Do all visitors or tourists need a visitor visa for Canada?

Visitors to Canada will need either a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization. Your nationality and the country that issued your passport will determine what you need to travel to Canada. In most cases, visitors from first-world countries will only need an electronic travel authorization. Everyone else will need to apply for a visitor visa.

Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports from visa-required countries will still need a visa to visit Canada, though processing fees are waived if they are visiting Canada in an official capacity.

How long can you stay in Canada as a visitor?

Most visitors can stay up to 6 months in Canada. When you enter Canada, the border services officer decides how long to let you stay. It may be less than or more than 6 months. The officer will note the date you need to leave by in your passport.

If the officer doesn’t stamp or otherwise make a note in your passport, then you can stay for 6 months in Canada.

What if you want to stay longer than your authorized stay on a visitor visa?

If you want to stay longer than your authorized stay, you can apply for an extension of your visitor visa. You must apply at least 30 days before the authorized end of your stay.

Can you apply again if your application for a visitor visa was refused?

This depends on the reason for your refusal. If the reason is something you can address in a new application, then you can apply again. If the reason requires your circumstances to change (e.g., you currently have a medical condition), then it is advisable not to re-apply until the new circumstances come to pass.

Can your application be processed under the CAN+ program?

Your application may be processed under the CAN+ program if you have travelled to Canada in the last 10 years or if you hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. The CAN+ program allows for expedited processing of your visitor visa application.

How long is the processing time and what are the application fees?

Processing times may take up to 2 weeks to 1 month.

The application fee for a Visitor Visa is $185. This already includes biometrics.

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some considerations when applying for a Visitor Visa:

• How do you deliver a compelling reason that you will return to your home country at the end of your authorized stay?
• How do you apply for a visitor visa if you are living in a country that you are not a citizen of?
• How do you apply for a visitor visa if you currently have an immigration application with IRCC?