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Temporary residence: visit, study and work

Visitor Visas

Built around the three things officers weigh: purpose of travel, ties to home and financial capacity.

The short answer

A visitor visa (temporary resident visa, TRV) is required for citizens of many countries to visit Canada. An officer must be satisfied that you have a genuine reason to visit, enough money for the trip, and ties that will bring you home. Visitors already in Canada can apply for a visitor record to extend their stay.

Reviewed by Gurvinder Singh, RCIC ·

Visitor visa (TRV) and visitor record

Entry visas for family visits, tourism and business, and extensions inside Canada.

  • Usually up to 6 months per stay
  • Valid up to 10 years
  • Extend with a visitor record

About

A visa officer may issue a single or multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years or until the passport expires, and each stay is usually up to 6 months. If you’re in Canada and want to stay longer, a visitor record extends your status; you must apply before your current status expires.

How I help

  • Purpose-of-travel and ties assessment
  • Financial documents and invitation letters that match the file
  • Visitor records, and re-applications after a refusal
  • Family visits, weddings, births and other occasions
  • Tourism and short business visits
  • Visitors in Canada who need to extend their stay
  • Applicants refused before who need a new strategy

What decides these files

Where applications go wrong, and how I prevent it

  • Purpose and itinerary

    A specific reason to visit, with dates that match, is stronger than a general wish to see Canada.

  • Ties to home

    Employment, business, property, family responsibilities and past compliant travel help show you’ll return.

  • Finances that match the trip

    Funds should be stable, explained, and proportionate to the length and cost of the visit.

Fees and timelines change: check IRCC’s current processing times (opens in a new tab).

Questions

Visitor Visas: common questions

Why are Canadian visitor visas refused?

The most common reasons are that the officer isn’t satisfied you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay (based on ties, travel history or purpose of visit) or that your finances don’t support the trip. Ordering GCMS notes shows the officer’s actual reasoning.

How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor?

Usually up to 6 months per entry, unless the border officer sets a different date. To stay longer, apply for a visitor record before your status expires.

Should my parents apply for a visitor visa or a Super Visa?

A visitor visa usually allows stays of up to 6 months. A Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay up to 5 years per entry, but requires the host to meet an income requirement and the visitor to hold Canadian medical insurance.

Do I need a visitor visa or an eTA to come to Canada?

It depends on your nationality and how you travel. Citizens of visa-required countries need a visitor visa (TRV). Visa-exempt travellers usually need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. I confirm which applies to you before you apply, so you don't file the wrong one.

Can I work or study on a visitor visa?

No. A visitor visa or visitor record lets you visit, not work or study. You would need the appropriate work or study permit. Short, specific activities such as attending meetings may be allowed as a business visitor, which is different from working for a Canadian employer.

How much money do I need to show for a visitor visa?

There is no fixed figure. Your funds should be stable, clearly sourced and proportionate to the length and cost of your trip, including travel, accommodation and daily expenses. A host in Canada can help cover costs, supported by their own financial documents and an invitation letter.

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General information only, not legal advice.

Talk to an RCIC about visitor visas.

Book a consultation with Gurvinder Singh, RCIC, by video, phone or in person in Surrey.

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