Canada Visit/Tourist Visa

POE Appearance

All visitors who are required to obtain a visa must be in possession of the visa when they appear at a POE

Visitor Visa

A visitor visa may be for single entry or multiple entry use

First Step

The foreign national must first submit a visit visa application to the responsible Canadian visa office in the country or region where they reside

Second Step

Once a visit visa has been issued, the applicant may land in Canada. At the port of entry an immigration officer will question the applicant to ensure admissibility.

Do I need an Electronic Travel Authorization?

  1. Submit a visit visa application to the responsible Canadian visa office in your country or region.
  2. You may need to attend an interview where the visa officer will verify:
    1. Your reasons for visiting Canada.
    2. Your ability or willingness to leave Canada when the visa expires.
    3. Your overall admissibility to Canada.
  3. A visit visa is issued and you can come to Canada. At the port of entry an immigration officer will question the applicant to ensure admissibility.

A visitor visa may be for single entry or multiple entry use. Single entry visas may be issued up to six months before the expected date of travel. The maximum validity date for multiple entry visitor visas is up to ten (10) years or one month prior to the expiry date on the passport/re-entry visa, whichever is earlier. POE officers will routinely grant entry for a period of six months to a person requesting entry as a visitor.

Do I need to provide biometrics to enter Canada?

Canada will expand its biometrics collection to the vast majority of immigrants during 2018.
Everyone who applies for a visit visa, work permit, study permit or permanent residence will need to provide fingerprints and a photo.
From July 31 2018, the program will be expanded to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas will be required to provide biometrics from December 31, 2018.

Who is exempt from biometrics collection?

  • Canadian citizens and existing permanent residents, plus citizenship applicants.
  • Travellers from visa-exempt countries who have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
  • U.S. citizens with work or study permit.
  • Anyone aged under 14 or over 79.
  • Heads of state, cabinet ministers, those with diplomatic status on an official trip.
  • Those with a U.S. visa who are transiting through Canad