Visiting Canada

Unless exempt, biometrics are required when applying for a visitor visa, an initial work or study permit or extension (excluding US nationals), or an extension of stay (visitor record) unless the applicant is from a visa-exempt country. Exempt: Canadian citizens and citizenship applicants; most existing permanent residents; visa-exempt nationals coming to Canada to visit only; heads of state/government; diplomatic/official visa holders; US visa holders transiting Canada; applicants who already gave biometrics for a pending PR application; children under 14; applicants over 79 (age assessed on the date of application). Anyone applying with a refugee travel document, certificate of identity or US refugee travel document must give biometrics. A visa or permit cannot be issued for longer than 10 years from the last biometrics collection; biometrics may be given again voluntarily to obtain a longer document.

A visitor must have a valid travel document, like a passport. Under IRPR s. 179(c) the visa applicant must hold a passport or other document they may use to enter the issuing country or another country. Temporary resident status cannot exceed passport validity (Guide 5551). If there is no stamp, handwritten date or document in the passport, status expires 6 months from the day the person entered Canada (Guide 5551; Visitor record: Who can apply); IRCC adds that a visitor whose passport wasn't stamped and who used a primary inspection kiosk can stay up to 6 months from the day they first entered Canada or until the passport expires, whichever comes first (Visitor record: About the document).

The applicant must convince an immigration officer that they have ties - such as a job, home, financial assets or family - that will take them back to their home country, and that they will leave Canada at the end of the visit (IRPR s. 179(b)). A letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada may also be needed.

The visitor must have enough money for the stay. The amount needed depends on how long the person will stay and whether they will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. No fixed amount is published.

Visitors must be in good health and have no criminal or immigration-related convictions. Some people are inadmissible (not allowed to enter Canada), including for involvement in criminal activity, human rights violations or organized crime, and for security, health or financial reasons. A medical exam may be required.

Citizens of the following countries or territories need a valid visitor visa and a valid passport to visit or transit through Canada, by any method of travel (air, car, train, bus, boat including cruise ships): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda*, Argentina*, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil*, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China (People's Republic of), Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Congo (Republic of), Costa Rica*, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia*, Iran, Iraq, Israel (holders of a "Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport"), Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macao Special Administrative Region, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia*, Maldives Islands, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico*, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco*, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama*, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines*, Romania (non-electronic passport holders, e.g. temporary passport), Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tomé e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles*, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis*, St. Lucia*, St. Vincent and the Grenadines*, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan (passports other than an ordinary passport with personal identification number), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand*, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago*, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay*, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Stateless individuals and holders of a refugee travel document also need a visa. (* = some citizens may instead be eligible for an eTA when flying, see VISIT-ENTRY-003.) Most travellers need either a visa or an eTA, not both. A study or work permit is not a visa; a visa is issued automatically with an approved first study/work permit when needed.

Citizens of eTA-required countries or territories need an eTA and a valid passport to board a flight to, or transit through, a Canadian airport; they do not need a visitor visa. eTA-required list: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, British citizen, British national overseas, British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the UK), British overseas territory citizen (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands), British subject with right of abode in the UK, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR (Hong Kong SAR passport), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (national Israeli passport), Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania (electronic passport holders only), Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (ordinary passport with personal identification number), United Arab Emirates, Vatican City State (Vatican passport or travel document). If arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship) they do not need an eTA, only a valid passport (except by sea from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on a non-cruise boat). No visa or eTA is needed for: US nationals; US lawful permanent residents (flying to Canada: a valid passport from their country of nationality, or an equivalent acceptable travel document, plus a valid green card or equivalent valid proof of US status; entering by land or water directly from the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon: only the valid green card or equivalent proof of US status, with no passport needed); persons with valid status in Canada re-entering after visiting only the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon; a French citizen who lives in and is flying directly from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon; and certain crew, diplomatic, armed forces and transit categories. Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada by air (another identification document may be used by land or sea); most dual Canadian citizens need a Canadian passport, and American-Canadian citizens can travel with a valid Canadian or US passport. Canadian permanent residents need a valid PR card or PR travel document when travelling by commercial vehicle (airplane, bus, boat or train); in a private vehicle they can use a PR card or other documents.

