Applying for a Canada visitor visa can take a few weeks to a few months depending on where you live. Some applicants may need to attend a visa application centre to provide their fingerprints and photos.
Entering Canada on a visitor visa allows you to stay in the country for up to six months. This visa can be issued to individuals or groups.
What is a Tourist Visa?
A Tourist Visa Canada, also known as a Visitor visa, is an official travel document that allows you to enter a country for leisure purposes such as vacations, visiting friends and family, and medical treatment. You must have sufficient funds for your stay and a valid passport to qualify. You may be required to give biometrics such as fingerprints and photos at a visa application center.
There are several different kinds of visitor visas, depending on your reason for travel. Some examples are a tourist visa for leisure travel, a private visa for visiting family or friends, a business visa for short-term commercial activities such as attending trade conventions, giving consultations, and selling international products, and a crew member, steward, or driver visa for individuals employed on airplanes, ships, trains, trucks, buses, and other vehicles of international transportation, as well as a medical visa for undertaking diagnostics or a course of treatment in the country’s hospitals or other medical facilities.
All visitors to Canada must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) unless exempt from the requirement. To find out if you are eligible to apply for an eTA, visit the eTA website. You can also check the status of your eTA application by entering your eTA number and last name in our eTA Check Status tool. In the case of a visitor visa, you must have a valid passport and pass a background check before it is issued.
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa
The way you apply for a visitor visa to Canada depends on why you want to travel there. You may need to submit extra documents to prove you meet the requirements to enter. Check the instructions for your visa to find out more.
For example, if you are applying to go to a conference or event, you may need to provide an invitation letter from the organizers with your application. You might also need to give biometrics information, such as fingerprints and photos, when you make your appointment at a visa application center. Check the instructions for your visa to find the address of your closest VAC.
You might need to pay an application fee, a biometrics fee, and passport processing fees when you make your visa appointment. The exact amount you need to pay will depend on your nationality and the type of visa you are applying for. You can calculate these costs using the Canada visa fees calculator.
Remember that you must bring a valid passport with you when you visit Canada. You must also declare all goods you are taking into and out of the country. This includes items that are allowed, as well as those that are banned. There are penalties for taking banned goods into Canada. You can find out more about what you need to declare on the Canada Border Services Agency website.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Tourist Visa?
A passport or equivalent travel document with a validity of at least 6 months. Proof that you have the funds to cover your stay in Canada and will return to your country once the visa expires, such as bank statements or other financial evidence.
Demonstration of ties to your home country such as letters of invitation from family or friends, employment contracts that identify you as their permanent employee and state your expected date to return to work in your company and other proof such as leases or property deeds. Proof that you have a relationship with the person who is inviting you and that they are legally responsible for you. A letter of support or declaration from your sponsor in your home country outlining their relationship with you and their financial ability to meet your living costs while in Canada.
If you are applying online, make sure you answer every question on the form and follow the instructions carefully. If you are unable to answer a particular question, write “n/a” in the space provided. You will also need to pay the standard visa application fee and biometrics fee unless you are exempt from doing so. The processing time for most applications varies by country and whether or not you need to provide biometrics. If you do, you will receive a confirmation of the appointment time and place in your account’s message box once you have paid these fees.
How Long Do I Need to Stay in Canada?
Most visitors can stay in Canada for a maximum of 180 days (6 months). The border services officer at the port of entry will decide how long you can stay. They might put a date in your passport by which you should leave or give you a visitor record with a new end date.
The officers at the border will ask you questions about why you want to visit and how long you intend to stay there. They will also check whether you have enough funds to cover your expenses during the stay and if you are in good health. They may even ask you to undergo a medical exam at their request. You must also prove that you will not engage in any illegal activity during the time you are in Canada.
Conclusion
Once the visa is approved, you will receive it in your passport. You can then travel to Canada and enjoy its natural beauty, friendly people, and many cultural activities. Once your visa is about to expire, you will have to return to your home country and stay there for some time before you can again travel to Canada. This is because you are not allowed to work with a tourist visa. Therefore, it is important to plan your trip carefully and prepare all the required documents beforehand.