Temporary Resident Visas (Visitor Visas) For Canada
Canada welcomes millions of temporary residents each year. Except for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, all other individuals require permission to enter Canada as a visitor. This CanadaVisa page provides an overview of whether you need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada.
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Overview
Unless they are citizens of a visa-exempt country, individuals who wish to enter Canada for a temporary purpose, such as tourists, temporary foreign workers (individuals with work permits) and international students (individuals on study permits) must apply for and be granted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
Citizens of visa-exempt countries intending to travel to Canada by air are expected to have applied for an obtained an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before their departure to Canada. Exceptions to this include citizens of the United States, who do not require a TRV or an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), and Green Card holders in the United States, who need an eTA to come to Canada, regardless of their nationality. Unless otherwise exempt from the requirement to obtain a TRV or an eTA, individuals who require a TRV do not require an eTA, and vice versa.
The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. TRVs may be for single entry or multiple entry. As a general rule, tourists are admitted for a period of six months. Temporary foreign workers and international students are admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for from within Canada.
It is important to note that possession of a valid TRV does not necessarily mean that the Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is of a temporary nature. Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to all persons who, in their opinion, do not intend to leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.
Items to note:
- Certain applicants may need to undergo a medical examination. This pertains to some individuals who intend to remain in Canada and have recently visited certain countries, as well as persons who intend to work in certain occupations in Canada. learn more.
- Criminality and medical issues may prevent a visitor from entering Canada.
- Visitors to Canada must be able to prove their ability to support themselves during their intended temporary stay in Canada.
- Citizens of certain countries may need to provide biometric information.
Country Checklist: Temporary Resident Visas
TRVs are required for citizens of certain countries. The chart below outlines which individuals require a TRV and which individuals need an eTA in order to enter Canada.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| Country | Document/Authorization Required |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | TRV |
| Albania | TRV |
| Algeria | TRV |
| Andorra | eTA |
| Angola | TRV |
| Anguilla | eTA |
| Antigua and Barbuda | TRV |
| Argentina | TRV |
| Armenia | TRV |
| Australia | eTA |
| Austria | eTA |
| Azerbaijan | TRV |
| Bahamas | eTA |
| Bahrain | TRV |
| Bangladesh | TRV |
| Barbados | eTA |
| Belarus | TRV |
| Belgium | eTA |
| Belize | TRV |
| Bermuda | eTA |
| Benin | TRV |
| Bhutan | TRV |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | TRV |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | TRV |
| Botswana | TRV |
| Brazil | TRV/eTA |
| Brunei Darussalam | eTA |
| Bulgaria | eTA |
| Burkina Faso | TRV |
| Burundi | TRV |
| Cape Verde | TRV |
| Cambodia | TRV |
| Cameroon | TRV |
| Central African Republic | TRV |
| Chad | TRV |
| Chile | eTA |
| China | TRV |
| Colombia | TRV |
| Comoros | TRV |
| Congo | TRV |
| Costa Rica | TRV |
| Côte d'Ivoire | TRV |
| Croatia | eTA |
| Cuba | TRV |
| Cyprus | eTA |
| Czech Republic | eTA |
| Denmark | eTA |
| Djibouti | TRV |
| Dominica | TRV |
| Dominican Republic | TRV |
| Ecuador | TRV |
| Egypt | TRV |
| El Salvador | TRV |
| Equatorial Guinea | TRV |
| Eritrea | TRV |
| Estonia | eTA |
| Ethiopia | TRV |
| Fiji | TRV |
| Finland | eTA |
| France | eTA |
| Gabon | TRV |
| Gambia | TRV |
| Georgia | TRV |
| Germany | eTA |
| Ghana | TRV |
| Greece | eTA |
| Grenada | TRV |
| Guatemala | TRV |
| Guinea | TRV |
| Guinea-Bissau | TRV |
| Guyana | TRV |
| Haiti | TRV |
| Honduras | TRV |
| Hungary | eTA |
| Iceland | eTA |
| India | TRV |
| Indonesia | TRV |
| Iran | TRV |
| Iraq | TRV |
| Ireland | eTA |
| Israel (passport holders) | eTA |
| Israel (holders of travel document in lieu of passport) | TRV |
| Italy | eTA |
| Ivory Coast | TRV |
| Jamaica | TRV |
| Japan | eTA |
| Jordan | TRV |
| Kazakhstan | TRV |
| Kenya | TRV |
| Kiribati | TRV |
| North Korea | TRV |
| South Korea | eTA |
| Kosovo | TRV |
| Kuwait | TRV |
| Kyrgyzstan | TRV |
| Laos | TRV |
| Latvia | eTA |
| Lebanon | TRV |
| Lesotho | TRV |
| Liberia | TRV |
| Libya | TRV |
| Liechtenstein | eTA |
| Lithuania | eTA |
| Luxembourg | eTA |
| Macao | TRV |
| Macedonia | TRV |
| Madagascar | TRV |
| Malawi | TRV |
| Malaysia | TRV |
| Maldives | TRV |
| Mali | TRV |
| Malta | eTA |
| Marshall Islands | TRV |
| Mauritania | TRV |
| Mauritius | TRV |
| Mexico | eTA |
| Micronesia | TRV |