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay may apply for an eTA instead of a visa only if all 3 requirements are met: (1) they have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa (the US visa must be valid on the day of the eTA application, not necessarily on travel); (2) they are coming for a temporary stay (normally up to 6 months); and (3) they are flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport on a valid passport from an eligible country. Otherwise a visitor visa is needed, including for arrival by car, bus, train or boat (including cruise ships). Indonesia and Malaysia were added as of May 26, 2026 (visitor visa page). Travellers with a valid Canadian visa can continue to use it until it expires.

All temporary residents must leave Canada by the end of their authorized period, must not work unless authorized by the Regulations, and must not study unless authorized (IRPR s. 183(1)). The authorized period is six months, or another period fixed by an officer based on the person's means of support in Canada, the period applied for, and passport expiry (s. 183(2)). Under s. 183(4)(d) the period ends when that authorized period ends; it also ends if the person leaves Canada without prior authorization to re-enter.

A visitor record is used to extend a stay in Canada as a visitor, a worker authorized to work without a work permit, or a student authorized to study without a study permit, or to change from study permit or work permit holder to visitor. It does not matter whether the person entered with a visa, an eTA or another document. Apply at least 30 days before the current status expires. The status expiry date is the date stamped in the passport (not the visa's expiry date); if there is no stamp, 6 months from the day of entry; or the expiry date of the study permit, work permit or existing visitor record.

If the person applies to extend their stay before the date by which they must leave, they can legally stay in Canada until a decision is made on the application (maintained status), under the same conditions (IRPR s. 183(5)-(6)). Temporary resident permit applicants do not benefit from maintained status (initial or other TRP applications).

IRCC fee list (CAN$): electronic travel authorization $7.00; visitor visa (single or multiple entry, including super visa) $100.00 per person, maximum $500.00 per family of 5 or more applying at the same time and place; extend your stay as a visitor $100.00 per person; restore your status as a visitor $246.25 (visa fee not needed); study permit (including extensions) $150.00 per person; restore status as a student $396.25 (restoration $246.25 plus new study permit $150); work permit (including extensions) $155.00 plus open work permit holder fee $100.00 (PGWP total $255); biometrics $85.00 per person, maximum $170.00 per family of 2 or more eligible people applying at the same time.

For stays of 6 months or less, an immigration medical exam (IME) is generally not needed unless the person will work in a job where public health must be protected (health care, clinical laboratories, patient attendants in long-term care homes, medical students and electives, primary/secondary schools or child care, domestic work, in-home care) or is an agricultural worker who visited or lived in certain countries for 6 months or more in a row in the year before coming. For stays of more than 6 months, an IME is needed if the person lived in or travelled to one or more designated countries or territories for 6 months or more in a row in the year before coming, will work in a job where public health must be protected, or is applying for a parent and grandparent super visa. The exam must be done by an IRCC panel physician; an upfront exam before applying is possible for visit (including super visa), work and study applications. Temporary public policy (extended to October 5, 2029): a person already living in Canada applying for temporary or permanent residence may be exempt from a new IME if their previous IME was completed in the last 5 years and showed low or no risk. Medical exam results are valid for 12 months (for students and workers the letter of introduction shows the expiry date); a person who does not come to Canada within that time may need another exam.

A visitor, student or worker may be able to restore status within 90 days of losing it, if status was lost because they stayed longer than the authorized period (but not longer than 90 days), changed employer/location/type of work without a new work permit, or changed the type of studies, institution, location or periods of study specified on the study permit without applying to change those conditions. They may still be eligible if they continue to meet the initial requirements for their stay and have not failed to comply with other conditions. To restore visitor status only: submit within 90 days of losing status, give full details of the facts and circumstances, meet the visitor requirements (including why they want to stay longer and how they will be supported), and pay the restoration fee. A visitor restoring status who is eligible for an in-Canada work or study permit may submit both together (the permit is processed after the restoration decision). Each family member who lost status must apply. There is no guarantee of approval; the person may not work or study until restoration (and any permit) is approved. If status has expired, an extension application is not available (fee not refunded).