Tourist visa

Do I need a visa to visit Canada?

Most travellers need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport.

What you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you will travel with;
• the country that issued your travel document;
• your nationality; and
• how you will travel to Canada.

If you do not have the proper documents, such as an eTA or visa, you may be delayed or prevented from boarding your flight to Canada.

Before you apply, find out what you need to travel to Canada.

What is the difference between a single and a multiple entry visa?

The main difference between these two visa types is that a single entry visa allows entry to Canada for one-time only and a multiple entry visa allows entry many times.

Which type of visa to get

You don’t need to choose. A multiple entry visa is what all visa applicants are automatically considered for. We will review your application and issue you a visa depending on your situation.

Multiple entry visa

While valid, a multiple entry visa will let you travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever is shorter. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.

Single entry visa

A single entry visa lets you travel to Canada only one time. For instance, you may only be eligible for a single entry visa if:

• you are eligible for a fee-exemption and the purpose of your entry to Canada is limited (such as, for an official visit by a foreign national)
• you are taking part in a one-time special event in Canada
• there are approved country-specific procedures or guidelines in place.

In most cases, once you have left Canada, you will need a new visa to enter Canada again.

You won’t need a new visitor visa to return to Canada if you are travelling directly to the United States (including its Territories and Possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Why was I issued a single entry visa instead of a multiple entry visa?

All applicants who are eligible for a multiple entry visa will be issued one. However, not all applicants will be eligible for a multiple entry visa. This remains at the discretion of a visa officer. A single entry visa may be issued in cases where, for example:

• An applicant is eligible for a fee-exemption and where the purpose of entry to Canada is limited (e.g., for an official visit by a foreign national);
• An applicant is participating in a one-time special event in Canada (e.g., Pan-American Games); and/or
• Country-specific procedures or guidelines are in place and approved by IRCC.

I have an eTA or a visa. What can I expect when I arrive in Canada?

When you arrive at the point of entry in Canada, a border services officer will make sure you meet the requirements to enter Canada.

The officer will authorize your stay by stamping your passport and/or issuing another document.

If there is no stamp, handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you received a visitor record, student or work permit, the expiry date is marked on it.

I am in Canada on a temporary resident visa. I plan to take a cruise. Do I need a new visa to come back to Canada?

If you are on a cruise ship that departs from Canada or the continental United States and enters international waters and you are not in possession of a valid multiple-entry visa, you will need to obtain a new temporary resident visa in order to re-enter Canada.

Do I need a visa if I’m just travelling through Canada on my way to another country?

The document you need to transit through Canada depends on a few factors, including if you plan to visit Canada.

You can answer a few questions to find the document you need to transit through Canada.

Visa-required travellers

You’re considered a visa-required traveller if you’re from a visa-required country.

You need a visitor visa if:

• you visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)
• stay in Canada more than 48 hours while transiting, or
• you’re crossing the border by:
  • bus
  • car
  • train
  • boat
  • cruise ship

You need a transit visa if:

• your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
• you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
• you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less, and
• you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Visa-exempt travellers

You’re considered a visa-exempt traveller if you’re from an eTA-required country.

You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country.

You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus, boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents.

How do I get a transit visa?

You can apply for a transit visa by filling out the application for a Temporary Resident Visa and selecting transit visa from the list of options on the form.

You may not need a transit visa if you are travelling to or from the United States. The Transit Without Visa program (TWOV) and the China Transit Program (CTP) allow certain foreign nationals to transit through Canada on their way to and from the United States without a Canadian transit visa, if they meet certain requirements.

How do I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?

Anyone who plans to visit Canada must apply from outside of Canada before they travel.

What your friend or family member needs depends on:

• the type of travel document they will travel with;
• the country that issued their travel document;
• their nationality; and
• how they will travel to Canada.

Before applying, find out what document(s) they need.

If they need a visitor visa, you may provide your family member or friend with a letter of invitation in support of their visa application. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa.

How do I get help if my visa application is refused?

There is no formal appeal process if your application for a temporary resident visa is refused.

Should you wish to re-apply, you should do so only if your situation has changed substantively or you have significant new information to submit.

Who can I hire to help me with my application for a temporary resident visa?

You can hire a representative or an agent to help with your application. The representative or agent must be either:

• a lawyer or paralegal who is a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, or
• a notary who is a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or
• an immigration consultant who is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

Find out more about who can represent you.

Due to privacy laws, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada cannot discuss your application with someone else without your written permission. If you want a representative or an agent to help you, you must fill out two forms:

• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476); and
• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475).

If I get sick or have an accident while visiting Canada, will the Government of Canada pay for my medical treatment?

Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. You should get health insurance to cover any medical costs before you come to Canada.

Can I fill out one visa application for my whole family if we are travelling together?

No. Each person must complete and sign the Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257), as well as any other forms needed. Each applicant aged 18 or over must also complete the Family Information form (IMM 5645).

You can submit all family member applications in the same envelope with one payment receipt for the total fee for all of your applications.

Parents or guardians can help children fill out their forms. Parents or guardians must sign the forms for any children under the age of 18.

Is there a different application form for CAN+?

No. Simply apply for a visitor visa online or on paper.

For paper applications, check the document checklist for full details of what you need to submit with your application.

Please note:

• Visa application centres are not involved in the visa decision-making process and can’t provide advice to applicants.
• All decisions on applications are made by visa officers at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada visa offices.
• Applications that meet the criteria will also be processed faster.

How do I know that my application can be processed under CAN+? What supporting documents should I submit?

Visa application centres will screen all applications for CAN+ eligibility. Applications that show that the applicant travelled to Canada in the last 10 years or holds a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa will be sent to the visa office for expedited processing.

Check the document checklist for full details of what you need to submit with your application.