A Guide To Applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa
Published on August 25th 2025 by Fairworld Immigration
Applying for a Canadian visitor visa offers several advantages for travellers seeking to explore Canada for tourism, business, or to visit family and friends. With a valid visitor visa, you can travel freely within Canada and experience its diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage.
Multiple-entry visas allow for repeated visits during the visa’s validity, often up to 10 years. Applying for a Canadian visitor visa also enables attendance at short-term educational courses or professional events. For family reunification, it provides the opportunity to spend meaningful time with loved ones. Additionally, obtaining a visitor visa may support future immigration or study plans.
Process of Applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa
A visitor visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an official immigration document that permits foreign nationals to travel to and enter Canada. If you are not from a visa-exempt country, applying for a Canadian visitor visa is mandatory—regardless of whether your purpose is tourism, study, or temporary work.
Who Requires a Visitor Visa
Most travellers need a visitor visa to enter Canada. This includes individuals transiting through a Canadian airport on their way to another destination.
If you hold a super visa and entered Canada on or after June 22, 2023, you may stay for up to five years. Anyone who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or visa-exempt must apply for a Canadian visitor visa to enter Canada.
Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for a visitor visa, even if their PR card has expired; they must instead apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, are not eligible for a visitor visa and must travel with a valid Canadian passport.
Individuals traveling for business purposes—not as temporary foreign workers—may require a business visitor visa.
Visa-Exempt Countries and Applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa
Citizens of countries with which Canada has visa-exemption agreements do not need a visitor visa for stays of up to six months. However, if arriving by air, visa-exempt travelers must obtain an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). If entering by land or sea, only a valid passport is required.
U.S. citizens are a special case: they do not require a visa or eTA to enter Canada for visits up to six months. U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders) are also visa-exempt but must present a valid passport and Green Card when entering Canada. If flying, they must obtain an eTA.
How to Apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa
Visitor visa applications can be submitted online, on paper, or in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC). Each family member, including dependent children, must complete a separate application, although families may submit applications together.
Applicants from certain countries may be required to provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph. Biometrics can be submitted either after you apply (when prompted) or at the time of submission if applying in person at a VAC.
Extending Your Stay after Applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa
Visitor visas—whether single- or multiple-entry—generally allow foreign nationals to stay in Canada for up to six months per visit. If you wish to stay longer, you must apply for an extension before your current status expires.
It is recommended to apply at least 30 days in advance of your visa’s expiration. If your visa expires while your extension is being processed, you may remain in Canada under implied status until a decision is made. You may also apply for permanent residence if you are eligible under one of Canada’s immigration programs.
Common Reasons for Refusal when Applying for a Canadian Visitor Visa
Visitor visa applications may be denied for a variety of reasons, including:
- Incomplete or incorrect documentation
- Insufficient financial resources
- Criminal or medical inadmissibility
- Vague or unconvincing travel plans
- Weak ties to the applicant’s home country
- Negative travel history or previous overstays
- Misrepresentation or false information
- Unresolved immigration status in other countries
For more information on applying for a Canadian visitor visa, contact Fairworld Immigration Consulting at +1 604 902 6356 or mgn@fairworldimmigration.ca
