Planning a trip to Canada? Depending on your passport, travel history, and how you arrive, you may need a visitor visa, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or a transit visa. Some travelers are exempt.
A visitor visa and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) are the same official document. “Tourist visa” is a common name for a visitor visa used for a holiday.
This guide explains which document you need, government fees, application steps, and border requirements. VisaSyst offers assistance with eligible Canada eTA applications.
Flying to Canada? Check whether you qualify for an eTA
Eligible travelers can complete a short online application instead of applying for a traditional visitor visa.
Check my eTA eligibility
Do I Need a Visa or an eTA for Canada?
Your passport nationality is the starting point. Your method of travel and, for certain nationalities, your previous Canadian or U.S. visa history also matter.
Quick decision tree: visa vs. eTA vs. exemption
Follow the option that matches your situation:
- Are you a U.S. citizen? You do not need a visitor visa or an eTA. Carry appropriate identification, normally a valid US passport.
- Are you a U.S. lawful permanent resident? You do not need a visitor visa or an eTA. Carry a valid passport or equivalent acceptable travel document and a valid Green Card or other accepted proof of US permanent residence.
Do you hold a passport from an eTA-required country?
- Arriving by air: You generally need an eTA.
- Arriving by car, bus, train, or cruise ship: You generally do not need an eTA or visitor visa, but must carry appropriate travel documents.
Do you hold a passport from a visa-required country?
- Arriving by air: You normally need a visitor visa, unless you qualify for the expanded eTA route below.
- Arriving by land or sea: You normally need a visitor visa, even if you qualify for an eTA for air travel.
Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents have separate document requirements. Canadian permanent residents cannot use an eTA as a substitute for a valid PR card or permanent resident travel document when boarding a commercial flight.
There are limited exceptions, including an eTA requirement for certain sea journeys from Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Expanded eTA eligibility for select travel histories
Some travelers from visa-required countries can apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa. You must meet all 3 conditions:
- You have held a Canadian visitor visa within the past 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa when you apply for the eTA.
- You’re traveling for a temporary stay, normally up to 6 months.
- You’re flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport using a valid passport from an eligible country.
The eligible countries are:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Panama
- The Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
Having a U.S. visa alone does not make every nationality eligible. Also, the Canadian requirement concerns a visitor visa you held within the previous 10 years, rather than simply one issued during that period.
Could you qualify for an eTA instead of a visitor visa?
Check your passport nationality and travel history before starting an application.
Check eligibility and apply with VisaSys
Types of Canadian Entry Documents Explained
Canada’s entry documents serve different purposes. Understanding what each one covers will help you choose the right application for your trip.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
An eTA is an electronic travel authorization linked to the passport used in your application. You do not receive a visa sticker.
It’s generally valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Getting a new passport means applying for a new eTA.
For most travelers, an eTA is relevant to flights to Canada, including airport transit. Eligible visa-required nationals cannot use it to enter by land or sea.
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV / Visitor Visa)
A visitor visa is a physical counterfoil, or sticker, placed in your passport. Visa-required travelers generally use it to travel to Canada by air, land, or sea.
An officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determines its validity. A visitor visa may be valid for up to 10 years, subject to passport and biometric validity and the officer’s assessment.
Its expiry date is separate from the date you must leave Canada after entering.
Transit visa
A transit visa may be required when a traveler from a visa-required country connects between international flights through a Canadian airport for 48 hours or less, does not hold a valid visitor visa, and is not eligible for an eTA.
You generally need a visitor visa if your transit exceeds 48 hours or you plan to visit Canada. Certain passengers traveling to or from the United States may qualify for transit-without-visa arrangements, subject to specific conditions.
How visas differ from work & study permits
A visitor visa or eTA lets you travel to Canada and seek entry. A work permit or study permit authorizes the relevant activity under its conditions.
A visitor visa or eTA does not authorize employment or studies requiring a permit. Equally, a permit is not a substitute for any travel document you need.
When IRCC approves an initial work or study permit application made before travel, it generally issues the required visa or eTA automatically.
Canadian Entry Requirements Comparison: TRV vs. eTA
A visitor visa and an eTA differ in eligibility, cost, and application requirements. Use this comparison to understand the main differences before applying.
