Who can get a visa
You must meet some basic requirements to get a visitor visa.
You must:
- have a valid travel document, like a passport
- be in good health
- have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
- convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- have enough money for your stay
- The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.
You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
Check the list of documents you need based on your situation.
Some people are not allowed to enter Canada
Some people are inadmissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:
- criminal activity
- human rights violations
- organized crime
You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons. Find out more about inadmissibility.
Minor children travelling to Canada
Make sure you know what to do if your minor children (children under the age of 18) will be travelling with you, with someone else, or alone.
Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.
Find out how to give biometrics
Processing your visitor visa application
We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the documents you need.
If it's incomplete, your application may be refused.
We may also ask you to
We’ll tell you what to do if you need to do any of these.
We process most applications in a few weeks or less. Processing times depend on the visa office and if you need to do any extra steps (listed above).
