Visitor Visa

No. If you plan to travel to Canada, you need a valid visitor visa OR a valid eTA. The one you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you will travel with;
• the country that issued your travel document;
• your nationality; and
• how you will travel to Canada.

If you already have a valid Canadian visitor visa you don’t need to apply for an eTA – even if you’re eligible for an eTA. You can travel with your visa until it expires. If you apply for an initial work or study permit before you travel to Canada, you’ll get a visa or an eTA automatically once your work or study permit application is approved. You don’t need to apply for a visa or an eTA, or pay extra fees. If IRCC issues you a visa, they’ll stick it in your passport. If IRCC issues you an eTA, your eTA number will be included in the letter of introduction we will send you when your study or work permit is approved.

You may travel to Canada as a tourist before you get your permanent resident visa. However, we strongly advise against making any definitive arrangements for your stay in Canada until you have received your permanent resident visa. You will need to apply for a visitor visa to travel to Canada as a tourist. Please note that having a valid visitor visa does not guarantee your entry into Canada. A border services officer will decide if you can enter Canada and how long you can stay.

Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports from visa-required countries do need a visa to visit Canada. However, they may be exempt from paying the processing fee if they are travelling on official business.

All applicants who are eligible for a multiple entry visa will be issued one. However, not all applicants will be eligible for a multiple entry visa. This remains at the discretion of a visa officer. A single entry visa may be issued in cases where, for example:

• An applicant is eligible for a fee-exemption and where the purpose of entry to Canada is limited (e.g., for an official visit by a foreign national);
• An applicant is participating in a one-time special event in Canada (e.g., Pan-American Games); and/or
• Country-specific procedures or guidelines are in place and approved by IRCC.

 

The document you need to transit through Canada depends on a few factors, including if you plan to visit Canada. Visa-required travelers- You’re considered a visa-required traveller if you’re from a visa-required country. You need a visitor visa if:

• you visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)
• stay in Canada more than 48 hours while transiting, or
• you’re crossing the border by bus, car, train, boat or cruise ship

You need a transit visa if:

• your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
• you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
• you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less, and
• you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Visa-exempt travellers- You’re considered a visa-exempt traveller if you’re from an eTA-required country. You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country. You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus, boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents.

Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. You should get health insurance to cover any medical costs before you come to Canada.

If you want to extend your stay in Canada, you should apply at least 30 days before your status expires. Study and work permit holders- If your visitor visa expired and you need to leave and return to Canada, you need to apply for a new visitor visa (not a visitor record).

You can apply to change your status to visitor, but once your current study or work permit expires, you won’t be able to apply for a new study or work permit from within Canada. This means it won’t give you more time to extend your study or work permit. Most visitors aren’t eligible to apply for a study or work permit from within Canada. If you change your status to visitor, you may have to leave Canada to apply for a new study or work permit. Because of this, we strongly recommend you don’t change your status to visitor if you need more time to apply for your permit. Make sure you know when your current permit expires and apply at least 30 days before it does.

No, business visitors who need a visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) must complete the visitor visa or eTA form. The eTA and visitor visa cover all visitors, including those coming to Canada on business.

You do not need a work permit to carry out business activities related to your job back home, such as meeting clients of your company or visiting job sites. However, if you plan to carry out secretarial, managerial, technical or production activities or stay longer than six months in Canada, you have to apply for a work permit. In both cases, if you are from a country that requires a visa to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa.

Yes, as long as it has not expired. Make sure you have documents that support your business visit to Canada.

If the duration of your visit is six months or less: Generally, no medical examination is required. However, a medical examination is required if you intend to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential. Please see Jobs for which you need a medical examination for more information. If the duration of your visit is more than six months: You will need a medical examination if:

• you have resided or stayed temporarily for six or more consecutive months in a designated country or territory in the one year immediately preceding the date you sought entry into Canada. This applies even if you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to enter Canada.
• you are coming to Canada to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential.
• you are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.