Writing an invitation letter for a Canadian visitor visa: what to include, with a template

Writing an invitation letter for a Canadian visitor visa: what to include depends on the visitor’s plans and the support the host genuinely intends to provide. If a relative or friend is applying to see you, they will often ask you for one. It is a short document, but a vague or inconsistent one can do more harm than good. A clear letter explains who is inviting whom, why the visit is planned, where the visitor will stay and how the expenses will be covered. This guide is based on IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

Question	Key point
What does the letter do?	It gives context about the host, the purpose and the arrangements. It supports, but does not replace, the visitor’s own application.
What should it contain?	The host and each visitor identified, their relationship, the purpose and dates, the accommodation and who pays.
Do I need one?	Not for every application. Follow the visitor’s IRCC visitor visa instructions.
Does it need to be notarized?	No. IRCC’s page on invitation letters does not require notarization; what matters is the content.
What about a super visa?	The letter must also include a promise of financial support and your family size.
What matters most?	Consistency with the visitor’s application, especially on dates, purpose, lodging and who pays.

What an invitation letter can and cannot do

A letter of invitation explains the visit from your side: who you are, who you are inviting, why, where they will stay and who pays for what. It gives an officer useful context, but it cannot decide the outcome.

The visitor still needs to explain their own circumstances, including their travel purpose, their resources and their reasons for leaving Canada at the end of the visit, such as a job, studies or family responsibilities. The visitor must satisfy the officer that they meet the requirements to visit.

For a regular visitor visa, writing an invitation does not by itself make you responsible for every cost of the visit. State the specific support you actually intend to provide, rather than suggesting a wider commitment.

What IRCC asks you to include

About the person you are inviting:

• full name and date of birth;
• address and phone number;
• your relationship to them;
• the purpose of the trip and how long they plan to stay;
• where they will stay and how they will pay their expenses;
• when they plan to leave Canada.

About you, the host:

• full name and date of birth;
• address and phone number in Canada;
• job title;
• whether you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, with a photocopy of proof of status, such as a Canadian birth certificate, citizenship card or PR card;
• details about your family: the name and date of birth of your spouse or partner and of your dependants.

Match the spelling and details used in the visitor’s application and passport, so the officer can connect the letter to the right person. If several people are travelling, name each guest separately with their relationship to you, and give each person’s dates, accommodation and payment arrangements: a single group description can hide different plans.

A student or worker in Canada can also invite family or friends; explain the relationship and the reason for the visit, and support statements about your own status and accommodation with evidence.

Explain the relationship, purpose and planned dates

State how you know the visitor and why they plan to come, such as a family visit or a particular event. “Tourism” or “family visit” tells an officer very little. “My mother will stay with us from March 1 to April 15 to help after the birth of our first child” says who, why and when, in a way the rest of the file can confirm.

Include the proposed arrival and departure dates, the length of stay and a short itinerary. Naming the planned departure makes the end of the visit clear. If a booking or event is not confirmed, describe it as proposed rather than settled.

For several guests, explain each person’s own purpose and dates: one relative may attend a family event while another stays longer. Specific facts about the visit are more useful than broad character statements or confident claims about what the visitor will do afterwards.

Set out accommodation and expenses honestly

Give the full address where the visitor will stay and say whether they will live with you or elsewhere. If the accommodation changes during the trip, describe each part.

Explain who will pay for travel, lodging, meals and day-to-day costs. If you provide room and board and your guest pays for the flight and personal expenses, say so. Avoid “I will pay for everything” unless it is true and your documents support it.

Arrangement	What the letter should say	What to keep consistent
Host provides accommodation only	The lodging address, and that the visitor pays travel, meals and other expenses.	The host’s address evidence and the visitor’s financial information.
Host contributes to expenses	The specific costs the host covers, distinguished from those the visitor pays.	The host’s documents for that contribution and the visitor’s evidence.
Visitor pays their own costs	That the visitor pays travel and expenses, with any accommodation offered.	No suggestion that the host funds the trip.

Add relevant host documents and submit the letter with the application

Choose host documents that support what the letter says: proof of status in Canada, address, employment or the specific financial support offered. There is no single package for every host; avoid unrelated paperwork. The visitor uploads the letter with their application, along with the copy of your proof of status, following IRCC’s instructions and the visitor visa application guide.

