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Visitor Visa checklist: Everything you need to apply and visit Canada

A visitor visa is needed to come to Canada as a tourist, or on a quick trip to visit family, or do business for individuals of many countries.

Anyone who is not a permanent or temporary resident of Canada (those with a work or study permit) will need a visitor visa to enter the country. However, citizens of certain countries do not need a visitor visa and can instead pursue an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). eTAs are a more streamlined form or travel authorisation available to nationals of countries that have visa-free travel agreements with Canada. For answers to common questions on eTAs, click here .

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

What is needed to get a Canadian visitor visa?

1. Complete the needed forms

Depending on whether you are applying inside or outside of Canada, you will need to fill in different forms. Those applying outside of Canada will require:

• Application for temporary resident visa (IMM 5257);
• Family information form (IMM 5707);
• Statutory declaration of common-law union (IMM 5409);
• Use of representative (IMM 5476)—Note this is only required if you have used the services of a representative, or if you are appointing or cancelling use of a representative; and
• Authority to release personal information to a designated individual (IMM 5475)—Note this form is only required if you authorise Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to release information from your case file to someone other than yourself (i.e.: a representative or authorised relative).

2. Collect the needed documentation

In addition to the above forms, applicants for a visitor visa will need to following documentation in support of their request:

• Receipt of fee payment;
• A photocopy of the information page of your passport, including: the passport number, issuance and expiry dates, and your photo, name, issue date, and place of birth;
• Two photos meeting the requirements of the visa application photograph specifications . On the back of these two photos applicants must write their name and date of birth. If applicants are required to provide biometric fingerprints and photo they do not have to attach these photos;
• Proof of financial support, proving that you can support yourself and any family member accompanying you while you are in Canada;
• Photocopy of your marriage license or certificate (if relevant);
• Letter explaining the purpose of your travel;
• Photocopy of your current immigration status (if your country of residence differs from the country of citizenship listed on your passport, you must provide proof of legal status in your country of residence);
• Minors travelling alone or with one parent must provide custody documents or a letter of authorisation from the other non-accompanying parent of a letter of authorisation signed by both parent or legal guardians; and
• Any other additional documents required by the responsible visa office in your region.

Note that application forms completed online must be completed and validated with the generation of a barcode. If completed on a computer, these barcodes will be automatically attached to the immigration forms, otherwise they must be printed and placed at the top of an application if applying by paper.

How to pay required fees and prove fee payment to IRCC

There are two kinds of fees that applicants for a visitor visa may need to pay. These are application processing fees, and biometric fees. Those who do not need to provide biometrics may be exempt from the second set of fees—find out if you need to give biometrics here .

Application processing fees for visitor visas are $100 CAD per person, and $500 CAD for a family (five or more people).

Biometrics fees on the other hand are $85 CAD per person, and $170 per family (two or more people).

These fees may be subject to change and cannot be refunded regardless of the decision reached on your application. In addition, the only accepted method to pay these fees is online.

After following the given instructions and completing the process, you must wait until an official IRCC receipt is issued with a barcode. Applicants are advised to save this file and attach a copy of it to their application.

How to provide proof of financial support

There are several documents that you can use to prove that you can support yourself and any dependents that accompany you while you are visiting Canada.

Some examples include cash, certified cheque, bank draft, or money order in a large enough amount to cover all reasonable expenses incurred during your stay in Canada.

In addition, written or verbal statements (which can be verified) can also be used, provided that they satisfy an officer that sufficient financial support from friends and/or family has been arranged and can cover reasonable incurable expenses during your stay.

Other documents include bank statements, a letter of employment or previous tax filing information,

How to write a “purpose of travel” letter

All foreign nationals entering Canada must be able to satisfy an officer at their time of entry that they have legitimate reasons to enter and reside in Canada. In the context of a visitor visa, this can often also include proving that you (the foreign national) will leave Canada once the period of your authorised stay expires.

In some cases, visitor visa applicants may also need a letter of invitation from a Canadian citizen or permanent resident .

Applying with family members

Visitor visa applicants wishing to bring their family with them on their trip to Canada must complete an application form for each family member. All applications may be submitted together online or at the VAC where you will send your application on paper. A single receipt may also be given for all included applications.

Lastly all family members and dependents must meet all requirements for temporary residence in Canada.

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Citizenship status tracker - technical issues

• Thread starter shidlo
• Start date Wednesday at 12:17 PM

for the past week or so, I cant seem to get the Citizenship status tracker to load. I keep getting a "403 Error" on the site. does anybody else gets that, or is it just me?  

shidlo said: for the past week or so, I cant seem to get the Citizenship status tracker to load. I keep getting a "403 Error" on the site. does anybody else gets that, or is it just me? Click to expand...

yup, it seems like my home IP is blocked. I get the error from all the computers in the house (even in incognito), but it works from my phone when NOT connected to the wifi. I wonder why.  

shidlo said: yup, it seems like my home IP is blocked. I get the error from all the computers in the house (even in incognito), but it works from my phone when NOT connected to the wifi. I wonder why. Click to expand...

