Visa

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Visiting Canada: Who is eligible?
Business visitors: Who can apply
Travel Documents
Visas and Exemptions
Inadmissibility
Criminal Inadmissibility
Countries and Territories Whose Citizens Require Visas in Order to Enter Canada as Visitors
How to apply for your Temporary Resident Visa
Obtain a Temporary Resident Visa Application Package
Read the guide
Pay the Fee and Get the Necessary Receipt
Mail the Application form and Necessary Documents
Processing Time
An interview With a Visa Officer
A Medical Examination
Using a Representative

Visiting Canada: Who is eligible?

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

Citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;
Persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;
British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;
Citizens 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, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands;
Persons holding a British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
Persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
Persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See.

Even if you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to visit Canada, you must still have a valid passport. Some citizens from visa exempt countries have more requirements such as having a machine readable passport or an e-passport to travel to Canada.

Note: a visa exemption does not guarantee you automatic entry into Canada. You must still satisfy an immigration officer that you are admissible as per the requirements that were set out in the Who is Eligible page. If you do not, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.
When you arrive in Canada, you will be greeted by an officer of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA is responsible for protecting the borders and points of entry to Canada.
The officer will ask to see your passport or travel documents. Make sure that you have them with you, and that they are not packed in your luggage. This will speed up your entry to Canada.
Even if you do not need a visa to enter Canada, the officer will ask you a few questions. The officer will confirm that you meet the requirements for admission to Canada. This should only take a few minutes.
You will not be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information, or if you do not satisfy the officer that you are eligible for entry into Canada. You will also have to satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay in Canada.
The Government of Canada will never ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account or to transfer money through a specific company. However, in some cases, an immigration officer at the Canadian port of entry can require you to post a bond in form of a cash deposit to ensure that you comply with certain terms and conditions during your visit to Canada (i.e. leaving Canada when your approved period of stay is over).
If a bond in the form of a cash deposit is required, the officer fixes the deposit amount based on your financial resources and other conditions set out in Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Children under the age of 16 should have valid identification with them. If you are travelling with a child and you are not the child’s parent or guardian, you should have a letter from the child’s parent or guardian authorizing entry into Canada. If you are the child’s only guardian, you should have documents to show there is no other guardian. For example, a birth certificate that does not identify the father would be suitable.
The officer will stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. The period is usually six months. In some cases, the officer may limit this period to cover only the intended purpose of your visit. Ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

To visit Canada, you must:

Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
Be in good health
Satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
Satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
Have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. For more information, ask the Canadian visa office in your country or region

You may also need:

A Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your citizenship
A medical examination
A letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada

Business visitors: Who can apply

You may qualify as a business visitor if you are a foreign national who plans to visit Canada temporarily to look for new business opportunities, to invest or to advance existing business relationships.

If you are from a country that requires a visa to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa just like any other temporary visitor to Canada. There is no separate application or special visa for business visitors.

Business visitors usually stay in Canada for a few days or a few weeks. To be considered a business visitor you must show that:

You intend to stay for less than six months and do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market
Your main place of business and source of income is located outside Canada
Profits from your business will accrue outside Canada
You can provide documents that support your application and
You meet Canada’s basic entry requirements including:

You have a valid travel document, such as a passport
You have enough money for your stay and to return home
You plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit and
You do not pose criminal, security or health risks to Canadians

Cross-border business can include activities like:

Buying Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government
Taking orders for goods or services
Attending meetings, conferences, conventions or trade fairs
Providing after-sales service (mainly supervision, not hands-on labour)
Being trained by a Canadian parent company you work for outside Canada
Training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company
Being trained by a Canadian company that has sold you equipment or services

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, a U.S. or Mexican national may also take part in other activities, such as research, marketing and general service.

If you plan to stay longer than six months or intend to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to apply for a work permit. See Working temporarily in Canada in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. If you need a temporary resident visa, as a business visitor, you must submit certain documents when applying:

A letter of invitation from your potential business partner in Canada
24-hour contact details for that person

You may also need identification cards or proof of employment.

Travel Documents

Transport companies, such as airlines, must ensure you have proper, valid travel documents when you enter Canada. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or denied boarding.

Visas and Exemptions

You may or may not need a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada, depending on your citizenship. Even if you are exempt, though, there is important information you need to know before you plan your trip.

Inadmissibility

Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime. You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Criminal Inadmissibility

If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.

Criminal offences include both minor and serious offences, such as theft, assault, manslaughter, dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For a complete list of criminal offences in Canada, consult the Canadian Criminal Code.

If you were convicted of a crime when you were under the age of 18, you can probably still enter Canada.

Countries and Territories Whose Citizens Require Visas in Order to Enter Canada as Visitors

Citizens of the following countries and territories require a Visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada:

A
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
C
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Rep.
Chad
Chile
China, People’s
Rep. of Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic
Rep. of the
Congo, Rep. of the
Costa Rica
Cuba
D
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Rep.
E
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
F
Fiji
G
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
Honduras
I
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli “Travel Document in lieu of National Passport”)
Ivory Coast
J
Jamaica
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania (holders of non-biometric passports only)
M
Macao S.A.R.
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives Islands
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Micronesia, Fed. States
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
N
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Authority
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland (holders of non-biometric passports only)
Q
Qatar
R
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
S
Sao Tomé e Principe
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Syria
T
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
U
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Y
Yemen
Z
Zambia
Zimbabwe

How to apply for your Temporary Resident Visa

Obtain a Temporary Resident Visa Application Package

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.

2. Read the guide

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to get a Temporary Resident Visa before you apply.

3. Complete the Application Form and Attach the Necessary Documents

The application form contains instructions. Read the instructions and be sure to provide the required documents. If you do not provide all the requested information or documents, your application may be delayed.

You can use the same application form for your spouse or common-law partner, and for dependent children under 18 if they will be travelling with you.

All required documents must be included with your application:

You must have a valid travel document (such as a passport) for each family member on the application.
Two recent passport photos of each family member are required. Make sure these photos meet the requirements. For more information on specifications for photographs, see the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
Enclose the application fee and the IMM 5401 receipt of payment. Your fee will not be refunded, even if your application is not accepted.
You must provide proof that you have enough money for your visit to Canada. The amount of money may vary, depending on the circumstances for your visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives. You can get more information from the Canadian visa office in your country or region.
You may need to include other documents. These documents could be identification cards, proof of employment, a letter of invitation from relatives or friends in Canada, or a proposed itinerary. Check the website of the visa office responsible for the country or region where you live for more information.

4. Pay the Fee and Get the Necessary Receipt

The fee per person is $75 for a single entry visa, $150 for a multiple entry visa or $400 for a family (multiple or single entry).

Check the website of the visa office responsible for the country or region where you live for more information on fees, including how to pay them.

5. Mail the Application form and Necessary Documents

When you have completed the application form, make sure you sign and date it, and that all required documents and fees are included in the envelope. In most countries, application fees must be paid in Canadian dollars. You must send your application to the Canadian visa office in the country or region where you live. Check the guide in your application package for instructions.

Processing Time

How long it takes to process your application varies depending on the visa office where you applied.

An interview With a Visa Officer

You may need to go for an interview with a visa officer.

A Medical Examination

You might need a medical examination to be allowed to enter Canada. If you do, a Canadian immigration officer will tell you and will send you instructions about what to do. A medical examination can add more than three months to the processing time of your application.

Using a Representative

You do not need a representative to help you apply to visit or immigrate to Canada. Whether you use a representative is a personal choice.

For Additional Information Regarding Entry into Canada, Please Access the Government of Canada Website at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp

Visa

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