Program Minimum Requirements.
Visa
A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada.
Most travellers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need one if you’re transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.
At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they’ll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document, called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave by.
If you don’t get a stamp in your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you need a stamp, you can ask a border services officer for one. If you arrive at an airport that uses primary inspection kiosks, ask the border officer after you finish at the kiosk.
You may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. The entry document you need depends on:
The type of travel document you plan to travel with
The country that issued your travel document
Your nationality
Your method of travel to Canada for this trip
You must meet some basic requirements to get a visitor visa. You must:
Have a valid travel document, like a passport
Be in good health
Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
Convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
Have enough money for your stay
The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.
Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:
Criminal activity
Human rights violations
Organized crime