Donald Trump's felony conviction may bar him from visiting certain countries, Internet declares 'magnitude of TDS is insane'

W ASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial conviction could hinder him from freely traveling internationally as some countries have prohibitions on travel visa applications from convicted felons, according to the New York Post .

On May 30, the GOP presumptive nominee became the first ex-president to be convicted in a criminal case after a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payoff to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to stop her from publicizing their one-time affair.

However, Trump can travel to visa-exempt nations, including  Argentina, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Donald Trump could face problems in visiting at least six nations

The US passport does not contain details about an individual's criminal history. However, the former president could face troubles if a customs official inquires about his record.

According to New York immigration attorney Karin Wolman, Trump's conviction in the hush money case "would almost certainly affect his ability to travel for diplomatic purposes" to nations including Australia, China, India, Israel, New Zealand, and Taiwan even if he wins a second White House term in November.

A visa is mandatory to visit all these six nations, and the visa applications contain questions on the applicant's criminal history to exclude violent criminals and offenders from entering.

Due to the non-violent nature of the real estate mogul's offenses, these countries could offer him a temporary visa or apply for waivers, the immigration attorney said, adding, "It will be up to each individual country whether they want to waive his 34 felony convictions" and permitting his entrance.

Further, Wolman pointed out that one cannot lie about the application or during the interview, and these countries could deny the visa if anyone does so.

Attorney Gadi Zohar opined if Trump wins the presidency , no country might prevent his visit despite the conviction due to his diplomatic status.

"Normally, you're also asked to show your disposition records and some proof you served time but it's not exactly a secret that he was convicted, given it's on every front page," Wolman added.

The hush money sentence against Trump is scheduled to be announced on July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Internet debates over likely visa ban for Donald Trump

Netizens had a divided opinion on the possibility of Trump being prohibited from visiting certain countries due to the conviction. While some said he could invite leaders of those countries to the US, another group claimed the former president would pardon himself , though it is not an option.

One user wrote, "The magnitude of TDS is insane." While another remarked, "His supporters will call it a patriotic badge of honor while the rest of the world sees it as a sign of how far the U.S. has fallen."

"They can come here everyone is welcome EVERYONE," one user claimed. Whereas, another response read, "Well he only cares about America so there's that."

Someone else said, "Anyone who thinks countries would bar him is a moron. They want him back in charge here. They'd welcome him with open arms."

"If he was elected president he would just pardon himself," an individual added.

A remark read, "So he invites those country's leaders to the U.S., problem solved."

Another user wrote, "No one with half a brain would care. The world needs the US much more than the US needs the world. If Trump happens to become president again watch how quickly those regulations will be changed."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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How can I update or ask about an IRCC application in progress?

Follow these tips to track, update or change information about an application in progress.

Check the status of your application

Find out how to check if we received your application .

We’ll send you your application number by mail or email when

• we made sure your application is complete
• we begin processing your application

Once you have your application number, you can check the status of your application . There are a few ways you can do that, depending on if you applied online or on paper.

Update your application

If we need more information to process your application, we’ll contact you by mail, email or through your account.

If you have a question about our request, you can

• send us your question through our Web form , or
• ask your question through your online account (if you have one). Upload a document with your question in place of the document we asked for

Make sure you keep your contact information updated. That way, we can contact you if we need to.

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There are different ways of changing your address depending on your type of application and where you applied from.

Find out how to change your address .

Change other information

You must use our web form to tell us about changes to your situation, even if you applied online.

Examples of changes include

• marriage or divorce
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• death of an applicant or dependant
• You must submit a scanned copy of your new passport.
• job situation
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If you change your contact information, make sure you check your old contact information until we update your application.

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IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 – Temporary Immigration: How Visitors Come to Canada

[ Redacted ] appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the principles of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act .

• International tourism generated approximately $16B in 2022. Visitor volumes fluctuate, but the overall trend has been upward year-over-year.
• All foreign nationals seeking to enter Canada are screened for inadmissibility (health, security and criminality). Nearly all visitors are screened before they travel; the level of screening corresponds to the perceived level of risk and is determined largely by a traveller’s nationality.
• Visitors generate tourism revenue, reunite friends and family, and also promote social and cultural connections.
• Visa policy is politically sensitive: lifting a visa communicates trust and partnership, imposing a visa negatively impacts bilateral relationships.

