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Visiting Canada
Visitor visas allow people to stay in Canada temporarily. For tourists, whether you are looking for nightlife in a large cosmopolitan city or vast natural park land, the country offers something for everyone! Visitor visas also allow people to connect with family who have immigrated to Canada.
For more information on Visitor visas, go to the Visiting Canada section of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.
The following list of questions and answers will provide you with the information you need to start applying for a Visitor visa.
- Do I need a visa?
- What types of visas are there?
- How do I apply?
- What are the factors considered by a visa officer in assessing an application?
- How do my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children apply?
- Do I need to undergo a medical examination?
- I live in Canada. How do I invite a friend or relative to visit me?
- My application was refused. What can I do about it?
- What can I do to support the application of my friend, relative, or business contact who was refused? Can I find out what the reasons for refusal were?
- Still have more questions?
1. Do I need a visa?
Citizens of the Philippines require a visa to enter Canada.
- If you are a citizen of another country or permanent resident, visit the CIC website to see if you require a visa to enter Canada.
- Filipino Diplomats: holders of diplomatic, service, or official passports are not visa exempted. However, they are exempt from paying the processing fees. If you hold one of these passports and are going to Canada, you can submit your application directly to the Embassy with a note verbale from the Department of Foreign Affairs (for Philippines passport holders).
- Returning live-in caregivers and other temporary foreign workers with valid Work Permits, and students with valid Student Permits require a visa to re-enter Canada.
- United States of America permanent residents [Green Card holders] who are in possession of their status document or who can provide other evidence of permanent residence in the USA do not require a visa to visit Canada. However, if you have been outside of the United States for a considerable period, you must first confirm your permanent resident status before entering Canada.
- A foreign national who is not visa exempt transiting Canada for 48 hours or less en route to another country requires a transit visa. An exception to this requirement is that nationals of Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand transiting Canada at Vancouver International Airport to the United States do not require a Canadian transit visa if:
i.they have in their possession a valid and subsisting U.S. visa to enter the U.S. and
ii.are traveling on any of the following airlines-Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines or Philippines Airlines.
2. What types of visas are there?
- Single-entry visa allows one entry only to Canada within the validity of the visa.
- Multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries to Canada within the validity of the visa.
- Transit visa allows for a short stop-over (maximum 48 hours) entry to Canada en route to another country. It can be granted for a single or multiple entries, depending on the applicant’s travel requirements. Example: If your return travel is also through Canada, you should request a transit visa valid for two entries.
The validity of a visa is determined by a visa officer. Single-entry visas are normally valid for six months, and multiple-entry visas may be valid for longer periods. The validity date is the period by which you may enter Canada. The decision to admit the foreign national, however, is made by the officer at the port of entry to Canada (airport or border crossing). The officer also determines the length of stay allowed.
We cannot issue visas with a validity that exceeds the passport validity. If your passport will expire soon, you may wish to renew it before you apply for your visa.
3. How do I apply?
- First, consider the processing time required. We strongly suggest that you plan ahead and apply at least two (2) months before your intended departure date.
- Next, download and print the following documents, which are needed to submit an application:
- Application form (IMM5257B) and instructions from CIC’s website
- Specific local instructions for the Philippines (PDF - 99 KB)*
- Personal Information Form (PDF - 73 KB)*
- Include the correct processing fee.
- Once your application is complete follow the instructions on How to Submit your Application.
If there is an emergency and you need to travel to Canada immediately, you can make a request for an emergency processing. This request will only be considered in extenuating circumstances; lack of advance planning to ensure that processing of your application precedes your planned departure date does not create an emergency. Emergency processing will be granted where an unforeseen event has occurred, such as death in the family, around which a departure date could not be planned. Please complete an Emergency Processing Request Form (PDF 56 KB)* form and attach it to your completed application for Temporary Resident Visa. Please submit your application and required documents through the call centre.
4. What are the factors considered by a visa officer in assessing an application?
Foreign nationals wishing to come to Canada as temporary residents must show that they will respect the conditions that apply to temporary residents. One of these conditions is that they will voluntarily leave Canada at the end of the period authorized for the stay and that they will not contravene the conditions of admission (for example, that they will not study or work without prior authorization) and that they do not belong in a category of persons inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
In reaching a decision whether the applicant is a genuine temporary resident, the visa officer considers several factors, which include:
- the applicant's travel and identity documents;
- the reason for travel to Canada and the applicant’s contacts there;
- the applicant’s financial means for the trip;
- the applicant’s ties to his or her country of residence, including immigration status, employment and family ties;
- whether the applicant would be likely to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay;
- the applicant’s health condition.
Officers make decisions on a case-by-case basis. The onus is on applicants to show that their intentions are genuine.
5. How do my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children apply?
If you and your spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children will be applying together, it will not be necessary for each person to fill out separate application forms. Only your accompanying children who are aged 18 years old and above must complete their own application forms.
If you and your spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children will not file your applications together, your spouse or common-law partner and/or accompanying dependent children 18 years old and above must complete separate application forms. Your spouse or common-law partner becomes the principal applicant. Dependent children who are applying without their parents must fill out separate application forms.