A practical structure:

1. Date and subject line.
2. Your identifying details and status in Canada.
3. Your family details.
4. The visitor’s identifying details and relationship to you.
5. Purpose of travel, proposed dates and brief itinerary.
6. Accommodation address and payment arrangements.
7. Your signature, name and contact details.

A template you can adapt

This sample is an example to adapt, not an official form. Replace every bracketed field with accurate information and remove anything that does not fit the actual visit.

Re: Letter of invitation

I, [your full name], born on [date], residing at [address in Canada], phone [number], employed as [job title], am a [Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada]. A copy of my proof of status is attached. I live with [name and date of birth of spouse or partner, and of dependants].

I am inviting [guest’s full name], born on [date], residing at [address], phone [number], who is my [relationship], to visit Canada for [purpose] from [arrival date] to [departure date].

During the visit, [guest] will stay [at my home / at this address]. [Name] will cover [expenses], and [name] will cover [other expenses].

Signed in [city], on [date].
[Signature]
[Your full name]

Before you sign, compare the letter with your guest’s application:

• Identity: do names and dates of birth match the application and passport?
• Purpose: does the reason for travel match the application?
• Dates: if your letter says two weeks and the form says two months, the officer will notice.
• Address: does the accommodation match your plan and evidence?
• Funding: do your stated contributions match your evidence and the visitor’s finances?

The same template, filled in

Here is what a completed letter can look like, for a fictional host. Note how every sentence can be checked against another document in the file.

Re: Letter of invitation

I, Sofia Mendes, born on 12 May 1990, residing at [street address], Montreal, phone 514-555-0142, employed as a pharmacist at a community pharmacy, am a permanent resident of Canada. A copy of my PR card is attached. I live with my husband, Daniel Roy, born on 3 February 1988, and our son, Léo Roy, born on 20 August 2026.

I am inviting my mother, Ana Mendes, born on 9 November 1962, residing in Porto, Portugal, phone [her number], to visit Canada to help us after the birth of our son, from 1 March to 15 April 2027.

During the visit, my mother will stay in our home at the address above. My husband and I will cover her food and local transportation; she will pay for her own flight and personal expenses.

Signed in Montreal, on 10 January 2027.
[Signature]
Sofia Mendes

Six weeks, one address, a clear reason, and a precise split of the costs. The visitor’s own file then shows her flight budget, her ties in Portugal and her return date.

Common mistakes

• A generic letter copied from a template, with brackets left in or details that don’t fit the visit.
• Dates that differ from the visitor’s form or itinerary.
• “I will pay for everything” without documents that support it.
• No proof of the host’s status attached.
• Promises about the visitor’s behaviour instead of facts about the visit.
• Forgetting the family details IRCC asks the host to give.

Keep super visa invitations distinct

A super visa invitation is for a parent or grandparent. On top of the usual details, the letter must include a promise of financial support for your parent or grandparent during their stay, and the list and number of people counted in your family size. Use IRCC’s current super visa instructions for the income and insurance requirements, and our super visa checklist for hosts. Don’t copy an old income figure from a template.

For the rest of the application, see our guide to visitor visa documents, our comparison of the eTA and the visitor visa and our visitor visa page. You can also describe your situation or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I invite a friend, not a family member?

Yes. Explain how you know each other and why your friend is visiting.

One letter for several guests, or one each?

One letter can cover several guests if it gives each person’s details. If their dates or reasons differ, separate letters are clearer.

Does a letter written in another language need a translation?

Yes. A document in a language other than English or French must follow IRCC’s translation rules.

Can a visitor work or study because I invited them?

No. An invitation letter does not authorize work or study; those need their own permits.

Does a letter of invitation guarantee the visa?

No. It is one piece of supporting evidence. The officer decides based on the whole application, including your guest’s own situation.

Originals or copies?

For an online application, the visitor uploads electronic copies in the format the system asks for. Keep the originals in case IRCC requests them.

Our plans changed after the visa was issued. Is that a problem?

A visa doesn’t set the length of the stay; the border officer does. Your guest should be ready to explain the change at the border, and it helps to carry an updated letter.

Conclusion

A good invitation letter comes down to clear identities, a factual purpose, proposed dates, a specific lodging plan and honest expense arrangements. Use it to explain your role as host, then check every detail against the visitor’s application and evidence before it is submitted.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — Letter of invitation for visitors to Canada