Obtaining a visitor visa
for Canada
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A visitor visa, also known as a temporary resident visa, is the document affixed to the passport of people who require authorization to stay in Canada temporarily. It is used for tourism, family visits and business travel.
If you are planning to visit Canada, join your family there or attend a business event, it is worth finding out whether you need this visa and how to submit a strong application first time round.
Immigration rules change regularly. The information presented here is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For a personalized assessment of your situation, please schedule a consultation.
Under what circumstances do you need a visitor’s visa?
It all depends on your nationality and your circumstances. Depending on the situation, a trip to Canada may require a temporary resident visa, an electronic travel authorization, or neither. Some nationalities are exempt from visa requirements, whilst others are not, and your mode of transport is also a factor.
It is important to note the difference: the electronic travel authorization is an online formality, whereas the application for a temporary resident visa is a comprehensive application assessed by an officer. The two are not prepared in the same way and are not intended for the same travelers.
Several criteria may apply depending on your circumstances. From our very first meeting, we check which form is appropriate for your situation and put together your application accordingly: submitting an application under the wrong category wastes time – and sometimes even more than that.
What are the requirements for applying for a visitor’s visa?
An application for a visitor’s visa is based on a few key elements: a valid travel document, a coherent plan for your stay, and evidence of your ties to your country of residence. The visa officer assesses the application as a whole, not individual documents in isolation.
Biometric data is usually required, and government fees apply. The amounts of these fees and details of specific cases are published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
It is the quality of the case that makes the difference, and this is built up step by step before the application is submitted. A consultation allows us to assess your case in accordance with the current regulations.
What other steps are required whilst your application is being processed?
Submitting an application does not mean the application is complete. Depending on the case, IRCC may request biometric data, additional documents or a medical examination, in each instance within a specific timeframe set out in its correspondence.
If you are already in Canada, the question of maintaining your status arises well before it expires, and the deadlines you need to meet vary depending on your circumstances. It is better to discuss this early on than to have to act in a rush.
We will monitor your case right up to the decision, including correspondence with IRCC and, where necessary, responding to a letter regarding procedural fairness.
Support tailored to your circumstances
Legal representation to support you, guiding and representing you from the preparation of your case right through to the decision.
Profile assessed
We identify the exact document you need
Personalised support
A dedicated point of contact from start to finish
Complete application
Every document checked before submission to IRCC
Professionalism and rigor
We respond to IRCC on your behalf
Our team
Alice Mardelet-Santamaria
Attorney and founder of the law firm
Chloe Yin
Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant (CRIC)
Our areas of practice
The questions our customers ask us most often.
Most applicants for a visitor visa are required to provide their fingerprints and a photograph. IRCC will provide instructions and the deadline to be met once the application has been submitted. Exemptions do exist, but these depend on the applicant’s profile.
The length of stay is not determined by the visa but by the border control officer at the time of entry. The date entered in your passport or on your visitor’s form is the authoritative one.
No. The validity of a visa refers to the period during which the holder may present themselves at the border; it does not correspond to the authorised length of stay, which is determined on each entry.
An extension of status may be applied for before the authorised stay expires. The conditions and time limits vary depending on your circumstances: a consultation will enable us to assess your case in accordance with the current rules.
A visitor’s visa does not permit you to work. Certain short-term study activities are permitted under these circumstances. As the answer depends on your plans, it is best to check this before you commit to anything.
Immigration rules change regularly. The information presented here is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For a personalized assessment of your situation, please schedule a consultation.
Your future in Canada starts here.
Every immigration journey is unique. Our team offers you personalized, thorough and compassionate support to help you move forward with confidence at every stage of your journey.
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