If you want to know how to apply for a Canada Tourist Visa (2026 Guide), start at the right place: instead of the paper-based process this tutorial previously described, nearly all applications now go through the IRCC Portal. The current procedure, fees, and documentation required by the majority of tourist applicants are listed below.
Verify if you need an eTA or a visitor visa beforehand.
Make sure you truly require a visitor visa rather than an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before learning how to apply for a tourist visa to Canada. When travelling to Canada, people of nations that require an eTA typically just need the lighter-weight eTA rather than a full visitor visa; citizens of nations that require a visa must obtain the visitor visa outlined in this guide. See our comprehensive reference to Canadian visa types for information on the differences between an eTA and a visiting visa, as well as who is excluded from each.
Basics of Eligibility
In order to be eligible, you will typically need to demonstrate that you have a valid travel document, that you are in good health, that you have enough money for your stay, that you have ties abroad—a job, a house, or family—that will allow you to return, and that you plan to leave Canada at the conclusion of your visit. Regardless of how thorough your application is, you may be ineligible due to a criminal past or certain health or security issues.
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to Canada: Compiling Your Documents
A digital copy of a valid passport or travel document, including the biodata page and any pages with stamps or previous visas, is required for each application. The document must be valid for at least six months prior to the intended departure date. In particular, applicants who are tourists must provide documentation of their relationship (a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or equivalent document, if applicable) and a letter of invitation from the person or company that is hosting them in Canada.
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to Canada: Putting in Your Application
Using a scanner or camera to create digital copies of your documents and a working credit or debit card to make the payment, you can apply online for a Canada tourist visa using the IRCC Portal. To prevent delays, first-time applicants must pay the biometrics charge at the time of application submission.Only those who are unable to apply online—for instance, due to a handicap or a travel document for a refugee or stateless person—are eligible to submit paper applications. Since the necessary paperwork varies based on your intended purpose of travel, the IRCC’s own instructions for applying for a guest visa describe the precise procedures for your particular circumstance.
Read More: Bringing Family to Canada: 2026 Sponsorship Guide
How to Submit an Application for a Tourist Visa to Canada
Using a scanner or camera to create digital copies of your documents and a working credit or debit card to make the payment, you can apply online for a Canada tourist visa using the IRCC Portal. To prevent delays, first-time applicants must pay the biometrics charge at the time of application submission.Only those who are unable to apply online—for instance, due to a handicap or a travel document for a refugee or stateless person—are eligible to submit paper applications. Since the necessary paperwork varies based on your intended purpose of travel, the IRCC’s own instructions for applying for a guest visa describe the precise procedures for your particular circumstance.
Biometrics
Most applicants receive a biometrics instruction letter after applying, and they must schedule a time to provide a photo and fingerprints. Even if a prior set of biometrics is still technically valid, you might need to provide them again if they are about to expire, if you sought for permanent residency and were turned down, or if you previously only provided partial biometrics. The maximum 10-year validity of your visa is not automatically extended by providing biometrics once again.
Visa Validity and Extensions
A visiting visa can be single-entry or multiple-entry, and can be given for up to 10 years or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first – an officer may also determine a lesser validity based on your circumstances.
Faster Processing for Spousal Sponsorship Applicants:
If you wish to stay longer, apply before your present status expires. If you wait too long, you may lose your status.You may be eligible for expedited visitor visa processing if your spouse or partner has sponsored you for permanent residence and you have received an acknowledgement of receipt for that application. You still need to fulfilll all the requirements for a visitor visa, but you are not required to make a separate request.
Common Questions
What is the procedure for applying for a tourist visa to Canada in 2026?
The majority of applicants use the IRCC Portal to apply online. Gather your supporting documentation, fill out the application, pay the processing and biometrics fees with a credit or debit card, and provide biometrics if required. Paper applications are only accepted in some circumstances, such as those who are unable to apply online.
What is the price of a tourist visa to Canada?
The processing fee for a visitor visa is CAD $500 for a family of five or more, or CAD $100 for each individual. The cost of biometrics is CAD $85 per individual, up to CAD $170 per qualified family.
To travel to Canada as a tourist, do I need an eTA or a visiting visa?
Your citizenship determines this. When travelling to Canada, many nationalities just require an eTA, but nationals of nations that require a visa must obtain a full visitor visa. Before submitting an application, find out the precise requirements for your citizenship.
What is the duration of a tourist visa to Canada?
Up to ten years, or until the expiration of your biometrics or passport, whichever comes first. Depending on your application, an immigration official may grant a shorter validity.
What paperwork is required to apply for a tourist visa to Canada?
A valid passport and an invitation letter attesting to your host’s relationship are the bare minimum. Travel history, a detailed itinerary, bank statements, and a letter from your company verifying your employment and intention to return are suggested supporting papers.
The Final Score
The process of applying for a tourist visa to Canada has changed significantly since this information was initially published. It is now digital, based on the IRCC Portal, and requires card payment instead of paper forms and bank drafts. Before submitting, be sure you truly require a visiting visa or only an eTA. Then, review the document checklist and current fees listed above.
