Canada tourist visa requirements are easy to understand. The entire visa application process is online. Canada typically issues long-term multiple-entry visas valid for 5 to 10 years.
Even if you are not planning on traveling to Canada right away, getting a Canadian tourist visa can be useful for two reasons.
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Passport must be valid for the entire stay in Canada
Example: If you will be entering Canada on Feb 10 and will be leaving Canada on Feb 25, your passport must be valid till Feb 25.
Canada eTA is a travel authorization that needs to be obtained online prior to traveling to Canada.
Canada eTA is MANDATORY for all visa EXEMPT nationalities.
Canada eTA is REQUIRED for all visa EXEMPT nationalities entering Canada for tourism or transit. If you are visa EXEMPT, you DO NOT NEED a visa but you REQUIRE an eTA to enter Canada.
The following does not need an eTA to enter Canada.
No. Canada eTA is NOT a visa. It’s just an online authorization that you would need to obtain prior to your trip to Canada.
You CANNOT use ESTA (United States Electronic System for Travel Authorization) to enter Canada. ESTA is a travel authorization to enter the US. It cannot be used for Canada. Even if you hold a valid ESTA, you would still need to apply for eTA to travel to Canada.
Canada eTA is valid for 5 years or until the expiry of your current passport, whichever is earlier. eTA is also linked to a specific passport, so if you get a new passport for any reason, you must apply for a new eTA.
You can stay up to 6 months in Canada with an eTA.
Canada eTA is multiple-entry and valid for 5 years. Once you obtain your eTA, you can travel to Canada as many times as you want within that 5 years period.
You can apply for Canada eTA online at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
NOTE
Flight tickets and hotel bookings are not required for eTA. Apply for eTA before you purchase your flight tickets or book any hotels.
Canada eTA fee is $7 CAD. The fee must be paid using a credit or debit card in CAD only. Since the fee is in CAD, your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee.
Canada eTA processing takes only a few minutes. In rare cases, it can take several days if additional documentation or an interview is required. IRCC will contact you with instructions in such cases.
You can check your Canada eTA status on eTA Status Tool provided by IRCC. After your eTA is approved, you can use this tool to check the validity and print a copy if needed.
If it has been over 72 hours since you applied and there has been no status update, you can contact customer service using the IRCC Webform.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival in Canada.
Proof of onward ticket can be printed or soft-copy on your phone. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, get proof of an onward ticket from OnwardTicket.
NOTE
A copy of your approved eTA is not required to carry. Canadian immigration officers and airline staff will have access to the Canada eTA system and they can verify your eTA using your passport number.
A Canada tourist visa or visitor visa is formally known as Canada Temporary Resident Visa (Canada TRV). You need a Canada TRV if you are from a visa REQUIRED nationality.
Canada tourist visas can be applied either ONLINE or by mailing a PAPER application to the consulate.
I highly recommend applying ONLINE. This guide focuses on the online application only. There are several advantages to applying online. It’s fast. It ensures everything is complete and correct. You only need to send your passport after your visa is approved.
Canada tourist visas are usually issued for 10 years or until the expiration of your current passport.
Example:
Your visa will be valid from March 01, 2020, to Nov 14, 2029.
Date of issue: Mar 01, 2020
Date of expiry: Nov 14, 2029
NOTE
If your passport is expiring soon, renew your passport first. And then apply for your Canada tourist visa, that way you can get the tourist visa for 10 years.
You can apply for Canada tourist visa up to 3 months in advance.
Example: If you plan to visit the UK on April 15, you can apply for your Canada visa on or after January 16.
IMPORTANT
Canada visa process can take up to 30 calendar days or even longer in some cases. I strongly recommend applying for your Canada visa at least 2 months in advance.
You can stay in Canada for up to 6 months or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Occasionally, the immigration officers at the airport write an exit date on your entry stamp. This exit date can be less than 6 months. You must exit Canada within the exit date.
Canada tourist visas are usually multiple-entry, valid for 10 years or until your passport expires. You can travel to Canada as many times as you like within the expiry of your tourist visa.
The first step in Canada visitor visa application is to create a Government of Canada (GC) login called GCKey.
Once you have created your GCKey and signed in, you can start your visitor visa application. You can save an incomplete application and come back later to complete it.
Here are the steps to complete Canada tourist visa application.
The following documents are required for Canada tourist visa.
All forms can be downloaded from your application page.
Provide all pages of your old and new passports that have stamps or visas. This will ensure you have a considerable travel history.
NOTE
If you have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, your application may be processed in 2 to 5 working days under the CAN+ program.
Canada Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) has started asking applicants for visas, stamps and travel history for the last 10 years.
Applicants who have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa are considered for CAN+ expedited program. If qualified, some additional documentation is not required and the application is processed within 2-5 working days.
At the beginning of your application, you will be asked questions specific to previous travel to Canada and the United States to determine your eligibility. You will be asked to upload less documentation if you are determined as eligible.
Even though you qualify for the CAN+ expedited program, your application may take several days to process. There are many factors involved. So do not count on the CAN+ program. Instead, follow the current processing times and apply for Canada visitor visa well in advance.
