Whether it is for tourism or a visit to friends or family, if you are interested in coming to Canada, you will need to get a Temporary Resident Visa, also known as the Canada Tourist Visa. This document, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, will allow you to enter the country.

In this section you may read about a Temporary Resident Visa, eTA and Super Visa for parents and grandparents.

As mentioned before, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is the document that allows you to enter Canada for a determined amount of time. This document is issued to foreign nationals who want to come to Canada for tourism, short business trips, or to visit friends and family living in the country.

A Temporary Resident Visa can be issued for a single visit, which usually does not exceed 6 months, or for multiple entries, for a period of 10 years maximum.

To apply for a Canadian Tourist Visa, first make sure that you actually need a visa to enter the country. Depending on your nationality you might need a tourist visa or an eTA.

To know which one you need you may check here.

There are two ways to apply for a Tourist Visa: Online or by paper. We suggest it is done online, at the moment due to the current pandemic applications on paper are not being processed.  

In the case you need to submit biometric fingerprints and a photo as well, depending of your location, you will need to go a Visa Application Centre (VAC), or an Application Support Center (USA).

Please note that, although most visitors require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada, others require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a requirement to enter Canada for citizens of countries that do not require a Temporary Resident Visa to go to Canada if they are traveling by air.

The eTA allows travelers to visit Canada for shorts periods of time (up to six months) and it is electronically linked to the person’s passport. It lasts five years or until the passport expires.

How to Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization

The process to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization is done at the IRCC website and has a fee of CAD $7.

To complete your application, first you need to have your passport, a credit or debit card at hand. You will also need a valid email address to receive your eTA.

If you are traveling with your family, you will need to submit individual applications for each family member.

Go to the IRCC website and start the application process. You will have a limited time to complete all fields, pay and submit the form. After your information is validated, you will receive an email informing you if your application was approved.

Remember that your eTA is linked to your passport, so make sure to validate that your passport number is correct when you are applying for the eTA.

If you have questions or need any help with your Temporary Resident Visa application please Contact us for an assessment.

For parents or grandparents of Canadian permanent residents interested to travel Canada to visit their children or grandchildren, there is the option of a Super Visa. This multiple entry document allows you to go to the country for a period of up to two years per visit and it’s valid for up to 10 years. Check out the requirements for this type of visa.