Visiting Canada: Visitor Visa, eTA & Super Visa Guide

Updated January 20, 20268 min read

Whether you're visiting for tourism, business, or to see family, you'll need either a visitor visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.

Do You Need a Visa or eTA?

eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization):

•Required for visa-exempt nationals flying to Canada

•Costs $7 CAD, valid for 5 years

•Countries include: UK, EU countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Chile, and more

•Applied for online, usually approved in minutes

Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa / TRV):

•Required for nationals of visa-required countries

•Costs $100 CAD

•Countries include: India, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, and many others

•Requires supporting documents and can take weeks to months to process

No visa or eTA needed:

•US citizens (need valid passport)

•US permanent residents (need valid green card and passport)

Visitor Visa Requirements

To be approved for a Canadian visitor visa, you must prove:

1.Ties to your home country — Job, property, family, or other reasons to return

2.Financial support — Enough money for your stay, or a letter of invitation from someone in Canada who will support you

3.Intent to leave — You will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay

4.Admissibility — No criminal record, no health concerns, no previous immigration violations

5.Valid passport

Common reasons for refusal: Insufficient ties to home country, insufficient funds, travel history concerns, or incomplete application.

Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents

The Super Visa is a multi-entry visitor visa specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Benefits:

•Valid for up to 10 years

•Allows stays of up to 5 years at a time (vs. 6 months for regular visitors)

•Multiple entries

Requirements:

•Letter of invitation from your child/grandchild in Canada

•Proof that the child/grandchild meets the minimum income threshold

•Canadian medical insurance for at least 1 year (minimum $100,000 coverage)

•Medical exam

•Admissibility requirements

Cost: $100 (visa fee) + $85 (biometrics) + medical insurance (~$1,000–$3,000/year depending on age)

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