Canada Visitor Visa 2027: Requirements, Fees and How to Avoid Refusal

Canada's visitor visa is cheap to apply for and easy to get wrong. The fee is $100, the form takes an evening, and thousands of people are refused every month, often for reasons they could have fixed with better documents.

This guide explains who needs a visitor visa and who only needs an eTA, what it costs, what officers want to see in your bank statements and ties to home, the most common refusal reasons, and current processing times. There is also a short section on the super visa for parents and grandparents.

The honest answer to "how do I get approved?" is simple to say and harder to do: convince the officer that you have a clear reason to visit, enough money to pay for it, and strong reasons to go home afterwards. Everything in your application should support those three points.

Visitor Visa (TRV) or eTA: Which Do You Need?

Canada has two entry documents for short visits, and which one you need depends on your passport and how you travel.

• Visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa or TRV). A sticker in your passport. Needed by citizens of most countries in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Egypt.
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). An online approval linked to your passport, costing $7. Needed by visa-exempt travellers (for example from the UK, EU, Australia and Japan) when flying to or through Canada. It is usually approved within minutes.
• US citizens need neither, just a valid US passport. US green card holders need a valid green card and passport.

There is a middle route. Citizens of a short list of visa-required countries can apply for an eTA instead of a visa when flying, if they held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa. The list includes the Philippines, Thailand, Morocco, Brazil and others, and Indonesia and Malaysia were added from 26 May 2026. It does not apply if you arrive by land or sea. Check IRCC's eTA eligibility page to see if your country qualifies.

Fees

Fees are non-refundable if you are refused. Pay online by credit or debit card when you submit. Visa application centres charge a separate service fee in some countries, and medical exams (if required) are paid to the panel physician.

Biometrics

Most visitor visa applicants aged 14 to 79 must give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre after applying. Once given, biometrics are valid for 10 years, so if you gave them for a previous Canadian application you may not need to again.

Book your appointment as soon as the biometrics instruction letter arrives. Your application does not move until the biometrics are in, and in busy months appointments in Lagos, New Delhi or Manila fill up quickly.

Documents and Requirements

You apply online through the IRCC Portal. The core requirements:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned trip, with copies of the bio page and pages with stamps or visas.
• The application form and family information form.
• A digital photo meeting IRCC specifications.
• Proof of purpose: an invitation letter from family or friends, a hotel booking and itinerary, a conference registration, or a business invitation.
• Proof of funds: bank statements (see below).
• Proof of ties to home: employment letter, business registration, property documents, family details.
• Travel history: previous visas and entry stamps, especially to the US, UK, Schengen area, Australia or Japan.

If your host in Canada is inviting you, their letter should state who they are, their status in Canada, their address, your relationship, how long you will stay, and who is paying. Include a copy of their PR card or passport and, ideally, a job letter or tax assessment.

Proof of Funds: What Officers Look For

There is no fixed minimum for a visitor visa. The officer has to be satisfied you can pay for your trip and return home. IRCC suggests bank statements covering at least six months, showing the bank's name and contact details, your name and address, and balances.

What helps:

• A steady history. Regular salary credits and a balance that builds over months look far better than a large deposit a week before you apply.
• Funds that match the trip. Two weeks visiting family needs less than a month touring with hotels.
• An explanation for large deposits. If you sold a car or received a gift, include the paperwork.
• Your sponsor's funds, if your host is paying, with their bank statements and a clear letter.

Borrowed money parked in your account for the application is easy for officers to spot and is a common reason for refusal. Our guide to proof of funds for visa applications goes into detail.

Ties to Your Home Country

Under Canadian immigration law, a visitor must satisfy the officer they will leave at the end of their stay. That is where most refusals happen. Show what brings you back:

• Employment. A letter from your employer on letterhead confirming your position, salary, start date and approved leave dates, plus recent payslips.
• Business. Registration documents, tax filings and business bank statements.
• Family. Spouse and children staying behind, or dependent parents you care for.
• Property or study. Land or house documents, a lease, or a letter from your school.

If you are young, single and between jobs, your ties are naturally weaker. That doesn't mean automatic refusal, but strong travel history and a modest, well-explained trip carry more weight.

