Canada Visitor Visa (TRV): How to Apply, Fees and Biometrics

Most travellers who are not from a visa-exempt country need a Canada visitor visa, officially called a temporary resident visa (TRV), before they travel. You normally apply online through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), pay CAD 100 plus CAD 85 for biometrics, give your fingerprints and photo at a collection point, and then wait for a decision. This guide walks through who needs a TRV rather than an eTA, what to prepare, what it costs and how to avoid the most common refusal reasons.

Who needs a visitor visa and who needs an eTA

Canada uses two main entry documents for short visits. Which one you need depends on your nationality, the passport you hold and how you are travelling.

Visitor visa (TRV): a sticker placed in your passport, needed by citizens of visa-required countries whatever way they arrive.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): an online approval linked to your passport, needed by citizens of visa-exempt countries who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport.
US citizens need neither, but must carry proper identification such as a valid US passport.
US lawful permanent residents have been exempt from the eTA since April 2022, but must show their national passport and valid green card.
Dual Canadian citizens must travel on a Canadian passport, not an eTA.

There is also a middle route. Citizens of a short list of visa-required countries may be able to apply for an eTA instead of a visa if they meet IRCC's conditions and are flying in. IRCC's pages note that citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia became able to use this route from 26 May 2026. The eTA option only covers air travel: if you arrive by land, by sea or on a cruise ship, you still need a visitor visa. Our separate eTA guide for Gulf residents covers that route; here we focus on the TRV.

Visitor visa, eTA or super visa: the options compared

Visitor visa: CAD 100 plus usually CAD 85 for biometrics, single or multiple entry, typically valid up to 10 years or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first.
eTA: CAD 7, applied for online, most approved within minutes, valid only for air travel and only for eligible passports.
Super visa: for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or registered Indians, allowing stays of up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over up to 10 years. It has its own requirements, including proof of income from the host and medical checks, so it is not covered in detail here.

A visa officer decides whether you receive a single-entry or multiple-entry visa; the fee is the same either way. A visa only lets you travel to Canada and ask to enter. The border services officer on arrival decides whether to admit you and for how long. Most visitors are allowed up to six months. If the officer sets a different date, it will be stamped in your passport or written on a visitor record.

Document checklist

IRCC generates a personalised checklist in its online portal once you answer the eligibility questions, and your local visa office may ask for more. Expect to need most of the following.

A digital copy of a valid passport, valid for at least six months beyond your planned travel date.
A completed application form submitted through the IRCC Portal or your IRCC secure account.
Proof that you have enough money for your stay, such as recent bank statements, pay slips or a sponsor's financial documents.
Evidence of ties to your home country, such as an employment letter, approved leave, property or tenancy documents, business registration or family commitments.
A clear explanation of the purpose of your trip, for example a travel plan, hotel bookings or an event registration.
A letter of invitation from someone in Canada, if you are visiting friends or family.
Your travel history, including copies of previous visas, if you have them.
Medical exam results, if IRCC asks for them.
Extra documents for children under 18 travelling alone or with one parent, such as a consent letter.

Fees as of October 2026

The following IRCC fees apply as of October 2026, paid in Canadian dollars by credit or debit card at the end of your online application.

Visitor visa, single or multiple entry: CAD 100 per person.
Visitor visa, family maximum: CAD 500 for a family of five or more applying together.
Biometrics: CAD 85 per person.
Biometrics, family maximum: CAD 170 for two or more eligible family members applying together.
Extending your stay as a visitor (visitor record): CAD 100 per person.
Restoring visitor status: CAD 246.25.
eTA, for comparison: CAD 7.

Visa application centres may charge extra for optional services.

Biometrics

Most applicants for temporary residence must give fingerprints and a digital photo. Children aged 13 and under and applicants aged 80 and over are exempt, based on their age on the day the application is submitted. US nationals and people applying only for an eTA do not give biometrics.

