Visitor visa and eTA
We did not confirm an open, paused or closed status on a government page on this date. Check IRCC before you apply. Last looked at November 9, 2026: IRCC’s page.
Visitors to Canada need either a temporary resident visa or, if they are visa-exempt and flying in, an electronic travel authorization (eTA). This page is for tourists, family visitors and business visitors. Either way, the officer must be satisfied you will leave at the end of your stay, which is six months unless an officer sets another period.
Who is eligible
- Visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada need an eTA; U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are exempt from the eTA (IRPR s 7.1).
- A visa is issued only if the officer is satisfied you will leave by the end of your authorized stay, you hold a valid passport and you are admissible (IRPR s 179).
- Wanting to immigrate later doesn’t on its own disqualify you, if the officer is satisfied you’ll leave at the end of the visit (IRPA s 22(2)).
Steps
- Check whether you need a visa or an eTA on IRCC’s page.
- Apply online with proof of ties and funds.
- At the border, the officer decides the length of your stay.
Documents you’ll usually need
- Valid passport.
- Proof of funds for the visit.
- Evidence of ties to your home country (job, family, property).
- Invitation letter if visiting family.
What the law says
“will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay under Division 2”
When a visitor visa must be issued.
“the period authorized for the stay of a temporary resident is six months or any other period that is fixed by an officer”
Default length of stay: six months, or another period an officer fixes.
“An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident”
Dual intent is allowed.
“is required to obtain an electronic travel authorization before entering Canada”
Who needs an eTA.
Official IRCC pages
Program rules not written in the statute, plus current fees and processing times, are on IRCC’s own pages:
- IRCC: Visit Canada
- IRCC: Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- IRCC fee list (current fees)
- IRCC processing times (live)
Common mistakes
- Working on a visitor record without authorization — visitors may not work unless the Regulations allow it (IRPR s 183(1)(b)).
- Overstaying the authorized period.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a visitor stay in Canada?
Six months by default, or another period fixed by the officer (IRPR s 183(2)).
Can I visit if I’ve also applied for permanent residence?
Yes, if the officer is satisfied you will leave at the end of the authorized stay (IRPA s 22(2)).
Questions answered in depth
- What “serious criminality” means for Canadian inadmissibility
IRPA s 36(1): the 10-year maximum and six-month sentence tests, how foreign convictions are compared, rehabilitation, record suspensions and appeal rights.
Related streams
- Parents and grandparents (and the super visa) Paused
Sponsoring parents or grandparents for permanent residence, and the super visa for long visits.
- Study permit Check IRCC
Permission to study in Canada at a designated learning institution, and the conditions that come with it.
- Inadmissibility and record suspensions Check IRCC
The grounds that make someone inadmissible, and how rehabilitation or a record suspension can help.