Your spouse or common law partner and children must meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada. They must satisfy an officer that they are genuine temporary residents who will be in Canada for a temporary stay. They may be required to provide evidence that they are law abiding and have no criminal record. If they are financially dependent on you, he or she must submit a letter signed by you which states that you are financially responsible for him or her. This should be accompanied with proof of your financial situation.
Important: You may be required to provide a marriage certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying family members. If you are in a common-law relationship and your common-law partner will accompany you to Canada, you may be required to complete the form, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409). In this case, also provide evidence outlined on the form to support your relationship.
6. Do I need to undergo a medical examination?
In some cases you will require a medical examination. If a medical examination is required, you will be informed by an officer who will send you instructions on how to proceed. A medical examination may add three months to the processing of your application.
7. I live in Canada. How do I invite a friend or relative to visit me?
If you are inviting a friend or relative to visit, please see the Document Checklist as well as the specific local instructions for the Philippines (PDF - 99 KB)* which indicate what documents are required as part of an application.
Please remember that, although you may provide documentation in support of an application of a friend or relative, the decision of the visa officer is ultimately based on the applicant's circumstances, and not on any personal or financial guarantees that you or others may be prepared to offer on that person's behalf.
8. My application was refused. What can I do about it?
Written reasons for the refusal are given to unsuccessful visa applicants. Once you are in possession of the written reasons, there are limited avenues for appeal. There is no formal appeal mechanism for visa refusals of visitor applicants.
If your circumstances have changed appreciably and you believe that it would result in a different decision, you may wish to reapply. If, however, there is no change in your situation, then it is unlikely that your re-application would result in the issuance of a visa.
More information on what to do if an application is refused.
9. What can I do to support the application of my friend, relative, or business contact who was refused? Can I find out what the reasons for refusal were?
Please remember that although you may provide documentation in support of an application of a friend, relative, or business contact, the decision of the visa officer is ultimately based on the applicant's circumstances, and not on any personal or financial guarantees that you or others may be prepared to offer on that person's behalf.
As a federal government department, we are bound by the Privacy Act not to discuss the details of any case with anyone except the applicant and certain authorized persons. Before we can release information to you the applicant must provide us with specific written permission. Please see CIC’s website (Release of Information to and Individual) for the necessary form and further information.
More information on what to do if an application is refused.
10. Still have more questions?
What does the expiry date on my visa mean?
The expiry date on the top line of the visa is the date by which you must arrive in Canada, not the date by which you must leave Canada. You must arrive in Canada on or before the date printed under "Expiry date" which is read DAY-MONTH-YEAR (DD/MM/YY).
I plan to re-enter Canada after my visit to the United States. Do I need a single or multiple entry visa?
Your single-entry visa will allow you repeated entries to Canada from the USA within the period authorized for your stay in Canada. The authorized period of stay is the time granted by the port of entry officer at the time of your original entry to Canada or, if you have been granted an extension, the period allowed by your extension. However, if you leave Canada or the United States for another country within the period of your authorized stay, this is no longer applicable. You lose your temporary resident status once you leave Canada for another country other than the United States.
How long can I stay in Canada?
Please note that admission to Canada is for a specific period of time and can only be granted at a Canadian port of entry. Upon your arrival in Canada, your passport or travel documents may be stamped to indicate how long you may stay in Canada. If you do not receive notice otherwise, you may remain in Canada for up to six months. Please make sure you understand when you will have to leave. If you have any questions about how long you can stay in Canada, be sure to ask an immigration officer upon your arrival or during your stay.
If you wish to extend your stay once in Canada, please refer to CIC’s website Applying to Change Conditions or Extend your stay in Canada). Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.
). Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.). Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.). Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.). Applications for an extension of status can only be made in writing and must be submitted at least one month before your status is due to expire.Can I apply for a new visa once I am in Canada?
No. You must make an application at a visa office outside Canada for a new visa. You can only apply for an extension. Please see Applying to Change Conditions or Extend your stay in Canada.
I have a valid temporary resident visa but my passport was cancelled. What do I do?
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations require non-visa-exempt passport holders to carry both a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and a valid passport.
If a foreign national has a valid TRV in a cancelled passport, he/she may either
- apply for a replacement TRV, which will be re-issued for the same period of validity and number of entries; and pay the replacement fee (fee schedule) but a new application is not required; or
- apply for a new TRV for longer visa validity, which will require a new application and appropriate processing fee.
I lost my passport with a valid visa and I still need to travel to Canada. What do I do?
You will need to submit a new application. Kindly include a copy of the police report and an affidavit of loss when submitting your application.
I have an expired visa and I wish to renew it. What do I do?
To renew your visa, you will need to submit a new application. However, it is not a guarantee that if you will be issued a visa if you have been granted a visa in the past. Your current circumstance must satisfy the requirements of the Act before a visa can be issued to you.
My planned travel is postponed and my new departure date is beyond my visa validity. Can my visa validity be extended?
No, the validity of a visa may not be extended. If you are unable to use your visa within its validity, you will need to submit a new application.
I have a pending immigrant application. Can I apply for a temporary resident visa?
Yes, you may submit an application for a temporary resident visa. Your visa application will be assessed independently of your immigrant application and in accordance with the Regulations in force. An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay.
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