After you submit and pay, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter. You generally have 30 days from that letter to attend a collection point, usually a visa application centre (VAC) outside Canada or a designated service point inside Canada. Once given, biometrics are normally reusable for 10 years for temporary residence applications, and IRCC will not issue a visa that runs beyond 10 years from your last biometrics. You can check whether your existing biometrics are still valid online before you pay again.

How to apply step by step

Check whether you need a visa, an eTA or neither using IRCC's online tool.
Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond your trip; renew first if needed.
Choose your purpose of visit, such as tourism, visiting family, business or a compassionate reason, as instructions differ slightly.
Create or sign in to your account on the IRCC Portal or IRCC secure account. First-time adult applicants applying alone without a representative may be able to use the newer version of the portal.
Answer the eligibility questions, fill in the form and upload the documents on your checklist.
Pay the visa and biometrics fees by card and submit.
Wait for your biometric instruction letter, then book and attend a collection appointment.
Respond quickly to any request for more documents, a medical exam or an interview.
If approved, you will be asked to send your passport so the visa counterfoil can be placed in it.

Paper applications are only allowed in limited cases, for example if a disability prevents you from applying online or you hold a refugee, stateless or non-citizen travel document.

Processing times

IRCC does not publish a single fixed processing time for visitor visas. Instead, its online processing times tool shows an estimate for the country you are applying from, based on the current inventory and staffing. Check it on the day you apply and leave a generous margin before non-refundable bookings.

Processing begins once IRCC receives a complete application, so missing documents or late biometrics will push your decision back. IRCC notes that applications sent through an embassy, high commission or consulate can take several extra months for mailing, which is one more reason to apply online.

Staying longer: the visitor record

If you are already in Canada and want to stay beyond the date on your passport stamp, or beyond six months from entry if you have no stamp, apply online for a visitor record. IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before your current status expires. If you apply before it expires, you can generally remain in Canada under the same conditions while you wait.

A visitor record is not a visa. It extends your permission to stay but does not let you leave and re-enter Canada. If your status has already expired, you cannot extend it, but you may be able to apply to restore it within 90 days, at the higher restoration fee.

Common refusal and entry problems

Canadian law requires an officer to be satisfied that you will leave Canada by the end of your authorised stay, among other conditions, before issuing a visa. Most refusals come back to this point.

Weak ties to home: no stable job, property or family obligations that show you will return.
Unclear purpose of visit: vague or inconsistent travel plans.
Insufficient funds, or large unexplained deposits shortly before applying.
Gaps or inconsistencies between the form and supporting documents.
Previous immigration violations, overstays or undisclosed refusals from Canada or other countries.
Criminal history or health issues that make you inadmissible.

If refused, you can usually reapply with stronger evidence that addresses the officer's concerns.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Canada visitor visa fee?

As of October 2026, the visitor visa costs CAD 100 per person and biometrics cost CAD 85, so most single applicants pay CAD 185 to IRCC. A family of five or more pays a maximum of CAD 500 for visas, and biometrics are capped at CAD 170 per family.

How long does a Canada visitor visa take to process?

It depends on where you apply from. Check IRCC's processing times tool for your country, and remember the clock effectively starts only once your application is complete and your biometrics are given.

Do I need biometrics for a Canada tourist visa?

Usually yes, if you are between 14 and 79 years old. You give them once and they are normally valid for 10 years of future temporary residence applications.

How long can I stay in Canada on a visitor visa?

Most visitors are admitted for up to six months per entry. The border officer can set a shorter or longer period, and you can apply for a visitor record if you need more time.

Is a visitor visa the same as an eTA?

No. A visa is a passport sticker for citizens of visa-required countries, while an eTA is a cheaper online approval for visa-exempt nationals and some eligible visa-required nationals flying in.

Check before you apply

Fees, eligibility lists and processing times for Canadian visas change regularly, and the eTA route for certain visa-required nationals has expanded in 2026. Before you apply, confirm every detail on the official IRCC pages at canada.ca and use only the IRCC Portal or your IRCC secure account to submit and pay.