Visitor visa and super visa: convince the officer you'll go home.

Planning to visit Canada, see family or host a parent for a long stay? The document you need depends on your citizenship, how you travel and the purpose of the trip: a visitor visa, an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a super visa.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, helps visitors and their hosts prepare their application: a consistent file that explains the stay, the resources and the reasons to return to the country of residence. The decision belongs to the Canadian authorities.

Visitor visa or eTA: what do you need?

It depends on your citizenship and how you travel:

• Visa-required countries: a valid visitor visa and a valid passport are required to visit or transit through Canada.
• Visa-exempt countries: an electronic travel authorization (eTA) is required to fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. It costs CAN$7 and you apply online. By land or sea, an eTA isn't required, but a passport is.
• Special cases: citizens of certain countries that normally require a visa may, under conditions, apply for an eTA instead. U.S. citizens need neither a visa nor an eTA.

Check your situation on IRCC's page "What you need to enter Canada" before booking your trip. An eTA is linked to your passport: with a new passport, check whether you need a new eTA. A visa doesn't, on its own, give the right to enter: at the border, an officer decides on your entry and the length of your stay.

Requirements for a visitor visa

• Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
• Be in good health (a medical exam may be requested)
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince the officer you have ties that will take you back home: a job, studies, a home, financial assets, family
• Convince the officer you'll leave Canada at the end of your visit
• Have enough money for your stay

There's no single amount: funds must match the length of the stay, accommodation, planned expenses and who is paying. See IRCC's page on eligibility for a visitor visa.

The visa's validity and the length of your stay are two different things. Unless the officer decides otherwise, a visitor can generally stay up to six months; the visa's expiry date is the last day to present yourself at the border, not the day you must leave.

The documents that make a difference

• Passport: IRCC states it should be valid for at least 6 months from your planned travel date.
• Financial proof: bank statements covering at least 6 months, with balances, which IRCC recommends to show your situation clearly.
• Employer letter: on company letterhead, dated within 3 months of your application.
• Travel plan: dates, reason for the visit, accommodation and activities, consistent with your profile.
• Ties: employment, approved leave, school enrolment, housing, family responsibilities, according to your real situation.
• Translations: any document that isn't in English or French must be translated following IRCC's instructions.

You apply online. After you submit, you receive a letter asking you to give your biometrics: book your appointment quickly to avoid delays. Our guide to visitor visa documents goes through each item, and IRCC explains how to apply for a visitor visa.

The letter of invitation: useful, not enough

A letter of invitation from a person or business in Canada confirms the purpose of the visit: who is hosting you, your relationship, the length of the stay, accommodation and who pays for what. The host can attach proof of their status in Canada and, if they're contributing to costs, of their financial situation. The letter explains the context; it doesn't replace the evidence about the applicant. See our guide to the letter of invitation.

Fees and biometrics

• Visitor visa: $100 per person, to a maximum of $500 for a family of 5 or more
• eTA: $7
• Biometrics: $85 per person, to a maximum of $170 for a family
• Visitor record (extending your stay): $100

The biometrics fee is paid when you apply, unless you're exempt. Some people are exempt or can reuse biometrics that are still valid: see our guide to biometrics. Government fees are separate from a representative's professional fees. Check IRCC's official fee list when you pay.

The super visa for parents and grandparents

The super visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or registered Indians stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit, with multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years.

• The person hosting you must be your child or grandchild, biological or adopted, and meet a minimum income; they sign a letter of invitation
• The application must be submitted from outside Canada
• Private medical insurance valid for at least 1 year from your entry into Canada is required, from a Canadian insurance company or an approved foreign company, with minimum coverage of $100,000 for health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• An immigration medical exam is mandatory
• Dependants can't be included in the application

The super visa is still a temporary stay: the officer must be convinced the visitor will leave. See IRCC's super visa page and its forms and documents, and our super visa checklist for hosts.

Extending your stay with a visitor record

Already in Canada and want to stay longer? Apply for a visitor record at least 30 days before your status expires, as IRCC recommends. If you apply before it expires and stay in Canada, your status is maintained until the decision. A visitor record doesn't replace a travel visa and doesn't let you come back after leaving. See IRCC's page to extend your stay and our guide to the visitor record.

Common reasons for refusal

• ties to the country of residence that aren't well documented;
• funds judged insufficient or of unclear origin;
• a vague purpose of travel, or a length of stay that doesn't fit the profile;
• contradictory information across forms, letters and evidence;
• a letter of invitation offered as the only evidence of the purpose of the visit;
• history or admissibility questions left unexplained.

A refusal doesn't prevent a new application, but it must respond to the officer's reasons with new evidence. See our guide visitor visa refusal: reconsideration or reapply and our page on visa or permit refusals.

What we do for you

• Check whether you need a visa, an eTA or a super visa
• Build a consistent file: purpose of travel, ties to your country, financial proof
• Prepare the letter of invitation and your host's documents
• Advise on extending your stay if you're already in Canada
• After a refusal, fix exactly what the officer objected to

To talk it through, book a one-hour online consultation or describe your situation. For a permanent family reunification plan, see also spousal sponsorship.

Frequently asked questions

My visitor visa was refused. Can I apply again?

Yes, generally at any time, unless your letter says otherwise. But a new application must address the reasons for the refusal with new evidence. See our page on visa or permit refusals.

Does a letter of invitation guarantee the visa?

No. It confirms the purpose of the visit, but the officer decides based on the whole file, including your ties to your country and your financial means.

How do I know whether I need a visa or an eTA?

It depends on your citizenship and how you travel. Visa-exempt travellers need an eTA to fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. IRCC's entry requirements page gives the answer for your country.

How long can I stay on a visitor visa?

Generally up to six months, unless the officer sets another date at entry. To stay longer, you need to apply for a visitor record before your status expires.

Does the super visa let me stay five years on every visit?

It can authorize up to five years per entry, but the length granted is up to the officer. The host's income, medical insurance and medical exam requirements must also be met.

How much money do I need to show?

There's no single amount. Your resources must match the length of the stay, accommodation and planned expenses. If your host pays part of the costs, explain their contribution and attach their documents.

Official sources: IRCC, "Visit Canada: eligibility" and "How to apply for a visitor visa" (canada.ca, modified August 28, 2026), "Electronic travel authorization (eTA)" (June 5, 2026), "What you need to enter Canada" (July 31, 2026), "Super visa for parents and grandparents" (July 6, 2026) and its "Forms and documents", "Extend your stay in Canada (visitor record)", "Citizenship and immigration application fees" and the notice on managing the Parents and Grandparents Program (July 15, 2026). Accessed September 14 and October 11, 2026.