Government fees are separate from our application support service. Neither document guarantees admission to Canada.
How to Apply for a Canada eTA
The eTA application is completed online. Before you start, check your eligibility and have your passport, payment card, and personal details ready.
Eligibility requirements for Canada eTA
Before starting, have:
- Valid passport that qualifies for an eTA.
- Active email address.
- Accepted credit or debit card.
- Personal, employment, and travel information.
- Relevant Canadian or US visa details
Each traveler needs a separate application, including children. You must meet the eligibility rules even when someone applies on your behalf.
Apply before booking travel where possible. An application submitted at the airport may not be approved in time for your flight.
Step-by-step eTA application process
Just follow these steps:
- Complete the online form. Enter your passport information carefully and answer all background questions truthfully.
- Pay the application fee. Applying directly through the government costs CAD $7. An optional assistance service may charge an additional fee.
- Receive the decision by email. Once approved, your eTA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application.
Digital linking to your passport happens after approval, rather than automatically when you pay.
Apply for your eTA with VisaSyst
Eligible travelers can use VisaSyst’s application assistance service for automated error checks, prompt application handling, and 24/7 client support.
Apply for an eTA
Canada Visitor Visa (TRV) Requirements & Application Process
Applying for a visitor visa involves providing evidence of your travel plans, finances, and personal circumstances. Your document checklist will depend on your situation and where you apply.
Complete document checklist for TRV
Your exact requirements depend on your circumstances, application route, and local visa office. Follow the personalized checklist generated by the official application system.
Prepare the following categories:
- Passport: Clear copies of the required identification pages and relevant pages containing visas, stamps, or markings.
- Application information and forms: Complete the portal questions and any requested forms. These may include IMM 5257 and the Family Information form IMM 5645; requirements differ by application route.
- Financial evidence: Bank statements, pay slips, and evidence explaining who will fund the trip.
- Ties to your home country or country of residence: Employment, business, family, property, or other relevant commitments.
- Travel plans: Proposed dates, accommodation, and a credible explanation of your visit.
- Invitation letter: If applicable to the purpose of your trip, with supporting information about your host.
- Additional checks: Police certificates, medical examinations, or other documents if required.
- Documents for children: Consent, custody, or relationship documents where applicable.
There’s no single financial amount suitable for every visitor. Your evidence should support the cost and length of your proposed stay.
Documents in a language other than English or French require an appropriate translation. Depending on who translates them, an affidavit may also be required. Applicants and their family members must not translate their own supporting documents.
Step-by-step TRV application steps
Follow these steps:
- Start on the official IRCC application page. Select the route appropriate to your situation and create or sign in to the required account.
- Complete the application. Answer the questions and upload the supporting documents requested.
- Pay the fees. Pay the visitor visa fee and, if applicable, the biometric fee.
- Receive your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). If new biometrics are required, follow the letter.
- Attend an authorized collection location. Book through the provider linked by IRCC, often a visa application centre operated by VFS Global. Bring your BIL and valid passport.
- Respond to further requests. IRCC may request documents, an interview, or a medical examination.
- Submit your passport when instructed. If approved, follow the passport-request instructions so the visa can be placed in your passport.
An online approval message alone is not enough to travel if your passport still needs its visa sticker.
Canada Visa Fees and Processing Times
Below is the official government fee breakdown.
A visitor visa applicant who must provide new biometrics normally pays CAD $185 in combined government fees. If biometrics are not required, the usual application fee is CAD $100.
The family caps have eligibility conditions. For the visitor visa cap, family members must apply at the same time and place, and children must qualify as dependants.
Additional expenses may include passport transmission, courier services, translations, or medical examinations. These are separate from the government application fee.
Real-World Processing Times: Country Breakdown
Canada does not publish one visitor visa processing time that applies worldwide. Use the country you are applying from, rather than automatically selecting your passport nationality.
Important: allow time for biometrics and passport return.
IRCC defines processing time as beginning when it receives a complete application. Its visitor visa guidance says the published time excludes the time needed to provide biometrics, and biometric instructions explain that processing cannot proceed until required biometrics are received.
