Canada Visa Requirements
Handled by VisaHQ. Government fees are set by the destination country.
Frequently asked questions
How long before my trip should I start the Canada visa process?
Start as early as possible — embassy and consulate visa processing for Canada is not something that can be rushed reliably, and required documents (invitation letters, proof of accommodation, financial statements) can take time to gather. Leaving this until close to your travel date is the single most common cause of missed trips.
Can I get a Canada visa faster if my trip is an emergency?
Some embassies offer expedited or urgent processing for a higher fee, but this isn't universal and isn't guaranteed even when offered. Contact Canada's embassy or consulate directly and ask specifically about emergency processing — don't assume it exists or rely on a third-party site's claim that it does.
Can I extend my stay in Canada once I'm there?
Yes. You can apply from inside Canada to stay longer, and you must do it before your current permission runs out. The official fee is CAD $100. Usually up to a further 6 months from the decision date. You may not work or study on a Visitor Record. CAD $100 per person, plus CAD $85 for biometrics if you have not given them in the last 10 years. Non-refundable. Apply online for a Visitor Record (form IMM 5708) at least 30 days before your current status expires. A Visitor Record is not a visa and will not get you back into Canada if you leave. IRCC processing has stretched to roughly 10 months — longer than the stay being extended. Filing before your status expires grants maintained status, letting you remain lawfully throughout. If your status has already lapsed you have 90 days to apply for restoration, at CAD $246.25 on top of the fee.
Is the information on this page guaranteed to be accurate?
We check what we publish against official sources where we can, and clearly flag anything still pending verification. Even so, visa rules change — sometimes with very little notice — so please treat this page as a strong starting point, not a final word, and confirm directly with the official source linked above before you book or fly.
Will you make it?
Documents required
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the intended stay
- Completed visitor visa application, normally submitted online through an IRCC account
- Biometrics — fingerprints and photo, given at a Visa Application Centre after IRCC issues a Biometric Instruction Letter
- Proof of funds for the trip (bank statements, income evidence)
- Evidence of employment or studies
- Travel plan and details of where you will stay
- Letter of invitation and proof of relationship, where visiting a host
- Evidence of ties to your home country showing you will leave at the end of the visit
Before you travel — checklist
- Check your passport has enough remaining validity for your trip to Canada — many countries require at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, even for visa-free entry.
- Start your visa application process well before your travel date — don't leave this until the last few days.
- Budget for the entry fee (CAD $100 + CAD $85 biometrics = about CAD $185 per adult) and check whether it needs to be paid in a specific currency or method.
- Note this specific requirement for Canada: Visitors who have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or who hold a valid non-immigrant U.S. visa may apply for an eTA, instead of a visa, to travel to Canada by air..
- Check whether Canada requires proof of onward or return travel — some border officers ask for this even when it isn't formally listed as a requirement.
- Consider travel insurance that covers your trip to Canada, particularly if any medical or emergency evacuation coverage is required or advisable for the region.
- This page's details for Canada are still pending full verification — confirm everything directly with an official government source before finalising your plans.
Visa rules change — sometimes with very little notice. This page reflects our best information as of 2026, but if you're reading this later than that, treat it as a starting point rather than the final word, and always confirm with the official source above before you travel.