Canada ... the Land of Maple Leaf
Canada is home to millions of visitors each year. More than 35 million people visit Canada every year to enjoy the many opportunities our country has to offer, including visiting family and friends. In fact, Canada repeatedly is lauded as one of the world's most livable countries. The expanse of Canada's natural beauty, from mountains and glaciers to secluded lakes and forests, is almost unparalleled worldwide.
But Canada's allure is not just the great outdoors. Canada has cosmopolitan cities that are clean, safe, friendly, and multicultural. Canada has many modern, multicultural cities, each with its own distinct personality. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are possibly the best-known, but there are so many others that highlight different aspects of Canada, such as its maritime culture, mountainous landscape, French history, or its indigenous people. Each city is delightful for different reasons.
If you wish to come to Canada for a temporary purpose like a vacation, or to visit family or friends, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa, unless you are a citizen from a “visa exempt” country like the USA or Australia. Canadian Visitor Visas allow those foreign nationals to visit Canada with the freedom to reunite with friends, family, or even just explore a new country.
22
International Visitors (2019)
13
Provinces and Territories
9985000
Land Size (Square KM)
Canada Visitor Visa
When someone wants to go to Canada for a short period of time, usually less than 6 months, they have to get a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Within this group of visas, there are different types depending on the reason why you want to go to Canada. One of these types is the Canadian Visitor Visa which is also known as a Tourist Visa for Canada. The Canada Visitor Visa allows the holder to go to Canada for purposes such as: (i) Tourism or holidays in Canada, (ii) Visiting family.
Canada Tourist / Visitor Visa Requirements
There are a number for basic requirements for a Canadian visitor visa. These requirements include:
- Have a valid travel document (passport)
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Proof of your ties to your home country: job, home, financial assets or family
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Canada.
- A letter of invitation from a person inviting you to come to Canada
Visitor Visa vs Tourist Visa
Many people will wonder what is the difference between a tourist visa to Canada and a visitor visa to Canada.
The answer is, nothing! They are the same thing just said two different ways.
People will refer to tourist visas for those coming to Canada to explore. A visitor visa is often referred to those looking to visit friends or family.
Either way a Tourist Visa to Canada and a Visitor Visa to Canada is the same thing!
Canada Visitor Visa Extension
If you want to stay longer than 6 months in Canada with a tourist visa, you will need a visitor visa extension. This extension is called a Visitor Record. You have to apply for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record) at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.
What is a Visitor Record? Unlike a visitor visa, the visitor record is not attached to your passport. It is an independent document which the IRCC gives you when they approve your application for visa extension. The visitor record includes the date by which you have to leave Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to commonly asked questions about Canada Visitor Visa.
Visitor visas have different “features”. Some are single entry visas, which mean that they are for one entry to Canada only. If you leave Canada and wish to return, you will have to apply for another visa unless you are traveling to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon. However, some visas are multiple entry visas which allow people to leave and return to Canada during the validity of their visas.
Some people do not require a visa to visit Canada, such as citizens of:
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Brunei
Chile
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea, Republic of
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Portugal
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan, Province of China
United Kingdom
United States of America **
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Zimbabwe
*If you are a British citizen or British Overseas Citizen who is re-admissible to the United Kingdom; a Citizen of British dependent territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands you then do not need a visitor visa to travel to Canada.
**If you are someone who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence and in possession of your alien registration card (USA Green Card), or can provide other evidence of permanent residence, you do not need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, either.
***If you are a Turkish citizen traveling on a diplomatic passport; or a person holding a passport or travel documents issued by the Holy See, you too do not need a TRV to travel to Canada.
Pretty much everyone else who was not mentioned as being exempt will need a TRV to travel to Canada, such as citizens of: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Hercegovina, Brazil, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina-Faso, Burundi, Cambodia Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, (The), Democratic Republic of Congo, (The), Cuba, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli orange “Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport”) Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, (former Yugoslav Republic of) Malagasy Republic, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, (Burma) Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pacific, Islands, U.S. Trust Territory Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St., Lucia, St. Vincent, Sudan, Surinam, Swaziland, Syria, Tadjikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
No one can make any guarantees of how long it will take the Canadian government to process your TRV applications, but we recommend to apply at least 2 months in advance of your planned departure from Canada in order to avoid disappointment. It can be done faster with guidance of professional immigration help. One or more of the following factors could delay the processing of your application:
- incomplete applications
- medical exam required
- background or security checks required
- criminal record
- interview required
- verification of documents needed
If you’re currently in Canada and want to stay longer than your visa’s expiration date, you could file for an extension. In order to apply for an extension, you will need to fill out an IMM 5708 Form.
