Photo PassMake my photo Canada visitor visa: eligibility, documents and application steps
A complete introduction to Canada’s temporary resident visa, including who needs one, evidence of purpose and ties, biometrics, passport submission and photo preparation.
What this visa or program is
A Canadian visitor visa, formally a temporary resident visa (TRV), is placed in a passport and shows that the traveller met the visa requirements when assessed. Whether a person needs a TRV or an electronic travel authorization depends on nationality and method of travel.
A visa does not guarantee entry. At the border, an officer confirms identity, admissibility and the continuing purpose of the visit.
- Official name
- Temporary resident visa
- Typical use
- Tourism and family visits
- Application
- Normally online
- Biometrics
- May be required
This independent guide explains the normal route, not a personal eligibility decision. Immigration rules, fees and appointment procedures can change; check the linked authority and the office handling your application before submitting or paying.
Who needs it?
- Visa-required foreign nationals planning a temporary visit to Canada.
- People visiting family, travelling as tourists or entering for another permitted temporary purpose.
- A person transiting Canada may need a transit visa instead; use the official entry-document checker.
Core eligibility
- Hold a valid travel document and be admissible to Canada.
- Convince the officer that the visit is temporary and that you will leave at the end of the authorized stay.
- Have enough money for the trip, with the required amount depending on length and accommodation.
- Explain family, employment, property or other ties and disclose immigration, medical or criminal history truthfully.
Documents and information to prepare
- Passport copy and application forms or online answers.
- Travel purpose and itinerary, accommodation or invitation evidence where relevant.
- Bank statements or other funding evidence and proof of employment, study, business or family ties.
- Biometrics, translations, medical examination or additional records if IRCC requests them.
How to apply, step by step
Check the required entry document
Use Canada’s official tool to confirm whether you need a visitor visa, eTA or another document.
Build a situation-specific document list
IRCC’s online questions create a checklist based on nationality, purpose and personal history.
Apply and pay online
Upload readable documents, answer consistently and pay the current application and biometric fees.
Give biometrics if instructed
Book at an official collection point after receiving the biometric instruction letter.
Respond and submit the passport
IRCC may request more information. If approved, follow the passport-submission instructions; an approval message alone is not the visa counterfoil.
Timing and fees
- IRCC publishes current processing estimates, not guarantees. Country, application completeness, biometrics and verification can affect timing.
- Fees can change and biometrics may be separate. Confirm the amount in the official fee list immediately before payment.
Validity and stay conditions
- The officer decides whether to issue single or multiple entry and the expiry date. A visa may be issued for a long period but not beyond passport or biometric constraints.
- At entry, visitors are often admitted for up to six months unless the officer records another date. The admission record—not visa expiry—controls the stay.
Photo requirements
A paper or digital photo may be required at different stages, while biometrics are a separate collection of fingerprints and a photograph. Follow the checklist generated for your application.
- 35 × 45 mm finished size for the standard printed visa photo
- Head height normally 31–36 mm
- Plain white or light-coloured background
- Studio information and date requirements can apply to the back of printed photographs
Common refusal or delay risks
- Weak explanation of purpose, funding or ties to the home country.
- Unexplained large deposits, inconsistent employment or travel details, or unreliable invitation evidence.
- Missing translations, unreadable uploads or failure to disclose refusals and history.
- Criminal, medical, security or previous immigration inadmissibility.
After approval
- Follow IRCC’s passport instructions and verify the counterfoil details after return.
- Carry documents that explain purpose, funds and accommodation for the border examination.
- Respect the authorized stay and apply before status expires if seeking an extension.
Official sources and next check
Use these authority pages to verify live eligibility, fees, forms, dates and submission instructions:
Prepare the photo when the application is ready
First confirm the correct visa route and current checklist. Then use the matching preset to crop and export the portrait privately on your device.
Create a Canada visa photo