Request Free Consultation
Move abroad with your family.
Don't know what to do Get free Counselling
Canada · Visit visa
Canada visit visa: tourist, business, family, and medical
A Canada visit visa is the Temporary Resident Visa that lets Indian travellers enter Canada for a short stay. It covers tourism, business meetings, visiting family or friends, medical treatment, and travel by a child or dependant. It does not allow paid work or long study. A border officer decides entry and length of stay.
Data current as of June 2026
What the Canada visit visa covers
A Canada visit visa, officially the Temporary Resident Visa, lets Indian travellers come to Canada for a short stay. One visa type covers many purposes.
It covers tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings and conferences, medical treatment, and travel by a child or dependant. The same visa is used for all of these, so the key is showing your real purpose and that you will return home.
The visit visa does not allow paid work, and it does not allow a long study program, which needs a study permit. You can take a short course of six months or less as a visitor. This page is a full guide: the options, the costs, the documents, the steps, what to do before you fly, and what to do once you arrive.
Short-stay purposes at a glance
All short visits to Canada run through the Temporary Resident Visa or, for visa-exempt air travellers, the eTA. The diagram shows how the purposes branch from one core visa.
The visit visa purposes explained
The same Temporary Resident Visa serves several purposes. Here is what each one means and what officers expect to see.
Tourist visit
A tourist visit is for holidays, sightseeing, road trips, and short personal travel. You explore cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, national parks, and attractions. Show funds for the trip, a travel plan, and strong ties to your home country so the officer is satisfied you will return.
Family and friends visit
This is one of the most common reasons. You visit relatives or friends in Canada, often with a letter of invitation from your host that includes their status and address. The invitation supports your file but does not by itself guarantee approval. Your own funds and home ties still matter.
Business visitor
A business visitor attends meetings, conferences, trade shows, or training, or explores business opportunities for a short stay. You must not enter the Canadian labour market or take a paid job in Canada. A letter from the host company explaining the purpose and who pays costs strengthens the file.
Medical treatment
A medical visit is for treatment at a Canadian hospital or clinic. Show a letter from the facility, an estimate of the cost, proof you can pay, and your plan to return home. Urgent cases can be explained clearly in the application so the officer understands the timing.
Child or dependant
A child or dependant applies for their own visitor visa, often with a parent. Include documents that show the family relationship, such as a birth certificate, and parental consent where a minor travels with one parent or alone. Each applicant pays their own fee, within the family cap.
Not sure which purpose fits your trip?
Get a free assessment and we will confirm the right Canada visit visa for your purpose and family.
Canada short-stay visa options compared
Most short visits use the same Temporary Resident Visa for different purposes, with the eTA as a special case for visa-exempt air travellers. This table compares them.
| Option | Who it is for | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visit visa | Holidays, sightseeing, travel | Up to 6 months |
| Family or friends visit | Visiting relatives or friends | Up to 6 months |
| Business visitor visa | Meetings, conferences, training | Up to 6 months |
| Medical visit visa | Treatment at a Canadian facility | As approved |
| Child or dependant visa | Children travelling with family | Up to 6 months |
| eTA, visa-exempt air travel | Citizens of visa-exempt countries | Up to 6 months |
Source: IRCC visit-to-Canada guidance, current for 2026. The tourist, family, business, medical, and child or dependant routes all use the Temporary Resident Visa. The eTA is for visa-exempt air travellers, which usually does not include Indian passport holders. Border officers set the exact stay, and rules can change. Confirm before you apply.
For most travellers one visit visa serves several purposes, so the key is showing your genuine reason and your funds. We match you to the right option.
Documents you need for a Canada visit visa
A complete file is the single biggest factor you control. This table shows the core documents and the extras for each purpose.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | All applicants | Valid for your whole stay |
| Proof of funds | All applicants | Bank statements over several months |
| Proof of ties to home | All applicants | Job, family, property, or study |
| Purpose-of-visit letter | All applicants | Why you are going and when you return |
| Invitation letter | Family and business visits | Host status and address, or company letter |
| Birth certificate, consent | Child or dependant | Relationship proof and parental consent |
Source: IRCC document checklist guidance, current for 2026. Requirements vary by case and IRCC can ask for more, such as photos, travel history, or a medical exam. Documents in other languages may need certified translation. Confirm the current checklist before you apply.