If your application to extend your stay in Canada is approved, you will receive a visitor record.
A visitor record:
- is a document that says how long you can stay in Canada
- includes an expiry date
- that’s the date that you must leave Canada by
A visitor record does not guarantee entry to Canada. If you plan to travel outside Canada or the United States, you need a valid entry document to return to Canada.
What is the IMM 5708 Form?
Form IMM 5708, Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Visitor or Temporary Resident Permit Holder, is the form used by temporary residents to modify some conditions of their residency in Canada.
This form can be used to extend your temporary resident permit as many times as you like, provided you can show that your stay remains temporary.
This form does not affect one’s status as a student or as a temporary worker in Canada. To extend the student or work permits, applicants should use a different application.
What are the Requirements to Extend a Canada Visitor Visa?
- You need to be currently in Canada
- You need to hold a current passport that will stay valid for the duration of your stay
- You will need to pay the associated fee for Form IMM 5708
- You will need to ensure that any other permits that you hold (Study or work) will stay valid and not interfere with your visitor permit.
Canada Visitor Visa Restoration
Once your current visitor visa expires, you are no longer to extend your visitor visa. If you want to stay in Canada then you will have to apply to restore your status or you will have to leave Canada. You have to apply for a Restoration of Status within 90 days of your visitor visa expiration date.
Restoration of Status Requirements
- Pay Restoration Fees
- Provide details on:
- Why you want to stay in Canada longer
- Proof of current status in Canada
- Financial proof that you will be able to support yourself in Canada
- A plan of when you will leave Canada with departure time and dates.
- Demostrate that your residence in Canada is temporary.
To be eligible for a Canada Tourist Visa, the applicant must fulfill some criteria. These requirements determine whether someone is allowed to apply for the visa and hold it.
If you cannot prove that you are eligible for the Canada Visitor visa, then they will reject you based on the fact that you are inadmissible in Canada. If you are proven to be inadmissible, then your only way of getting into the country is to get a Temporary Resident Permit.
To apply for a Tourist Visa for Canada, you will also have to submit some documents, as follows:
- Standard requirements for Canada visa.
- Canada Tourist Visa Application Form.
- Your bank or other financial statements to prove you have enough funds for the trip to Canada.
- A travel itinerary if you have already booked your air tickets, or just a description of what you plan to do once in Canada.
- A Canada visa letter of invitation from your family or friends if you are visiting them.
- Proof of the relationship if you are visiting your family.
- The immigration statuses of your family or friends if you are visiting them.
- Bank statements or other financial statements of your friends or family if you are visiting them.
- A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a Tourist visa.
- Two photos that meet the Canada Photo Requirements.
- Your employment or education status through a resume or diplomas, as well as a letter from your employer stating that you have contractual obligations to fulfill and you must return to your home country.
- Proof that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your visit is over, such as a lease, property deed, and so on.
- Proof that you do not plan to work or study in Canada.
- Court documents that prove you have a clean criminal history.
All the documents that you have that are in another language other than English or French should be translated.
To start the application for the Canada Visitor Visa, there are several forms and steps that you as the applicant must go through. The steps for applying for a Canada visitor visa are explained below:
- Confirm your eligibility for the Canada visitor visa.
- Complete the documents required for a Canada tourist visa.
- Submit the Canada Tourist Visa Application form.
- Wait for processing and respond to additional requests for information.
- Send your passport for stamping.
The application fee per person for a Canada Visitor Visa is CAD$100. If you also have to submit the biometrics, that will cost you an additional CAD$85. So together, the whole cost of just applying for this visa is CAD$185.
In addition to this, you will also have to pay for the passport processing which will cost around CAD$45.
The Canada visitor visa processing time ranges from 8 to 40 days. However, the processing time is different depending on the country you live in. So, you will have to wait around 1 month for your Visitor Visa to be processed.
The Canadian Consulate decides for how long to give you the Tourist Visa for Canada on a case by case basis. There are cases when they only give the visa for that timeframe that you want to visit Canada, and then there are also cases when they give you the visa until your passport expires. This all depends on whether they believe you will return to your home country or not.
Despite how long your Canada Tourist Visa is valid, you are not allowed to stay there for more than 6 months at a time. So, after 6 months you must return to your home country, stay for some time and then you can return to Canada again for 6 months.