Validity, Stay Duration, and Border Entry Requirements
Your visa or eTA validity is different from the time you can spend in Canada. Before traveling, understand your document’s limits and what to expect at the border.
Length of stay allowed
Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to 6 months per entry, whether they traveled with a visitor visa or an eTA.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer decides your authorized stay. They may allow a shorter or longer period and record a departure date in your passport or on a visitor record.
A document valid for several years does not allow you to remain in Canada for that entire period. Follow the deadline assigned at entry; passport or other document validity can also limit your stay.
If you want to remain longer, check the visitor extension process before your authorized stay expires. A visitor record extends permission to stay; it does not replace a travel visa or guarantee re-entry.
ArriveCAN & border inspection
Advance Declaration in ArriveCAN is optional. At participating airports, it lets you submit customs and immigration information up to 72 hours before arrival.
It does not replace your passport, visa, or eTA. You must still confirm your declaration and complete border inspection.
Keep your accommodation details, return or onward plans, and evidence supporting your visit accessible. A valid travel authorization allows you to seek entry; the border officer makes the admission decision.
Common Application Mistakes & How to Avoid Rejections
Missing documents, inconsistent details, and unclear travel plans can create problems with an application. A careful review before submission can help you avoid preventable errors.
Key reasons for visa rejections
A visitor visa application may be refused if the officer is not satisfied that you meet the requirements. Potential problems include:
- ❗ Insufficient financial evidence: Your documents do not show how you will pay for the proposed stay.
- ❗ Unclear temporary purpose: The itinerary or explanation does not support the reason for your visit.
- ❗ Weak evidence of commitments outside Canada: The application does not adequately show why you will leave after the visit.
- ❗ Missing documents or inadequate translations: Required information cannot be assessed.
- ❗ Inconsistent background information: Dates, employment history, previous refusals, or other answers conflict.
Criminal, security, health, and other admissibility concerns can also affect eligibility. Explain relevant circumstances truthfully and support your answers with evidence.
5 golden rules for a successful application
These steps can help you avoid preventable problems, although no checklist guarantees approval:
- Plan well ahead. For a TRV, begin preparing at least three months before travel where practical. Check the current country estimate: some applications require longer.
- Arrange biometrics promptly. Book as soon as your BIL arrives and meet its deadline. There is no universal requirement to complete biometrics within 48 hours.
- Upload readable documents. Use clear, complete scans and follow the portal’s file format and size limits. High resolution alone does not make a document acceptable.
- Explain your trip clearly. A concise cover letter can connect your purpose, dates, funding, and commitments outside Canada. It supplements the evidence.
- Check identity details carefully. Follow the form’s passport-name instructions, verify passport numbers and dates, and explain any documented name changes.
For eTA applications, double-check passport details before submission. An error may prevent the authorization from matching the passport you use to travel.
FAQs About Canada’s Visa Requirements
What is the main difference between a Canada Visitor Visa and an eTA?
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A visitor visa is a passport sticker generally used by visa-required travelers arriving by air, land, or sea.
An eTA is electronically linked to a passport and is primarily for eligible air travelers.
How much does a Canada tourist visa cost in 2026?
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The visitor visa application fee is CAD $100 per person. If new biometrics are required, add CAD $85, bringing the usual combined government total to CAD $185. Exemptions and eligible family caps may apply.
Does the published processing time include biometrics?
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IRCC’s visitor visa guidance says the published time excludes the time needed to give biometrics. However, IRCC defines the overall processing period as starting when it receives a complete application.
Required biometrics must be provided before processing can proceed, so allow for the appointment separately and read the current tool’s explanation.
How long can I stay in Canada on a visitor visa or eTA?
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Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months per entry. A border services officer may authorize a shorter or longer stay. Follow any departure date recorded in your passport or visitor record.
The expiry date of your visa or eTA does not determine how long you can remain after entering.
Can I apply for an eTA if I have a valid US visa?
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Possibly. Citizens of select visa-required countries, including Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, may qualify if they hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa when applying and travel to Canada by air for a temporary stay.
A Canadian visitor visa held within the previous 10 years can also satisfy the travel-history condition.
