Canada is a country located in North America and the second-largest country in the world by land area. It is known for its natural landscapes: thousands of lakes, vast mountain ranges, immense forests, glaciers, and a wide variety of wildlife. In the north, especially in the Canadian Arctic, it's possible to see polar bears; in other regions, black bears and grizzly bears are common, along with species such as moose, caribou, and whales in certain areas.
If you're planning a trip, it's important to keep in mind the entry requirements for Canada. Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your trip (tourism, studies, work, or transit), you may need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) or a visa (Visitor Visa), along with other documents. Below, we explain what you need and how to apply for it.
Do You Need a Visa for Canada?
It depends on your nationality, how you're entering the country (plane, car, boat), and the purpose of your trip. For tourist stays of up to 6 months, many nationalities don't need a traditional visa (Visitor Visa), but they may need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if traveling by air.
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Tourism (up to 6 months): a "visa" is usually not required, but an eTA may be mandatory if you're arriving by plane.
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Work, studies, certain medical treatments, or longer stays: these usually require a specific permit or visa (for example, a study or work permit), and in some cases an additional authorization as well.
Types of Visas
Depending on the reason for entering the country, you'll need either a visa or an eTA to travel to Canada. These fall into 3 categories:
Tourist Visas
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
The Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an electronic authorization linked to your passport. It's mandatory for people who don't have permanent residence or a valid Canadian visa and who wish to enter Canada by air, whether to visit the country or to transit (layover) through a Canadian airport. This authorization is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This is the only visa that can be applied for online.
Visitor Visa
If your nationality isn't eligible for an eTA, or you need a visa based on the purpose of your trip, you'll need to apply for a Visitor Visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
In most cases, tourist visits allow a stay of up to 6 months. That said, the final length of your stay is determined by the border officer upon arrival (and may be shorter). In some cases, a different deadline may also be noted in your passport or entry document.
Typically applies to: tourism, family visits, business trips without paid activity in Canada, etc. (depending on your case and eligibility).
Transit Visa
The Transit Visa is a visa for those who need to make a stopover in Canada on their way to another country and are not actually entering Canada. It's placed in the passport and confirms that you meet the requirements to transit through a Canadian airport.
It generally applies when:
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Your nationality requires a visa to transit.
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The transit is solely for a flight connection to a third country.
The transit visa requirement depends on your nationality and route. In many cases, if your passport is eligible for an eTA and you're traveling by air, transit can be handled with an eTA instead of a Transit Visa.
Temporary Visas
Canada Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents)
The Canada Super Visa is designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It allows for multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years and, on each visit, authorizes stays of up to 5 consecutive years (depending on the case and border control).
Diplomatic or Official Visa (Diplomatic / Official Visitor Visa)
This type of visa is intended for people traveling to Canada with a diplomatic or official passport (or equivalent documents) for an official trip. The application usually requires, in addition to the visa form, a verbal note (diplomatic note) stating the position, purpose, and length of the trip, and whether it's official or private, among other details.
Courtesy Visa
The Courtesy Visa is generally described as a category for travelers making an official visit who don't fit the criteria for a diplomatic or official visa (for example, due to passport type or status), yet who hold relevant positions and are traveling for institutional reasons. In practice, the approach and required documentation can vary depending on the case and the embassy/consulate involved, so it's best treated as a special case within temporary visas, and specific requirements should be verified with the relevant authority.
Business Visitor — "Canada Business Visa"
In Canada, there generally isn't a separate "Business Visa" category; instead, it's referred to as a business visitor under visitor entry. A business visitor may travel for meetings, conferences, trade shows, client visits, or visits to company headquarters, etc., provided that:
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The stay is generally less than 6 months.
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They don't enter the Canadian labor market (meaning they don't perform duties typical of employment in Canada or receive a salary from a Canadian company).
Depending on your nationality, entering as a business visitor may require an eTA (if flying and eligible) or a Visitor Visa / TRV (if your passport requires a visa).
Traveling to Canada to Give Birth — "Visa to Give Birth in Canada"
There generally isn't a "visa to give birth" as a separate category either. In practice, this involves entering as a visitor (Visitor Visa/TRV or eTA, depending on nationality and method of entry).
- Giving birth in Canada is not considered fraud in itself, but if the purpose of the trip is to give birth, authorities may ask the person to show proof they can cover the costs of delivery and medical care.
- As a visitor, you typically won't have provincial health coverage like a resident, so expenses are usually out of pocket (and in some cases, a medical exam may be requested depending on the situation).
- Giving birth in Canada usually makes the baby a Canadian citizen by birth, with some exceptions (for example, if the parent held diplomatic privileges).
- The baby's citizenship doesn't automatically grant residency or citizenship to the parents or other family members.
Intending Organ Donor Visa
If you're traveling to Canada to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, this is typically processed as a Visitor Visa / TRV, clearly stating the purpose of the trip and providing medical and financial documentation. This type of trip is usually temporary (short stays) and does not authorize you to work in Canada.
In these cases, it's common to be asked for proof such as:
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Medical compatibility between donor and recipient.
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Financial arrangements to cover the process and stay.
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And evidence that there is no buying or selling of organs involved.
Entering Canada Without a Canadian Passport (Dual-Citizen Canadians)
If you're a Canadian citizen (including dual citizenship), you generally need a valid Canadian passport to fly to Canada. If you don't have one and need to travel urgently, you can apply for a special authorization to board using your non-Canadian passport (depending on the situation).
