Step-by-Step Guide to a Canada Tourist visa
Step-by-Step Guide to a Canada Tourist (Visitor) Visa [2025]
Planning a holiday, family visit, or short business trip to Canada? Here’s a clear, start-to-finish guide you can follow today, with official references at each step.
1) Confirm what you actually need: Visitor Visa vs eTA
Visa-required nationals need a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa/TRV).
Visa-exempt nationals usually need an eTA only when flying to Canada (not for land/sea entry). If you already have a valid visa, you don’t need an eTA.
2) Check eligibility & your passport
You must show you’ll leave at the end of your visit, have enough funds, and meet entry requirements.
Make sure your passport is valid for the duration of travel (you’ll upload ID pages and any pages with visas/stamps).
3) Create your online application
You apply online (paper is only for limited situations like disability or certain travel documents). Use either:
IRCC Portal (standard for tourists/family/business visits), or
IRCC secure account (GCKey/Sign-In Partner).
4) Gather your documents (build a strong file)
Typical items for a tourist application include:
Passport bio page + pages with stamps/visas.
Family Information form (IMM 5645) for applicants 18+, and Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) if someone is applying for you.
Travel history (previous visas/entry stamps), purpose of travel (itinerary, bookings), proof of funds/employment, and ties to home country.
Minor children: add consent letters/custody documents if applicable.
Letter of invitation (optional) if visiting family/friends.
IRCC lists these as required/recommended items—provide what applies to you.
5) Fill the forms carefully & upload
Follow the on-screen questionnaire, upload PDFs/JPGs, and make sure everything is complete to avoid delays.
6) Pay the fees (non-refundable)
Visitor visa: CAD $100 per person (family applications may have a cap).
Biometrics (if required): CAD $85 per person.
You’ll typically pay the biometrics fee when you submit to prevent delays.
7) Watch for your Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL)
After submitting, IRCC usually issues a BIL to your account.
Book an appointment and give biometrics in person (at a Visa Application Centre or other designated site) within 30 days of the BIL. Appointments are free to book.
8) Track processing
Processing time varies by country and by how complete your file is. You can check current estimates on the IRCC site.
9) If IRCC asks for your passport
If your application is approved, IRCC will send a passport request letter with instructions. Submit your passport only after you receive this request, typically through your local Visa Application Centre (VAC) (some VACs accept courier submissions only—check your VAC’s page).
10) Get your visa & prepare to travel
When the visa counterfoil is issued, verify details (name/passport number/validity). Before travelling, carry your passport with visa (or eTA, if applicable) and supporting documents that match the purpose of your trip. CBSA confirms you may also need a visa/eTA alongside a passport.
11) On arrival in Canada: length of stay
Most visitors are allowed up to 6 months from the day they enter, unless a border officer authorizes a different period and notes it in your passport or gives you a visitor record. If there’s no stamp, assume 6 months (or until passport/biometrics expiry—whichever comes first).
12) Want to stay longer?
Apply online to extend at least 30 days before your authorized stay ends. An approved extension results in a visitor record (it doesn’t guarantee re-entry—you still need a valid visa/eTA to return from abroad).
Quick Checklist (copy/paste)
✅ Determine Visa vs eTA
✅ Valid passport (scan bio page + stamps/visas)
✅ IRCC Portal account created
✅ Forms completed (e.g., IMM 5645; IMM 5476 if using a representative)
✅ Purpose of travel docs (plans/itinerary)
✅ Funds & ties (bank statements, job letter, leave approval, property/lease)
✅ Invitation letter (if visiting family/friends)
✅ Pay fees (CAD $100 visa + CAD $85 biometrics if required)
✅ Book biometrics within 30 days of BIL
✅ Submit passport only after IRCC requests it
✅ Travel with visa/eTA + supporting docs
✅ Know your stay (typically up to 6 months)
Pro tips to strengthen your application
Explain your trip in a short cover letter: dates, cities, who you’ll visit, and how you’ll fund it.
Show ties (employment letter, business registration, school admission, family obligations, property/lease).
Match your story to your documents (itinerary and funds should make sense together).
Avoid placeholders—book cancellable plans where possible rather than speculative reservations.
Key official pages (for reference)
Visitor visa overview & sections, fees link, processing times.
How to apply (IRCC Portal/secure account, documents, paper-only exceptions).
Current government fees (visa & biometrics).
Biometrics: how/where & 30-day window.
VACs & passport submission (after request only).
Length of stay on entry (usually up to 6 months).
Important notes (as of September 5, 2025)
Government fees and processes can change. Always cross-check the IRCC pages linked above for the latest instructions and timelines. FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you want, tell me your country of residence and travel dates, and I’ll tailor this into a personal checklist with likely documents and a simple cover-letter template.
