Canada is a country located in North America and the second-largest in the world by land area. It is known for its natural landscapes: thousands of lakes, vast mountain ranges, immense forests, glaciers, and a very diverse wildlife. In the north, especially in the Canadian Arctic, it is 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 consider 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), as well as other documents. Below, we explain what you need and how to apply.
Do you need a visa for Canada?
It depends on your nationality, how you enter the country (plane, car, boat), and the purpose of your trip. For tourist stays of up to 6 months, many nationalities do not need a traditional visa (Visitor Visa), but they may need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if they travel by air.
-
Tourism (up to 6 months): usually no “visa” is required, but an eTA may be mandatory if you arrive by plane.
-
Work, studies, certain medical treatments, or longer stays: usually require a specific permit or visa (for example, a study permit or work permit), and in some cases an additional authorization as well.
Types of visas
Depending on the purpose of your entry, you may need a visa to travel to Canada or an ETA. They are grouped into 3 categories:
Tourist visas
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
The Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an electronic authorization linked to your passport. It is required for people who do not have permanent residence and do not hold a valid Canadian visa and who wish to enter Canada by air, either 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 type that can be applied for online.
Visitor Visa
If your nationality is not eligible to apply for an eTA, or you need a visa due to the purpose of your trip, you must apply for the Visitor Visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
In most cases, tourist visits allow a stay of up to 6 months. However, the final length of your stay is determined by the border officer upon arrival (and it may be shorter). In some cases, a different deadline may also be indicated in your passport or on your entry document.
It usually 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 for travelers who need to make a stopover in Canada on their way to another country and will not actually enter Canada. It is placed in the passport and confirms that you meet the requirements to transit through a Canadian airport.
It usually applies when:
-
Your nationality requires a visa to transit.
-
Your transit is only for connecting flights to a third country.
The transit visa requirement depends on your nationality and the route. In many cases, if your passport is eligible for an eTA and you travel by air, your 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 intended for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It allows 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 Visitor Visa (Diplomatic / Official Visitor Visa)
This type of visa is for people traveling to Canada with a diplomatic or official passport (or equivalent documents) to carry out an official trip. In addition to the visa form, the application usually requires a note verbale (diplomatic note) stating the position, purpose and duration of the trip, and whether the trip is official or private, among other details.
Courtesy Visa (courtesy visa)
The Courtesy Visa is often described as a category for travelers on an official visit who do not fit within the diplomatic or official visa categories (for example, due to passport type or status), but who hold relevant positions and travel for institutional reasons. In practice, the approach and documentation may vary depending on the case and the mission/consulate, so it’s best to treat it as a special case within temporary visas and verify specific requirements with the appropriate authority.
Business Visitor — “Canada Business Visa”
In Canada, a “Business Visa” is not usually considered a separate category. Instead, it falls under business visitor entry as a visitor. A business visitor may travel for meetings, conferences, trade fairs, visits to clients or offices, etc., provided that:
-
The stay is normally under 6 months.
-
They do not enter the Canadian labor market (i.e., they do not perform duties that amount to employment in Canada nor receive a salary from a Canadian company).
Depending on your nationality, to enter as a business visitor you may need an eTA (if you fly and are 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 is also usually no separate “visa to give birth” category. In practice, it means entering as a visitor (Visitor Visa/TRV or eTA, depending on nationality and mode of entry).
- Giving birth in Canada is not considered fraud in itself, but if the purpose of travel is to give birth, authorities may ask the applicant to prove they can pay the costs of delivery and medical care.
- As a visitor, you typically do not have provincial health coverage like a resident, so costs are usually private (and in some cases a medical exam may be required depending on the situation).
- Giving birth in Canada typically does make the baby a Canadian citizen by birth, with some exceptions (for example, if a parent had diplomatic privileges).
- The baby’s citizenship does not automatically make the parents or other relatives residents or citizens.
Visa for intending organ donors (Intending Organ Donors)
If you are going to Canada to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, it is usually processed as a Visitor Visa / TRV (visitor visa), clearly stating the purpose of travel and providing medical and financial documentation. This type of trip is generally temporary (short stays) and does not authorize you to work in Canada.
In these cases, it is common to request evidence such as:
-
Medical compatibility between donor and recipient.
-
Financial arrangements to cover the process and the stay.
-
And evidence that there is no organ trafficking.
Entering Canada without a Canadian passport (dual Canadian citizens)
If you are a Canadian citizen (including dual citizens), as a general rule you need a valid Canadian passport to fly to Canada. If you don’t have one and must travel urgently, you may be able to request a special authorization to board using your non-Canadian passport (depending on the case).
