Canada Visitor Visa (Also Known as Canada Tourist Visa)
If you’re considering a visit to Canada, whether it’s for exploration, visiting family, or simply enjoying a holiday in the vast Canadian landscape, it’s likely that you’ll require a Canadian visitor visa or a tourist visa to enter the country. There are two categories of tourist visas available: Single entry and multiple entry visitor visas. Each of these visas has its own specific requirements that must be met in order to obtain them.
These requirements are determined by various factors, such as the purpose of your visit, your country of origin, the planned duration of your stay, and your ties to your home country, among other considerations. To assist you in ensuring a smooth visa application process, we have prepared a comprehensive Canada visitor visa checklist. This will help you ensure that you have all the necessary documents and information for your visa application. However, the first step is to determine whether you need a visa or if an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is sufficient for your travel purposes.
Do I Need a Tourist Visa to Canada?
Canada maintains a roster of countries that are classified as visa-exempt. If you are a citizen or passport holder of one of these countries, you are not required to obtain a visitor visa. Instead, you will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. The list of visa-exempt countries includes the following:
| Andorra | France | Montserrat |
| Anguilla | Germany | Netherlands |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Gibraltar | New Zealand |
| Australia | Greece | Norway |
| Austria | Holy See | Papua New Guinea |
| Bahamas | Hong Kong | Pitcairn |
| Barbados | Hungary | Poland |
| Belgium | Iceland | Portugal |
| Bermuda | Ireland | St. Helena |
| British Virgin Islands | Israel | Samoa |
| Brunei | Italy | San Marino |
| Cayman Islands | Japan | Singapore |
| Chile | Korea (Republic of) | Slovakia |
| Croatia | Latvia | Slovenia |
| Cyprus | Liechtenstein | Solomon Islands |
| Czech Republic | Lithuania | Spain |
| Denmark | Luxembourg | Sweden |
| Estonia | Malta | Switzerland |
| Falkland Islands | Mexico | Taiwan |
| Finland | Monaco | United Kingdom |
What Are The Two Types of Canada Visitor Visa?
Each Canada tourist visa has its own expressed purpose and uses.
Multiple-entry Visa
A multiple-entry visa allows you to travel to Canada multiple times within a period of ten years or until the expiration of your passport, whichever comes first. Each entry allows you to stay in Canada for a maximum of 6 months. If your passport expires before the ten-year period, you can apply for a new Canada visitor visa to continue visiting the country.
Single-entry Visa
This type of visa allows you to travel to Canada on a single occasion, typically for specific purposes or under certain circumstances. These may include official visits, participation in special Canadian events, eligibility for fee exemptions, or adherence to approved country procedures and guidelines. However, once you leave Canada, you will need to apply for another visa if you wish to return. Now, let’s explore the eligibility criteria for a visitor visa application.