| Moldova | TRV |
| Monaco | eTA |
| Mongolia | TRV |
| Montenegro | TRV |
| Morocco | TRV |
| Mozambique | TRV |
| Myanmar (Burma) | TRV |
| Namibia | TRV |
| Nauru | TRV |
| Nepal | TRV |
| Netherlands | eTA |
| New Zealand | eTA |
| Nicaragua | TRV |
| Niger | TRV |
| Nigeria | TRV |
| North Korea | TRV |
| North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia) | TRV |
| Norway | eTA |
| Oman | TRV |
| Pakistan | TRV |
| Palau | TRV |
| Palestine | TRV |
| Panama | TRV |
| Papua New Guinea | TRV |
| Paraguay | TRV |
| Peru | TRV |
| Philippines | TRV |
| Poland | eTA |
| Portugal | eTA |
| Qatar | TRV |
| Romania | eTA |
| Russia | TRV |
| Rwanda | TRV |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | TRV |
| Saint Lucia | TRV |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | TRV |
| Samoa | TRV |
| San Marino | eTA |
| Sao Tome and Principe | TRV |
| Saudi Arabia | TRV |
| Senegal | TRV |
| Serbia | TRV |
| Seychelles | TRV |
| Sierra Leone | TRV |
| Singapore | eTA |
| Slovakia | eTA |
| Slovenia | eTA |
| Solomon Islands | TRV |
| Somalia | TRV |
| South Africa | TRV |
| South Korea | TRV |
| South Sudan | TRV |
| Spain | eTA |
| Sri Lanka | TRV |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | TRV |
| St. Lucia | TRV |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | TRV |
| Sudan | TRV |
| Suriname | TRV |
| Sweden | eTA |
| Switzerland | eTA |
| Syria | TRV |
| Taiwan | eTA |
| Tajikistan | TRV |
| Tanzania | TRV |
| Thailand | TRV |
| Timor-Leste (East Timor) | TRV |
| Togo | TRV |
| Tonga | TRV |
| Trinidad and Tobago | TRV |
| Tunisia | TRV |
| Turkey | TRV |
| Turkmenistan | TRV |
| Turks and Caicos | eTA |
| Tuvalu | TRV |
| Uganda | TRV |
| Ukraine | TRV |
| United Arab Emirates | eTA |
| United Kingdom | eTA |
| United States of America | Neither (travel document required at border) |
| Uruguay | TRV |
| Uzbekistan | TRV |
| Vanuatu | TRV |
| Vatican City (Holy See) | TRV |
| Venezuela | TRV |
| Vietnam | TRV |
| Yemen | TRV |
| Zambia | TRV |
| Zimbabwe | TRV |
Frequently Asked Questions about Temporal Resident Visa
Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents have the right to enter Canada freely. Other visitors to Canada, including tourists, students, and workers, may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to enter Canada.
No. You do not need a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada if you are from a visa-exempt country. In this case, a visa-exempt person flying to Canada would need to apply for and obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before boarding his or her flight. If traveling to Canada over land, a visa-exempt person does not need either a TRV or an eTA.
Citizens from all other countries must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa before entering Canada, unless otherwise exempt.
Use our to determine what you need to do before traveling to Canada.
If your studies will last less than six months in Canada, then no Study Permit is required. Any studies beyond six months require a Study Permit, in addition to a Temporary Resident Visa, if you are not from a visa-exempt country.
There are many ways to qualify for a Work Permit. In some situations, the Canadian employer must demonstrate that they were unable to find Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents to fill the position.
If your TRV application is refused, there is no formal appeal process. In addition, you may only reapply if your situation has changed substantially or you have considerable new information to submit.
If your friend or family member requires a TRV to visit Canada, their initial application must be made outside the country, at the visa office responsible for the applicant's country or region. You may provide them with a Letter of Invitation, explaining how you will help the person to visit Canada. For example, you may state that you will pay for plane tickets or accommodation. While a Letter of Invitation may help a TRV application, it does not guarantee that the person will receive a visa.
In addition to the application forms and required fees, you will need to submit photos, proof of financial support, a photocopy of your return ticket or travel itinerary (if applicable), and any other documents required by the visa office responsible for your country or region.
If you are from a country that requires a visa to visit Canada, you will need to apply for a TRV just like any other visitor to Canada. The application is the same as for a visitor visa. For more information, please visit our page on Business Visitors.
You may apply online or using a paper application to extend your status as a temporary resident. You should submit your application for an extended stay in Canada at least 30 days before your status expires. If your temporary resident status expires after you submit your application for an extension but before you receive a decision on the application, you may remain in Canada under maintained status. This status lasts until a decision is made on your new application.
If there is no stamp, handwritten date or document in your passport indicating an expiry date, your status as a temporary resident will expire six months from the day you arrive in Canada.