Study Permit (“Canada Student Visa”)
In Canada, it’s more common to refer to a Study Permit rather than a “Student Visa.”
- Courses or programs of 6 months or less: you do not 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.
Work Permit (“Canada Temporary Work Visa”)
Again, the correct term is usually Work Permit. And there’s an important nuance:
- There is no fixed “maximum of 6 months” as a rule for temporary work. The duration depends on factors such as the job offer, the LMIA (if applicable), and passport validity.
- The LMIA may have a 6-month validity (time limit to use it in the application), but that does not mean the work permit lasts 6 months.
Temporary Resident Permit (Temporary resident Permit)
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 is issued for a limited time and can be cancelled. It does not permanently resolve inadmissibility; it only allows temporary entry/stay if the case justifies it.
Working Holiday Visa
The “Working Holiday Visa” usually refers to International Experience Canada (IEC) – Working Holiday. It works through pools and invitation rounds: you register, enter the pool, and the government issues Invitations to Apply (ITA) in rounds until places run out or the season closes.
Permanent visas
Startup Visa Program
The Start-up Visa Program is a pathway to permanent residence for entrepreneurs who want to launch an innovative business in Canada (outside Quebec) with support from a designated organization (incubator, angel investor group, or venture capital fund). To apply, you typically need to:
- Obtain a Letter of Support from a designated organization.
- Meet language requirements (minimum CLB 5).
- Prove settlement funds (the government does not fund your arrival).
- Meet the program’s ownership/shareholding rules (required business structure).
Important update (2026): the Start-up Visa is closed to new applicants and/or paused. IRCC indicated that it no longer accepts new applications and outlines exceptions and deadlines for commitments issued in 2025.
Self-Employed Persons Program
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 Program (spouse/partner and dependent children)
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 Canada visa?
All visas for Canada for non-tourism purposes must be applied for in person at a consulate or embassy.
If you are traveling for leisure or holidays, you must apply for the visas mentioned above: the eTA or the Visitor Visa. This process is done online, and you can apply personally or through a third party such as visagov.
If you choose the latter, you’ll benefit from greater convenience and the assurance of obtaining your visa by simply filling out a short form, and within 24–48 hours you’ll receive the result by email.
Do you need a visa for Canada when traveling from any country?
No. It depends on your nationality and how you enter Canada (by air or via a land/sea border). Some nationalities can travel as visitors without a traditional “visa” and, if they fly, need an eTA; others must apply for a Visitor Visa (TRV). To be sure, the most reliable option is to use the official Government of Canada checker (visa vs eTA).
For the eTA, more than 50 countries can apply. If you are not eligible, you must apply for a Visitor visa.
You can also check Visagov’s eligibility checker to see your nationality’s specific situation.
What requirements are needed to apply for the Canada eTA?
The main requirements to apply for the Canada eTA and the requirements to travel 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 expiry date more than 6 months from the date of the authorization application.
There is a small chance that additional documents may be requested; this is a preventive measure applied randomly by the government. An example of an additional document could be a biometric exam.
Can the Canada visa be modified once processed?
Unfortunately, no. Once the procedure and payment have been completed, it is not possible to make any changes to that application, as the authorization is linked to the passport. In any case, if you need to make changes, you must submit a new application and cancel the previous one.
How much does a Canada visa cost?
It depends on whether you need an eTA or a Visitor Visa (TRV):
-
Canada eTA: the official government fee is CAD 7 and is paid online when you submit the application.
-
Visitor Visa / TRV: has a different fee and, in many cases, biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are added if applicable.
In the case of the eTA, there are no “extra charges” for attaching documentation if you are asked for it during the review (although it may involve additional steps).
How far in advance should you apply for a Canada visa?
Although many eTA applications are approved within minutes, some may take longer if IRCC requests additional information. That’s why it’s recommended to apply with several days (ideally 1–2 weeks) of margin before your flight.
For the Visitor Visa / TRV (and study or work permits), processing times are usually longer and vary, so it’s best to apply with much more lead time. IRCC publishes estimated times, but they are not a guarantee.
What are the entry points to Canada?
The eTA is a requirement to travel by air to Canada (including transit through Canadian airports). It is not an “entry permit” by itself: upon arrival, final admission is decided by border control.
-
It is valid for flying to any Canadian airport that receives international flights (it is not limited to a specific one).
-
Since the eTA is linked to your passport, you will usually only need to present your passport and answer the officer’s questions (and provide supporting documentation if requested).
Validity and length of stay
-
The eTA is usually valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple entries.
-
As a visitor, the stay is usually up to 6 months, but the final duration may depend on the border officer and your case.
