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Visitor Visa & eTA

Most foreign nationals need either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. The required document depends on nationality. This pillar covers visitor visas, eTAs, the Super Visa, transit visas, and visitor-record extensions.

What this section covers

  • TRV — single vs multiple entry
  • eTA — eligible countries and validity
  • eTA for green-card holders
  • Visitor Record (extending visitor status from inside Canada)
  • Super Visa — eligibility and insurance
  • Transit visa requirements
  • Restoration of status
  • Dual-intent considerations
  • Common refusal reasons
  • Reapplying after a visitor visa refusal
  • Country-specific application guides (top source countries)

Latest in Visitor Visa & eTA

23 articles

Canada eTA Indonesia Malaysia: 2026 guide

Indonesia and Malaysia citizens can now use eTA instead of visitor visas if they hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or Canadian visa from the last 10 years. Eligibility, application steps, and what to do if you don't qualify.

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Canada Strong Pass — what it is and how it relates to immigration

Canada Strong Pass is a proposed tourism facilitation program for select visa-required countries. It's not live in 2026, doesn't replace eTA or TRVs, and applicants should use existing routes.

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Canada visitor visa processing time 2026 — country-by-country (post-biometrics)

Canada visitor visa processing times after biometrics vary wildly by country—India and Pakistan often wait 8–12 weeks, while Germany clears in 2–3. Why the gap, what slows high-volume offices, and what applicants can do while waiting.

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UK visa from Canada 2026 — Standard Visitor Visa application guide

Canadian citizens visit the UK visa-free, but PRs from visa-national countries need the £127 Standard Visitor Visa. Biometrics in Toronto or Vancouver, 3-week processing, and the full document checklist.

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Canada tightens entry requirements for sea arrival from…

Most visa-exempt travellers from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon now require electronic travel authorizations to enter Canada by sea, effective 1:00 a.m. EDT on June 5, 2026. The new requirement applies to arrivals by ferry, commercial vessels, and private vessels.

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How to contact IRCC — every official phone, email, portal route

Complete directory of IRCC contact routes: call centre numbers, web form process, Help Centre tools, and when each channel works for visitor visas, work permits, and PR applications.

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Canada Expands eTA Eligibility for Travellers From Indonesia and Malaysia…

Canada has expanded electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) eligibility to include travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia who hold valid United States non-immigrant visas or have held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years.

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BREAKING: Canada to suspend immigration documents for residents of Uganda,…

Canada will suspend immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan starting May 27 at 11:59 p.m.

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Canada Expands eTA Eligibility to Indonesia and Malaysia, Easing Business…

Canada has expanded its electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program to include citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia, effective immediately, according to [an announcement reported by VisaHQ](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxPXzNQVFlMbmgxU1o0VE56b29KVm1EYl95bU1DU

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Canada to drop visa requirement for citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia

Canada will drop the visa requirement for some Indonesian and Malaysian citizens starting May 26 at 5:30 a.m. EDT, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced May 25.

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Super Visa Travel Insurance: 2026 guide

Super visa insurance must cover $100K emergency medical, hospitalization, and repatriation for one year minimum. Cost, pre-existing condition traps, and proof-of-coverage mechanics for 2026.

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Canada visa from India 2026 — which visa do you actually need

Explore which visa you need to travel to Canada from India in 2026, including TRV, eTA, study permit, work permit, and super visa.

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Super Visa Processing Time: 2026 guide

Explore the processing time for Super Visas in Canada for 2026, including factors that may affect it.

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Social Insurance Number: 2026 guide

Learn about Social Insurance Numbers in Canada, who needs one, how to apply, and eligibility requirements.

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Canada tourist visa from India 2026 — application, approval odds, refusal recovery

Apply for a Canada tourist visa from India with our step-by-step guide, including TRV application requirements, VAC submission process, and tips for overcoming refusal

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Canada visitor visa processing time from India 2026 — by VAC and visa office

Explore Canada visitor visa processing times from India in 2026, comparing VACs and understanding refusal rates.

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Canada visa processing time 2026 — by country and visa type

Canada visa processing times in 2026 range 15–100 days by country and type. India, Nigeria, Pakistan consistently hit the upper end due to volume and verification load—here's the real breakdown.

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Super visa Canada 2026: insurance, income, and application

Super visa 2026: LICO income thresholds, $100K insurance mandate, application mechanics, and when a regular visitor visa works better for parents and grandparents.

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eTA vs visitor visa 2026: which one you need by passport

eTA vs visitor visa 2026: your passport country decides which you need. Visa-exempt nationals flying in get eTA; visa-required nationals need TRV; land arrivals skip eTA entirely.

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Visitor visa refusal common reasons and how to overcome them

Visitor visa refusals cite 'insufficient ties', 'purpose of visit', or 'travel history'—but the letter won't tell you what to fix. This guide decodes the boilerplate and explains how to rebuild a winning reapplication.

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Canada Opens New Visa Application Centre in Portugal (Lisbon, 2024)

On February 8, 2024, Canada and Portugal partnered to open a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lisbon, operated by VFS Global. The VAC streamlines visa applications and biometrics collection for Portuguese applicants and others in the region.

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Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Who Needs It and How to Apply

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a digital entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. It costs CAD $7, is valid up to 5 years, and is electronically linked to the traveller's passport.

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

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. Applicants from many countries can apply online; the visa fee is CAD $100 and biometrics are req

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Processing times by country

Live IRCC processing-time tracking for visitor visa & eta applications.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visitor visa or an eTA to visit Canada?

It depends on your passport. Visa-required nationals need a TRV; visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada need an eTA (US citizens are exempt from both). Check IRCC's official visitor visa tool to determine which document applies to your nationality.

Can I extend my visitor stay in Canada?

Yes — apply for a Visitor Record at least 30 days before your status expires. A Visitor Record extends temporary resident status inside Canada but is not a re-entry document.

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