VISITOR VISA

Most travelers need a valid document to enter Canada, such as an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a visa to visit Canada. This will depend on your citizenship or situation.

Basic Requirements

To visit Canada, you will need to meet some basic requirements, such as:

  • Have a valid travel document, such as a passport,
  • Be in good health,
  • Have no criminal record or convictions related to immigration law,
  • Convince an immigration officer that you have ties – such as a job, real estate, financial assets – that will bring you back to your home country and her family,
  • Convince an immigration officer that you are leaving Canada at the end of your visit, and
  • Have enough money to pay for your stay. (The amount of money you’ll need can vary. Depending on how long you’re staying, and whether you’ll be in a hotel, or with friends or family.)

You May Also Need A:

  • Medical examination and
  • Letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Conditions of a Visa

There are two types: The single entry visa and a multiple entry visa. Both are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.

A multiple entry visa allows visitors to enter, exit and re-enter Canada, generally for six months at a time, without having to reapply for a new visa. It is valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiration date of your visa.

A single-entry visa allows you to enter Canada only once. After you leave Canada, excluding travel to the United States and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, you will need a new visa to travel to Canada.

 

Travel Documents

When traveling to Canada, you should always carry the proper travel documents and identification for yourself and any children traveling with you.

Transport companies, such as airlines, must ensure that travelers have valid and appropriate travel documents. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or unable to board the plane.

The following travel documents are not considered reliable. They cannot be used to enter Canada:

  • Passports purportedly issued by Somalia,
  • Non-machine-readable passports issued by the Czech Republic,
  • Temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa
  • Provisional passports issued by Venezuela.