A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa (TRV), lets a person travel to Canada and ask to enter as a visitor. An electronic travel authorization (eTA) serves a different group of travellers. Which document you need depends on your citizenship, travel document and how you will arrive. Check IRCC's current entry-document tool before paying for an application.
Neither document guarantees entry or a particular length of stay. A border services officer makes the entry decision, while the visitor must follow the conditions of their stay.
What a visitor application needs to explain
IRCC considers whether the visit is genuinely temporary, how it will be funded and whether the applicant will leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay. A useful file connects the travel purpose and dates to the person's work, family, finances and circumstances where they live. An invitation from someone in Canada can explain the visit, but it does not replace the visitor's own evidence.
Before applying, check:
- the proposed itinerary and where the visitor will stay;
- who will pay for travel and living costs, with consistent financial documents;
- employment, family or other commitments outside Canada;
- previous travel, Canadian status history and refusals; and
- the exact documents IRCC asks for in the applicant's country or situation.
There is no universal bank-balance figure for every visit. IRCC says the amount needed depends on the duration and accommodation plan.
Visitor visa, eTA or Super Visa?
An eTA is generally for eligible visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada; a person usually needs either an eTA or a visitor visa, not both. Parents and grandparents hoping for longer visits may instead explore the Super Visa, which has additional host-income, medical and insurance rules. A short visit does not require a Super Visa simply because the visitor is a parent.
If a previous visitor application was refused, read the refusal letter and officer note before reapplying. Repeating the same package rarely answers the problem identified by IRCC.
Questions to settle before submission
Will an invitation guarantee the visa?
No. IRCC assesses the applicant's circumstances and admissibility as well as the purpose of the invitation.
Can a visitor work in Canada?
A visitor visa or eTA is not a work permit. If work is the real purpose, check the work-permit routes before travelling.
Discuss the proposed visit
Bring the travel plan, passport details, invitation if relevant, financial evidence and any prior refusal. We can identify the questions that the application needs to answer. An initial consultation is $180 plus applicable provincial taxes, separate from any application representation. Consultations are available in English and Russian.