Visitor Visa

A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document that we stick in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada. Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. You must meet some basic requirements to get a visitor visa. You must:

• have a valid travel document, like a passport
• be in good health
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
• convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• have enough money for your stay
  • The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Transit visa

You may need to transit through Canada on your way to another country. The document you need to transit through Canada depends on:

• how you will travel through Canada (by air, car, bus, train, boat, including cruise ship)
• how long it’ll take you to transit through Canada
• the nationality of your passport
• other factors, such as whether you are a permanent resident of the United States or a US visa holder

You need a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and:

• your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
• you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
• you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less
• you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country.

You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus,boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents.