Canada Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Visitor visa (TRV) to visit Canada for tourism, business, or family visits. A short-stay visitor visa allows up to 6 months per entry. Visa-exempt nationals (including US citizens, EU/UK citizens, and others) only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Canada visa at a glance
- Government fee
- The official Canada visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Canada?
Check the IRCC visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Canada visa types
- Visitor visa (TRV)
- Tourism, family visits, business — Up to 6 months per entry
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Visa-exempt nationals flying to Canada — Up to 6 months
- Business visa
- Business meetings, conferences — Up to 6 months
- Study permit
- Long-term study — Duration of program
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Canada depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Canada visa-free for short stays and only need an eTA to fly.
Visa-required nationalities need a Visitor visa (TRV) for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Canada visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisitor visa (TRV) · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formVisitor visa (TRV) · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoVisitor visa (TRV) · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryVisitor visa (TRV) · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationVisitor visa (TRV) · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial means (bank statements)Visitor visa (TRV) · Proof of financial means (bank statements).
- Employment letter or proof of ties to home countryVisitor visa (TRV) · Employment letter or proof of ties to home country.
- Letter of invitation (if visiting family/friends)Visitor visa (TRV) · Letter of invitation (if visiting family/friends).
- Valid passport from an eligible visa-exempt countryElectronic Travel Authorization (eTA) · Valid passport from an eligible visa-exempt country.
- Credit or debit card for the CAD 7 feeElectronic Travel Authorization (eTA) · Credit or debit card for the CAD 7 fee.
- Email address for confirmationElectronic Travel Authorization (eTA) · Email address for confirmation.
Canada visa fees and processing time
- Processing fee
- Expedify's fee for checking, preparing, and filing your application — Expedify — fixed, shown upfront
- Government fee
- The official Canada visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Total
- Processing fee + government fee — What you pay — shown before you start
- Visitor visa (TRV)
- 12–20 working days
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Usually minutes
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Canada visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the visa-exemption list for your nationality with the Canada immigration authority.
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country.
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center.
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Canada's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Canada is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or eTA.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa or eTA is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a visitor visa without a study permit.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Canada visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Criminality or security concerns
past offenses or inadmissibility issues.
Frequently asked questions
Canada visa questions, answered.
More for your Canada trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.