How to apply
The reason you’re travelling to Canada determines the way you apply and the documents you need to submit with your visa application. Follow the steps below to apply for your specific situation.
On this page
Gather your required documents
All applicants need to include
- a digital copy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document
- Your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel. If you need to renew your passport, do it before you apply for your visa.
Details to include
- A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you’ll use to travel to Canada
If you have a passport, you must provide a copy of
- the page that shows your birth date and country of origin
- any pages with stamps, visas or markings
If you have a travel document, it must be issued by a government and include your
- name
- date of birth
- document number
- citizenship or residence status
- photo
- expiry date (if applicable)
- a letter that authorizes a minor child to travel to Canada (if applicable)
- You may need to include other documents, depending on whether the minor child travels alone or not.
When you apply online, you’ll get a personalized document checklist in the portal. Make sure you provide all the documents listed on the checklist.
Check if your local visa office requires additional documents
Your visa office may require additional documents. Tell us where you’re applying from to get the visa office requirements for your country or territory.
Where are you applying from?
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China (People’s Republic of)
- Colombia
- Comoros Island
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Curacao
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Holy See
- Honduras
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia (Federated States of)
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia (Republic of)
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
- Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tahiti
- Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- US Virgin Islands
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Where to upload your additional documents
Where you upload these documents depends on which portal you use to apply:
- “Additional documents” IRCC Portal
- “Letter of Explanation” field on the “Optional documents” page IRCC Portal New version
Get specific instructions on how to apply
Tell us the purpose of your visit to get the next steps for your situation.
You’re coming to Canada to visit for business
To apply for a visitor visa to visit Canada on business, you need to qualify as a business visitor.
To qualify, you must show that
- you plan to stay for less than 6 months
- you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market
- your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada
Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events or training for a few days or weeks.
If your meeting, event or conference is registered with us, include the event code in your application. You should get this code from the organizer.
You’re coming to Canada for compassionate reasons
You’re coming to Canada to visit your family
You’re coming to Canada to attend a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match
You’re coming to Canada as a visitor
Make sure one of the above situations doesn’t describe you.
You’re coming to Canada to join a vessel as a marine crew member
You’re coming to Canada to visit your spouse or partner who has sponsored you for permanent residence
You’re coming to Canada to visit as a tourist
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Gather the rest of the documents you might need
You must include a letter from a person or business inviting you to Canada. It can confirm that your purpose for visiting Canada is valid.
You must show proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada.
This can include a copy of
- a marriage certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) form
- a birth certificate
- an official document naming you as a parent
You must submit the following documents with your visa application:
- digital copy of Seaman’s Book
- digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada
- digital copy of an Introduction Letter from recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner
- digital copy of the employment contract
Your document checklist may include supporting documents such as the following:
- Family Information (IMM 5645) form
- Use of a representative (IMM 5476) (opens in a new tab) (if using an authorized representative)
- Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) form (opens in a new tab) (if authorizing information from your case file to be released to someone other than yourself)
Recommended documents
- Travel history
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If you’ve travelled to Canada or to other countries, this can show that you’ve been able to get a visa in the past.
Proof of this includes copies of previous visas in your passport.
Details to include
Include a clear copy of 1 or more of the following:
- your previous passports and/or visas (used within the last 10 years to travel outside your country)
- entry and exit stamps
- study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside of your country
- expired or valid visas
Submit this document with your visa application
- Itinerary
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Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do in Canada.
Details to include
Include copies of any of the following:
- flight details
- proof of accommodation
- registration for an event
Submit these with your visa application.
- Bank account statement
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This can help us understand if you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.
Details to include
Bank name and contact
This allows us to contact your bank or financial institution with questions.Proof it is your account
Your name and address on the statement show that the account is yours.Account details
At least 6 months of account details, including balances, helps us understand your financial situation.Submit these with your visa application.
- Employer information
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A letter from your employer can confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it. It can also show that your employer supports your visit to Canada.
Details to include
The letter should be printed on your employer’s official letterhead.
The letter should include the following:
- date, no earlier than 3 months before you apply
- confirmation that you have a job with the employer
- your full name and date of birth
- date you started the job
- brief description of your job
- current salary
- contact information of your manager
- phone number
- email address
- employer information
- company name
- address
- street
- city
- state or province
- country
- signature of employer
- Your manager or human resources contact should print their name and sign the letter.
Submit this with your visa application.
- Letter of invitation
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A letter from a business or company in Canada
It can confirm that your purpose for visiting Canada is valid.
Details to include
A copy of the letter from the business or company inviting you to Canada
- The letter must be written to you from the business or company.
Consult the details to include in the letter.
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Pay your fees
We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. You’ll need a valid credit or debit card.
In most cases, your fees will include processing fees and biometrics fees for you and for anyone you included on your application.
Some applicants may be exempt from paying some or all fees.
Total fees
Type of fee Amount Who needs to pay this fee Visitor visa processing fee Individual: $100
Family (5 or more people): $500All applicants Biometrics fee Individual: $85
Family: up to $170 (if you’re eligible)Check if you need to give biometrics. -
Submit your application
IRCC Portal: Option 1 of 2
You can use the IRCC Portal to apply for a visitor visa.
IRCC Portal – New version: Option 2 of 2
You may be able to use the IRCC Portal – New version if you:
- are 18 years of age or older
- are applying alone
- have never applied for anything with us before
- are not using a representative (including family or friends applying for you)
To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.
Read the instruction guide before you complete your application. As an online applicant, you can ignore steps 3 and 4 of the guide (paying the fees and submitting your application).
If you’re applying for the first time, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.
Apply through the IRCC Secure account
Faster visitor visa processing for spousal applicants
If you’re being sponsored for permanent residence (PR) by your spouse or partner, you could benefit from faster processing for a visitor visa.
You may be eligible if you
- submitted an application to be sponsored for permanent residence
- received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that confirms the application is in progress
Applications that need more information (for example, custody documents for a child) will take longer to process.
When your sponsor receives the AOR for your permanent residence application, you can apply for a visitor visa. If you’re eligible, your visitor visa application will automatically receive faster processing. You don’t need to request it.
You must still meet all of the requirements to be eligible for a visitor visa.
Applying on paper for specific situations
Applying on paper for specific situations
You must apply online. However, you can apply on paper if either
- you can’t apply online, including for reasons of a disability, or
- you’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen
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Give your biometrics after you apply (if applicable)
Wait for your biometrics instruction letter, and then book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as possible to avoid processing delays.
Reasons why you might need to give biometrics again
There are some reasons why you might have to give your biometrics again even if they remain valid:
- Your biometrics will expire soon.
- We can’t issue you a visa that’s valid for longer than your biometrics.
- You applied for permanent residence and your application was refused.
- You gave only partial biometrics with your application (fingerprints or photo).
Extending the validity of your biometrics by giving them again doesn’t automatically extend the validity of your visa to 10 years. A visitor visa can be issued for up to 10 years or until the expiry date of either your passport or biometrics, whichever comes first. An officer may set a different expiry date, depending on your circumstances.
- Your biometrics will expire soon.