Canada tourist visa fee is $100 CAD. The fee must be paid using a credit or debit card in CAD only. Since the fee is in CAD, your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee.
Biometrics are mandatory for all Canada tourist visa applicants. Your fingerprints are scanned and your photograph is taken during the biometric appointment.
NOTE
Biometrics are valid for 10 years. If you have given your biometrics in the last 10 years as part of a Canada visitor, work or study visa, you are NOT REQUIRED to give your biometrics again.
You can use the Biometric Validity Tool on the IRCC website to check if your biometrics are still valid.
If your biometrics are still valid, you do not need to pay the biometric fee and do not need to give biometrics.
The following are the steps for biometrics.
The biometric fee for Canada tourist visa is $85 CAD. The fee must be paid using a credit or debit card in CAD only.
You can pay the biometric fee when you submit your visa application or at a later time. It’s highly recommended to pay your biometric fee when you submit your visa application. Paying later will delay your biometrics and eventually your visa process.
If you have paid your biometric fee when submitting your visa application, you will receive your biometric instruction letter within 24 hours of application submission.
After you receive your biometric instruction letter, you will have 30 days to give your biometrics. Failing to give biometrics within 30 days will result in visa refusal.
Follow the instructions in your biometric instruction letter and schedule a biometric appointment at your nearest Visa Application Center (VAC) or Application Support Center (ASC).
Once you schedule your biometric appointment, you will receive a biometric appointment confirmation letter from VAC or ASC.
If you have temporary injuries on your fingers and/or your face, you must wait to give your biometrics. You should contact IRCC customer support to request additional time for your biometrics appointment.
If you have permanent injuries on your fingers and/or face, you can continue with your biometrics appointment. The staff at VAC can scan as many fingers as possible and take your photograph.
Print your biometric instruction letter and biometric appointment confirmation. Some VACs require a consent form. If your VAC requires one, you will see instructions about it in your biometric appointment confirmation.
On your appointment day, carry the following documents
Your fingerprints will be scanned and your photo will be taken. To avoid any issues with your fingerprint or photo, follow the below instructions.
Canada tourist visa processing can take up to 30 calendar days. Processing times vary by country, check the current processing times before applying.
Follow the below steps to check the current visa processing times in your location.
You can check the status of your visa application by signing into your IRCC account. When there is a change in the status, you will receive an email alert. Then you can sign in to your IRCC account and check the status.
If your application has been pending for too long, you can contact CIC using their IRCC Webform. Follow the below steps to contact CIC.
There is no priority visa service for Canada tourist visa. Check current processing times and apply well in advance. You can apply for Canada tourist visa up to 3 months in advance.
If you traveled to Canada in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, your application MAY BE expedited under CAN+ program where your application will be processed in just a few days.
Processing your application in CAN+ expedited program is at the discretion of CIC. So, do not completely rely on that. Instead, follow the timeline and apply for Canada visitor visa at least 3 months before your travel.
When your Canada tourist visa application is approved, you will be notified via email. You must submit or mail your original passport to your nearest VAC or ASC. The VAC or ASC will then send your passport to the Consulate of Canada for the visa sticker.
There is no dedicated customer service. You can track your application status online. If you have to contact CIC for any reason, use the IRCC Web Form. For other inquiries, you can contact your nearest VAC.
There is no formal procedure to withdraw your Canada tourist visa application. You can just abandon it. If you do not send your passport within 30 days of application approval, your application will be void anyway.
At your first airport in Canada, the immigration officers may ask you a few questions about your purpose of travel and the number of days you will stay in Canada.
You may be asked to show your return/onward ticket and your hotel booking. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, make sure to get proof of onward ticket.
There is no exit procedure for Canada. After the security procedure, you can head straight to the departure gate
The US has set up its Customs and Immigration in some of the Canadian airports. So, if you will be traveling to the US from Canada, you may have to go through US immigration at the departure airport in Canada.
When you land in the US, you will just walk out as if it were a domestic flight.
The Government of Canada Key (GCKey) is needed to access any of the Government of Canada’s online services, including Canada Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) website. Therefore, you need a GCKey to sign into the CIC website to apply for Canada tourist visa. GCKey is basically a username and password.
Even though you qualify for CAN+ expedited program, your application may take several days to process. The application process took more than 30 days for some readers with a travel history to Canada and/or hold US visas. There are many factors involved and ultimately it’s at the discretion of CIC whether to process your application quickly.
My advice is to just follow the regular processing timeline. Check the current processing times and apply well in advance.
Travel history will improve your chances of visa approval. It can also speed up the process. If you have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years or hold a valid US visa, your application may be processed quickly under CAN+ expedited program.
Canada’s incredible geography attracts millions of tourists every year. Canada tourist visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. The application process is online. Canada typically issues long-term multiple-entry visas for 5 to 10 years.
WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI
Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.
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Having Trouble Navigating Visas?
Hi! I'm Thirumal Motati. I've been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. I've obtained several tourist visas, including the most difficult ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times.
I'm here to help you navigate the visas and travel the world.
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