Current Program

• Screening aims to “push the border out,” manage migration, and protect the health, safety and security of Canadians.
• Screening aims to issue visas only to genuine visitors who can support themselves during their temporary stay in Canada, and will not remain in Canada without status.
• All inadmissibility assessments require a case-by-case analysis based on the facts of the case and the evidence before the decision maker.
• Cases may be flagged for additional screening based on information provided by the individual applying to come to Canada, security screening indicators or any adverse information that may be flagged in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) systems. IRCC may refer such cases to the CBSA or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for a more in-depth review.
• By law, all visitors require a visa to travel to Canada, unless otherwise exempt.
• Higher risk nationals must apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) and enrol their biometrics (fingerprints and photograph).
• Lower risk nationals travelling to or through Canada by air must apply online for a light-touch electronic travel authorization (eTA).
• Application: Collects comprehensive details and supporting documents
• Screening: Requires biometrics; includes an assessment of a traveller’s intent
• Review: Manual review by officer; passport and TRV counterfoil physically inspected
• Validity: Up to 10 years; multiple entries (in majority of cases)
• Fee: $100 + $85 biometric fee
• China and India are the top visa-required source countries
• Application: Fully digital; collects basic, self-declared traveller information
• Screening: Light-touch (for example, known immigration history)
• Review: Most applications automatically approved by system in minutes
• Validity: Up to five years; multiple entries
• United Kingdom, France and Mexico are the top eTA source countries

Visa Policy Framework

• safety and security concerns
• passport integrity
• bilateral benefits
• the performance of the traveller population in question (for example, asylum claims and visa refusals)

Recent Developments

• On June 6, 2023, Canada lifted the visa on known travellers Footnote 1 from 13 countries to support post-pandemic economic recovery and tailor visitor screening more toward individualized risk (beyond just a traveller’s nationality). These countries include the Philippines, Thailand, Morocco, Seychelles, Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. These are considered “partial visa lifts” because now, these countries produce two streams of visitors: those who need a visa, and those who only need an eTA.
• [ Redacted ]

Visitors Program Modernization

• Improving how visitors, students and workers come to Canada will be an early deliverable under the Digital Platform Modernization initiative and will allow IRCC to keep up with increasing temporary resident volumes. IRCC will shift away from primarily issuing physical documents to issuing digital visas and immigration permits, while improving the data the Department uses for screening.
• A shift to digital visas and immigration permits is critical to our ability to effectively respond to a crisis, better support clients’ needs and expectations for modern digital services, and reduce the Department’s reliance on outdated paper processes that add to processing times. Clients would no longer wait without their passports while we add a visa counterfoil sticker and instead could travel as soon as we approve their application. At the border, it means shorter wait times as arriving international students and workers would no longer need to be sent to a CBSA officer to print a paper immigration permit.
• Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom already issue digital visas, while the United States and the European Union are moving ahead with this approach. This underscores the need for Canada to keep pace in a tight market for international tourism and the attraction of talent.
• To strengthen program integrity while shifting to digital visas and permits, IRCC is seeking to introduce a digital capture feature to accurately collect clients’ biographic passport information and verify the authenticity of their travel documents remotely.
• The Department is also working with the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and INTERPOL to increase immigration information sharing to better screen our clients based on their interactions with our closest allies, and to ensure they hold legitimate travel documents.

Advice And Representation

• Many foreign nationals seeking to enter Canada receive advice or representation from an immigration or citizenship representative, including immigration and citizenship consultants. Canada has taken decisive action to improve oversight, strengthen enforcement, and increase accountability among consultants.
• IRCC is supporting the development and implementation of a new governance regime for consultants. The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants is an arm’s-length body that is mandated under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (College Act) to regulate consultants. It opened on November 23, 2021, and is subject to government oversight. The full implementation of the governance regime requires the development by the Department of regulations pursuant to the College Act (anticipated in 2025).
• The Department is also developing an administrative penalties and consequences regime which will allow IRCC to issue monetary penalties to consultants, lawyers and unauthorized practitioners who violate the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or the Citizenship Act while providing advice or representation. The regime is anticipated to take effect in 2025 through amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and Citizenship Regulations.

Upcoming Milestones

• Canada is pursuing visitor screening based on the individual risk posed by each traveller. Today’s visa policy is largely based on nationality, but countries do not fit neatly into two risk categories—all countries contain lower- and higher-risk travellers.
• In response to increased visitor demand and modern client expectations, IRCC recognizes that a shift to the digital delivery of visas and permits is necessary to remain competitive. Initial stakeholder engagement with the air industry and Canada’s M5 partners is underway; the goal is to launch a digital visa pilot in 2025.

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