, home, financial assets, family) and that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay.
Have enough money to support themselves during the visit, plus return travel.
Provide additional documents that the visa office may request, depending on the country of residence and applicant's circumstances.

Applicants must not work or study during a visit unless they hold the appropriate work or study permit. Most visitors are admitted for up to six months at the port of entry.

How to apply

Online application

The vast majority of visitor visa applications are filed online through the IRCC Portal. The candidate creates an account, completes a digital application, uploads supporting documents, pays the visa and biometrics fees, and receives a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL).

Paper application

Paper applications are limited to specific cases (applicants with disabilities that prevent online filing, applicants with specific identity documents issued to refugees or stateless persons). Paper guides include IMM 5256 and a country-specific Visa Office Instructions packet.

Biometrics

After receiving the BIL, applicants between 14 and 79 years old must attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in person within 30 days to provide biometrics (10 fingerprints + photograph). VAC appointments are free; only the biometrics fee paid at the time of application applies. Biometrics are valid for 10 years and can be reused for subsequent applications.

Documents typically required

A valid passport or travel document.
Two recent passport-style photographs (size, background, and quality requirements per IRCC photo specifications).
Proof of financial support (bank statements, employment letter, payslips).
Travel itinerary or letter of invitation (for family visits).
Purpose-of-visit explanation.
For business visitors: invitation letter from the host company.
Country-specific items per the visa office instructions for the applicant's region.

Fees and validity

Visitor visa fee (single or multiple entry): CAD $100.
Family fee (5+ family members applying together): CAD $500 maximum.
Biometrics fee: CAD $85 individual / CAD $170 family.
Validity: a multiple-entry visa is typically issued and is valid up to 10 years or until the passport expires (whichever is sooner). Each visit is generally limited to six months unless extended.
Super Visa (parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents): a different multi-entry visa valid up to 10 years that allows stays up to 5 years per visit; requires private medical insurance and minimum income (LICO) sponsorship from the host child or grandchild.

Processing times

Processing times vary widely by visa office and country of residence — from approximately 2 weeks for some low-volume offices to 6+ months for high-volume markets. IRCC publishes a live processing-time tool on canada.ca that lists current estimates by program and country.

Processing times do not include the time required to collect biometrics or for medical/security checks if those are requested. The application clock starts when IRCC receives a complete application with all fees paid.

After the application

If approved, IRCC affixes a counterfoil (paper visa) inside the applicant's passport. The applicant must travel to Canada with that passport. Approval does not guarantee entry — at the port of entry a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer makes the final decision and can refuse admission or limit the authorized stay.

If refused, IRCC sends a letter explaining the reason. Common refusal reasons include weak ties to the home country, insufficient funds, incomplete documentation, or concerns about the applicant's intended purpose. There is no formal appeal of a visitor-visa refusal, but applicants can re-apply with stronger documentation. In some cases, judicial review at the Federal Court is available within 60 days of the refusal.

Key facts at a glance

Cost: CAD $100 (visa) + CAD $85 (biometrics).
Maximum visa validity: 10 years (or until passport expires).
Maximum single visit: 6 months (or as marked at port of entry).
Biometrics validity: 10 years.
Application channel: online (IRCC Portal) for most; paper in limited cases.
Processing service standard: published per visa office.
Required age for biometrics: 14 to 79.

Source attribution

This article rewrites public information published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/visitor-visa.html. The original Government of Canada content is licensed under the Open Government Licence — Canada.

Verify on canada.ca

All fees, processing standards, and country-specific rules should be verified on canada.ca before applying: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/visitor-visa.html. Visa-requirement lists and processing-time estimates change frequently.

IRCC.com is an independent news and information aggregator. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada and do not provide immigration services or advice. For personalized help, contact a CICC-licensed RCIC or a Canadian immigration lawyer.

IRCC.com is independent and not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Verify all details on canada.ca/immigration.