Common Refusal Reasons

Refusal letters usually tick one or more standard boxes. The most common are:

1. Not satisfied you will leave Canada based on family ties in Canada and at home.
2. Purpose of visit not consistent with a temporary stay, often when the trip is long, vague or looks like a job search.
3. Insufficient or unexplained funds, or a financial situation that doesn't support the trip.
4. Limited travel history, especially with no previous visas from comparable countries.
5. Current employment or immigration status at home does not show a stable situation.

Since late 2024, multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years are no longer the default. Officers decide whether to issue single or multiple entry, and for how long. Visitors also can no longer apply for a work permit from inside Canada, which makes officers more alert to anyone who looks like they intend to stay and work.

If you are refused, read the letter, request your officer's notes (GCMS notes) if the reasons are unclear, and fix the actual weakness before reapplying. Sending the same application again usually brings the same result.

Processing Times

Processing times depend heavily on your country of residence and change week to week. In mid-2026, IRCC was estimating around two to four weeks for applicants in India and the Philippines, while in October 2026 the estimate for Nigeria had risen to about 103 days. Biometrics appointment waits come on top.

Apply at least two to three months before you plan to travel, and longer from countries with slow processing. Check the official IRCC processing times tool for your country before booking non-refundable flights. If you need it for a wedding or graduation, include the event invitation, but do not expect it to be fast-tracked.

How Long You Can Stay

A visitor visa lets you travel to Canada. The border officer at entry decides how long you can stay, usually up to six months. Your visa can be valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, but the officer may set a shorter validity.

If you want to stay longer, apply for a visitor record before your status expires. Don't overstay. It makes future applications to Canada, and often to the US and UK, much harder.

Travel and Health Insurance

Canada does not require ordinary visitors to have travel insurance, but you should. Provincial health plans do not cover visitors, and a hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars a day. Buy a policy that covers emergency medical care and repatriation for the whole stay, and include it in your application as a sign of good planning. Our guide to travel insurance for visa applications explains what to look for.

The Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and want your parents or grandparents to visit for long periods, look at the super visa. It allows stays of up to five years per entry, and the visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years.

Main requirements:

• The child or grandchild in Canada must meet a minimum income based on household size and provide a signed letter of invitation.
• The parent or grandparent must have private health insurance from a Canadian insurer or an approved foreign insurer, valid for at least one year from entry with at least $100,000 of coverage.
• An immigration medical exam.
• The $100 application fee and biometrics.

It is more paperwork than a regular visitor visa, but it saves elderly parents from reapplying every year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Canada visitor visa in 2027?

At the time of writing (late 2026), the fee is $100 per person, with a $500 maximum for a family of five or more applying together. Biometrics cost $85 per person or $170 per family. Check IRCC's fee page before paying, as fees are updated from time to time.

How much money should I have in my bank account for a Canada visitor visa?

There is no official minimum. You need enough to cover flights, accommodation, daily costs and a buffer, shown through about six months of statements with a stable history. A sudden large deposit without explanation hurts more than a modest, steady balance.

Can I get an eTA instead of a visa?

Only if your passport is from a visa-exempt country, or from one of the select visa-required countries and you held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or have a valid US non-immigrant visa. The eTA route only applies when flying.

Can I work in Canada on a visitor visa?

No. Visitors cannot work, and since 2024 visitors can no longer apply for a work permit from inside Canada. If you want to work, read our guide to visa sponsorship jobs in Canada.

What should I do if my Canada visitor visa is refused?

Read the refusal letter and, if needed, request your GCMS notes to see the officer's reasoning. Fix the specific weakness, such as funds, ties or purpose, before reapplying. There is no formal appeal for most visitor visa refusals.

Final Thoughts

Most refusals come down to an application that doesn't tell a clear story. Keep yours tight: a specific trip with dates, funds that match it, and proof you have a job, family or business to return to. A short, well-documented first visit that you return from on time makes every later application easier.

Apply early, book your biometrics the day the letter arrives, and don't use paid "visa agents" who promise approval. No one can guarantee a Canadian visa, and fraudulent documents can get you banned for five years.