Study Permit (Canada Student Visa)
In Canada, it's not usually called a "Student Visa" as such, but rather a Study Permit.
- Courses or programs of 6 months or less: you don't need a study permit, but you do need a valid travel document to enter (eTA or TRV, depending on nationality).
- Programs longer than 6 months: you do need a Study Permit.
Temporary Work Permit (Canada Temporary Work Visa)
Again, the correct term is generally Work Permit. And there's a key nuance here:
- There's no fixed 6-month maximum "by default" for working temporarily. Duration depends on factors such as the job offer, the LMIA (if applicable), and passport validity.
- The LMIA may have a validity of 6 months (the window to use it in the application), but that doesn't mean the work permit itself lasts 6 months.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
The Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a discretionary permit for people who need to enter or remain in Canada but are inadmissible (for various reasons). It's issued for a limited time and can be canceled. It doesn't permanently "fix" inadmissibility—it only allows temporary entry/stay if the case warrants it.
Working Holiday Visa
The "Working Holiday Visa" generally refers to International Experience Canada (IEC) – Working Holiday. It works through pools and rounds of invitations: you register, enter the pool, and the government sends out Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in rounds until spots run out or the season closes.
Permanent Visas
Start-up Visa Program
The Start-up Visa Program is a permanent residence pathway for entrepreneurs looking to launch an innovative business in Canada (outside Quebec) with the support of a designated organization (incubator, angel investor group, or venture capital fund). To apply, you generally need to:
- Obtain a Letter of Support from a designated organization.
- Meet language requirements (minimum CLB 5).
- Show settlement funds (the government doesn't fund your arrival).
- Meet the business's ownership/participation rules (the shareholder structure required by the program).
Important update (2026): the Start-up Visa is closed to new applicants and/or on pause. IRCC has stated that it is no longer accepting new applications and outlines exceptions and deadlines for commitments issued in 2025.
Self-Employed Persons Visa
This permanent residence program is aimed at people with relevant experience in cultural or athletic activities who can make a significant contribution to Canada's cultural or athletic life.
Family Sponsorship (Spouse/Partner and Dependent Children) — Family-Sponsorship Program
The family sponsorship program allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or partner and dependent children to obtain permanent residence in Canada.
How to Apply for a Canadian Visa
All visas for traveling to Canada for non-tourist purposes must be applied for in person at a consulate or embassy.
For trips made for leisure or vacation purposes, you'll need to apply for the visas mentioned above, either the eTA or the Visitor Visa. This process is done online, and you can complete it yourself or through a third party such as Visagov.
If we choose the latter option, we'll benefit from greater convenience and the assurance of obtaining our visa simply by filling out a straightforward form, receiving our response by email within 24–48 hours.
Do You Need a Visa for Canada No Matter Which Country You're Traveling From?
No. It depends on your nationality and how you're entering Canada (by air or by land/sea border). Some nationalities can travel as visitors without a traditional "visa" and, if flying, need an eTA; others must apply for a Visitor Visa (TRV). To find out for sure, the most reliable option is to use the official Government of Canada checker (visa vs. eTA).
For the eTA, more than 50 countries are eligible to apply. If a nationality isn't eligible, a Visitor Visa application will be required instead.
You can check Visagov's eligibility checker to find out the specific situation for your nationality.
What Are the Requirements to Apply for a Canada eTA?
The main requirements to apply for the Canada eTA, along with the requirements for traveling to Canada, are as follows:
- Hold the nationality of one of the eligible countries under the program.
- Not have been convicted of any crime.
- Have no criminal record.
- Have a valid passport with an expiration date more than 6 months from the date of the application.
There's a small chance that additional documents may be requested; this is a preventive measure applied randomly by the government. One example of an additional document could be a biometric exam.
Can a Canadian Visa Be Modified Once It's Been Processed?
Unfortunately not—once the application has been submitted and the authorization fee paid, no changes can be made to that application, since it's an authorization tied to the passport. If you need to make a change, you'll need to apply for a new authorization and cancel the previous one.
How Much Does a Canadian Visa Cost?
It depends on whether you need an eTA or a Visitor Visa (TRV):
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Canada eTA: the official government fee is CAD 7 and is paid online when submitting the application.
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Visitor Visa / TRV: this has a different fee, and in many cases, biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are also required if applicable.
For the eTA, there are no "extra charges" for submitting documentation if it's requested during review (though it may involve additional steps).
How Far in Advance Should You Apply for a Canadian Visa?
While many eTA applications are approved within minutes, some may take longer if IRCC requests additional information. That's why it's recommended to apply several days in advance (ideally 1–2 weeks) before your flight.
For a Visitor Visa / TRV (as well as study or work permits), processing times tend to be longer and more variable, so it's best to apply much further in advance. IRCC publishes estimated processing times, but these aren't a guarantee.
What Are the Entry Points into Canada?
The eTA is a requirement for traveling by air to Canada (including transit through Canadian airports). It's not an "entry permit" on its own: upon arrival, final admission is decided by border control.
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It's valid for flying into any Canadian airport that receives international flights (it's not limited to just one).
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Since the eTA is linked to your passport, you'll typically only need to present your passport and answer the officer's questions (and provide supporting documentation if requested).
Validity and Length of Stay
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The eTA is generally valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows for multiple entries.
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A stay as a visitor is generally up to 6 months, but the final length may depend on the border officer and your particular case.
