Common purposes
Tourism, family visits, business and compassionate travel
Temporary travel with a clear purpose
Canada Visitor Visa (TRV) Guidance
Plan a temporary visit to Canada with a clear purpose, realistic timeline and evidence that addresses funds, travel history, home-country ties, invitations and your intention to leave at the end of the authorized stay.
Officer assessment
Purpose, ties, funds, travel history and admissibility
Document plan
Evidence varies according to the reason for travel
What this pathway requires
Depending on citizenship and mode of travel, a visitor may need a temporary resident visa or an electronic travel authorization. The reason for travel affects the documents and application route.
How we structure the file
- Clarify the exact purpose and dates
- Document funds and who will pay
- Show employment, family, property or other ties
- Prepare invitation and host evidence where relevant
- Address previous refusals or inconsistent travel history
Visitor visa or eTA?
The travel document you need depends on your citizenship, travel document and how you travel to Canada. A visitor visa is placed in a passport; an eTA is electronically linked to a passport for eligible air travellers.
How long can a visitor stay?
Many visitors are admitted for up to six months, but the border services officer decides the authorized period when the traveller enters Canada.
What evidence matters?
A complete file should make the purpose, funding, itinerary, invitation evidence and reasons to return home easy to understand and internally consistent.
What happens after applying?
Applicants may need to provide biometrics, respond to additional requests and submit a passport or travel document if the application is approved.
Common application directions
Tourism or family visit
Build an itinerary and evidence that matches the duration and available funds.
Business visitor
Clarify the Canadian activity and why it does not amount to entering the labour market.
Super visa
A separate option for eligible parents and grandparents with distinct requirements.
Extension of stay
A visitor record may be needed to remain longer in Canada; it is not a travel document.
A simple working sequence
From uncertainty to a document plan.
01
Review the facts
Confirm status, history, goals, timelines and the documents already available.
02
Confirm the route
Compare the relevant program requirements with the facts of the case.
03
Build the evidence file
Organize forms, proof and explanations so that the application tells one consistent story.
Visitor visa questions
Answers to common planning questions.
Does a visitor visa guarantee entry to Canada?
No. A valid visa permits travel to a Canadian port of entry, but a border services officer makes the final decision on admission and the authorized length of stay.
What should a visitor visa application explain?
The application should clearly explain why you are travelling, how the trip will be funded, where you will stay, your relevant travel history and the personal, professional or financial ties that support your return.
Can parents or grandparents stay longer with a Super Visa?
Eligible parents and grandparents may use the Super Visa route, which has separate host-income, medical examination and health-insurance requirements. Current rules should always be checked before applying.
Do all visitor visa applicants need biometrics?
Many applicants need to provide fingerprints and a photograph, although exemptions apply. IRCC provides instructions after an application is submitted.
Can a previous refusal be addressed?
A new application should respond directly to the refusal reasons and include material evidence or explanations that were missing or unclear in the earlier file.
