Visiting Canada as a Tourist: What You Need to Know
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If you plan to visit Canada for a short period (6 months or less), the ideal option might be to apply for a tourist visa. This is a great choice for short-term courses that do not require a study permit, such as English or French language classes, university exchanges, and similar programs.
Depending on your country of citizenship, you may need either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in your passport or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada as a tourist.
The eTA is a simplified travel document that can be applied for online, costs only 7 CAD, and is usually approved within minutes.
If your country is not eligible for the eTA, you will need to apply for a TRV. This process is also online, costs 100 CAD, and may take several weeks to process, depending on where you live.
An additional fee of $85 CAD is required for biometric information (fingerprints and a photo), unless you’ve submitted them previously.
Documents Required to Apply for a Tourist Visa:
A valid passport (at least 6 months before expiry)
Digital photo
Explanation of the purpose of your trip
Proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses
Invitation letter (if you’re visiting someone in Canada)
Additional documents to prove your employment, academic, or personal ties to your home country
Travel-related documents such as flight reservations, itineraries, course registration letters, etc.
Important Updates to Visa Policy
In the past, many tourist visas were issued for 5 or 10 years, or up to the passport’s expiration date, with multiple entries allowed. Once approved, you could travel to Canada as often as you wanted during the visa’s validity period.
However, starting in 2025, this standard has changed. Immigration officers may now issue single-entry visas, valid only for the specific duration required to fulfill the purpose of your trip. This could be 15 days, 1 month, or any length they consider appropriate based on your supporting documents.
For example, if your documents state that you’re attending a family wedding for 5 days, the officer may approve a single-entry visa for just that time frame.
Remember, the final decision is always at the discretion of the immigration officer reviewing your case.
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