Canada Visitor Visa: CAD 100 Application Guide
Step-by-step guide to applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa for tourism, family visits, and business.
Who Needs a Canada Visitor Visa
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is required for citizens of visa-required countries — including India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines — visiting Canada for tourism, family visits, or business. Citizens of visa-exempt countries (the UK, EU countries, Australia, Japan, and others) do not apply for a TRV; they use the CAD 7 Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to Canada. US citizens need neither. Note that the eTA only applies to air travel — it is not required when entering by land or sea from the United States.
Eligible applicants are automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa, which can be valid until your passport expires or up to 10 years, whichever comes first — though since November 2024, officers decide the number of entries and validity period case by case, so maximum validity is not automatic. The border officer decides your permitted stay on arrival — typically up to 6 months. You cannot work on a visitor visa, and study is limited to programs of 6 months or less. If you need more time once in Canada, you can apply to extend your stay from within the country, at least 30 days before your status expires.
Eligibility
To qualify, you need a valid passport, good health (a medical exam may be required in some cases), no criminal or immigration-related convictions, sufficient funds for your stay, a clear temporary purpose, and — the part that decides most applications — convincing ties to your home country showing you will leave Canada at the end of your visit.
What It Costs
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa application (per person) | $100 |
| Visa fee cap for families of 5+ applying together | $500 |
| Biometrics (individual) | $85 |
| Biometrics cap for families of 2+ applying together | $170 |
Canada's family caps are genuinely useful: a family of six pays $500 + $170 = $670 in government fees instead of $1,110. Children under 14 and adults over 79 are exempt from biometrics entirely. On top of the government fees, expect a VFS Global service charge (typically CAD 35-50) in most countries. All fees are non-refundable if you are refused.
How Long It Takes
Processing varies significantly by country of residence — typically several weeks to a few months. Rather than relying on a single number, check IRCC's processing time tool, which is recalculated weekly from recent application data. The clock starts from the date your biometrics are collected, not from when you submit online. There is no paid expedited option for visitor visas, so the best way to avoid delay is a complete application — IRCC requests for missing information add weeks.
The Application Process
- 1Create an IRCC online account (via GCKey or a Sign-In Partner). Everything — forms, uploads, payment, status tracking — happens here; there are no paper applications for visitor visas.
- 2Complete the forms, principally the application for a visitor visa (IMM 5257) and the Family Information form (IMM 5645). Make sure every answer matches your supporting documents exactly.
- 3Upload your documents and pay the CAD 100 fee plus CAD 85 biometrics fee by card.
- 4Give biometrics. After payment you receive a Biometric Instruction Letter — book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre within 30 days.
- 5Wait for the decision, then submit your passport to the VAC for the visa counterfoil when requested.
The Biometrics Process
Biometrics means fingerprints and a digital photo, collected at a VAC. Once given, they are valid for 10 years — if you reapply within that period, you do not give them again or pay the $85 fee again.
Documents and Purpose-of-Visit Evidence
Because most TRV applications are decided entirely on paper, your documents are your interview:
- Bank statements — 3-6 months, showing a stable balance and regular income. There is no official minimum, but showing roughly CAD 100-150 per day of your stay is a common guideline, and officers are wary of funds that were clearly transferred in just before you applied.
- Employment or business proof — a letter on company letterhead with your position, salary, and approved leave dates; self-employed applicants should add business registration and tax returns.
- Purpose of visit — be specific. A day-by-day itinerary, event registration, or business meeting invitation is far stronger than "tourism."
- Invitation letter if visiting family or friends — your host should state the relationship, their Canadian address and immigration status, and ideally include proof of their own finances and accommodation.
- Photos — two, at 35mm x 45mm — the same frame size as Schengen photos, but different from the 51mm x 51mm US spec.
- A letter of explanation (cover letter) — IRCC recommends one for most visa types, and it is your only chance to give the officer context, since there is no interview.
How Officers Decide — and the Dual Intent Question
The most common refusal wording is some version of "I am not satisfied that you would leave Canada at the end of your stay." Officers weigh your employment stability, income relative to the trip cost, property, family situation, and travel history as a whole.
Canada also recognises "dual intent": having a pending permanent residence application or Express Entry profile does not automatically disqualify you from a visitor visa. In practice, though, it invites scrutiny. Do not hide it — the officer can see it in the system. Acknowledge it in your cover letter, explain the specific temporary purpose of this trip, and show the ties that will pull you home while your PR application processes.
Refusals and GCMS Notes
If you are refused, the letter you receive is only a summary. The detailed reasoning lives in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes — the officer's internal file comments on your finances, travel history, and credibility. You can obtain these through an ATIP (Access to Information and Privacy) request: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can request them on your behalf, the cost is free or nominal (around CAD 5), and they typically arrive in 30-60 days.
Request the notes before reapplying — reapplying without knowing the real reasons is guesswork. There is no formal appeal for TRV refusals, and no waiting period either, but an immediate reapplication with unchanged circumstances usually fails. Address each specific concern from the notes and write a cover letter that acknowledges the previous refusal and explains what has changed.
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