With the Canadian Tourist visa, you are allowed to travel around Canada for less than 6 months as long as you are in good financial standing. You are not allowed to get Canadian documents or stay in the country permanently. You are also not allowed to work or study, and you will not be allowed to file for health care or other governmental benefits.
Your dependents, such as your spouse and minor children can come to Canada with you with a Tourist Visa. However, they must have their own application, and everyone should pay separate fees. You must submit the applications together at the Visa Application Center or online so that you are processed as a family.
If you want to stay longer than 6 months in Canada with a tourist visa, you will need a visitor visa extension. This extension is called a Visitor Record.
You have to apply for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record) at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.
What is a Visitor Record?
Unlike a visitor visa, the visitor record is not attached to your passport. It is an independent document which the IRCC gives you when they approve your application for visa extension.
The visitor record includes the date by which you have to leave Canada.
Keep in mind that a visitor record is only available while you are inside Canada. If you want to leave Canada and enter again, you will not be allowed entry with a visitor record.
If your visitor visa is about to expire, and you want to leave Canada and re-enter, you have to apply for a new Visitor visa.
You can also use a visitor record if you want to change your status from a:
- Study permit to visitor record
- Work permit to visitor record
How to apply for a Canada visa extension (visitor record)?
There are two ways you can apply to extend your visa for Canada: online and on paper.
Visitor record online application
To apply online, you must have an account on the IRCC website.
You will also need to visit IRCC’s website to read the instructions guide for extending a visa. You have to scan your documents to create electronic copies, which you can submit on the online application tool.
You will also need a valid credit/debit card to pay your fees.
When applying and the question “What would you like to do in Canada?” appears, you should select “Visit.”
Then, on “What is your current country/territory of residence?” answer “Canada.”
Complete the rest of the application as instructed.
Visitor record paper application
First, you have to download the application package available on IRCC’s website. It includes document checklists, application forms, and application guidelines.
You have to read the application guidelines, provide all the necessary documents, and pay for the fees.
You have to print the application forms that are on the application package and sign and date them where required. You must attach all the required documents and fees to the completed application.
Then, you have to mail this application to the address stated on the application package.
Forms and documents you will need for a Visitor Record:
The forms
- Application to Change Conditions, Extend my stay or Remain in Canada as a Visitor or Temporary Resident Permit Holder (IMM 5708)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
- Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475)
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409) (If applicable)
The documents
- Payment receipts
- Photocopies of passport pages. They must include:
- Name and birth date
- The passport number
- Date of expiry
- The stamp of your most recent entry into Canada
- All other marked pages
- If you did not enter with a passport: Photocopies of your other your travel or identity documents. This could be an alien registration card, birth certificate, citizen certificate etc.
- If applicable: Photocopy of your current immigration document.
- If applicable: Marriage certificate.
- Proof of sufficient financial means.
It is worth mentioning that the online application is much faster and more convenient. You can submit it directly, it is processed faster, and, in case you have to provide more documents, you can do it instantly online. You can also avoid carrier and mailing fees.
Why Seeking Professional Immigration Help is Important
While the procedures for applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa may seem uncomplicated, some applicants apply without seeking any help from an immigration lawyer, thinking that they can ‘do it themselves’. For TRV applications, there is actually a higher risk of refusal in cases where the application is not properly prepared. The standards are very high. We find that the number one reason why applications are denied is due to forms not being correctly filled out. It is a shame when someone can not fulfill their dreams because of one missed ‘dotted i’ or ‘crossed t’. You can increase your chances at getting an approval on your TRV applications with the assistance of professional immigration professionals.
Why Hire Us to Help You With Your TRV Applications
Many of our clients are happy to relieve themselves of the headaches of preparing paperwork and having to deal with government red tape by outsourcing this work to our professional team of immigration professionals. It is extremely satisfying to see our clients enter Canada with a Canadian Visitor Visa to see their family and friends or to travel through Canada’s wonderful landscape without all the hassles of filing tons of complicated paperwork. We have literally helped thousands and thousands of people successfully visit Canada, and even though no one can promise any guarantees, we are certain we can help you increase your chances with our extensive experience.
Actualize your Goal to Visit Canada
The first step towards optimizing your chances for a Canadian Visitor Visa is getting an assessment of your case. Please click the "Get Started" button so we can determine your eligibility to visit Canada.