Strong, honest documents are what officers reward. We build and review your full file so it tells a clear, genuine story of your visit.
Want your documents checked before you apply?
Get a free assessment and we will review your file for gaps that lead to refusals.
Canada visit visa fees
Government fees for a Canada visit visa are set by IRCC and are the same for most short-stay purposes. The table shows the main charges to plan for.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa application | CAD 100 / person | Family cap of CAD 500 for five or more |
| Biometrics | About CAD 85 / person | Up to CAD 170 per family |
| eTA, visa-exempt air travel | CAD 7 | Valid up to 5 years or passport expiry |
| Visitor record, extension | About CAD 100 | To extend your stay from inside Canada |
| Other costs | Varies | Insurance, medical exam, translations |
Source: IRCC fee schedule, current for 2026. These are government fees set by IRCC and can change at any time, so confirm the current amount before you apply. Third-party costs such as insurance, medical exams, and translations are extra and vary. Fees are generally non-refundable.
Budget for the application fee, biometrics, and travel medical insurance for your trip. We give you a clear, current cost picture before you apply.
What to do before you travel to Canada
A smooth trip starts before you fly. Get your documents, money, and plans in order so the border officer sees a genuine, well-prepared visitor.
Check your passport and visa
Make sure your passport is valid for your whole trip and your visit visa is stamped correctly. Carry both with you when you fly.
Buy travel medical insurance
Health care in Canada is costly for visitors. Buy private travel medical insurance for your trip dates before you leave.
Prepare a document folder
Carry your invitation letter, funds proof, return ticket, hotel or host address, and travel plan. The officer may ask to see them.
Plan money and travel
Carry access to enough funds, keep travel refundable where possible, and have a clear story of why you are visiting and when you return.
Know what you cannot bring
Declare food, plants, cash over the limit, and restricted goods at the border. Do not carry anything that breaks Canadian rules.
Want a pre-travel checklist for Canada?
Get a free assessment and we will prepare your documents and a clear plan before you fly.
The Canada visit visa application process
Most Indian applicants apply online through the IRCC portal. This table explains the key steps so nothing is missed.
| Step | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm your category | Visitor visa or eTA | Indian passport holders usually need the visa |
| Gather documents | Passport, funds, ties, invitation | Proof of funds and ties is examined closely |
| Create an IRCC account | Complete the online forms | Apply online for most cases |
| Pay fees and apply | Application and biometrics fees | Keep your payment receipt |
| Give biometrics | Fingerprints and photo at a centre | Book early; not counted in processing time |
| Wait for the decision | IRCC reviews and decides | If approved, send your passport for the visa |
Source: IRCC application guidance, current for 2026. Steps, fees, and timelines are set by IRCC and can change, and processing times from India can run from several weeks to a few months. A visa does not guarantee entry, since a border officer decides at arrival. Confirm current details before you apply.
Good planning is everything here. We confirm your category, prepare your funds proof, invitation, and documents, then guide the online application and biometrics so each step lines up before you travel.
Worried about the application steps?
We prepare your documents and funds proof, then guide your online application so nothing slips.
Canada visit visa dos and donts
Small mistakes cause many refusals. These dos and donts keep your application honest and strong.
Do the right things
- Show genuine funds and a clear source of money.
- Prove strong ties to your home country, such as a job, family, or property.
- State a clear purpose and realistic travel dates.
- Apply early and answer every question honestly.
- Carry your documents and respect your stay dates.
- Buy travel medical insurance for your trip.
Do not do these
- Do not work for pay without a work permit.
- Do not overstay the period the officer grants.
- Do not give false information or fake documents.
- Do not hide a past visa refusal from any country.
- Do not book non-refundable travel before approval.
- Do not enrol in a long study program without a study permit.
Source: IRCC eligibility and admissibility guidance, current for 2026. False information or overstaying can lead to refusal and, in some cases, a ban from Canada. Rules can change, so confirm current details. Following them protects your record.
What to do once you are in Canada
A visit visa lets you do more than sightsee, within clear limits. Here is what you can and cannot do as a visitor.
You can
- Travel, sightsee, and visit family and friends.
- Attend meetings, conferences, and trade shows.
- Get medical treatment you have arranged.
- Take a short course of six months or less.
- Attend job interviews, fairs, and networking events.
- Open a bank account and rent short-term housing.
You cannot
- Take paid work without a work permit.
- Enrol in a study program longer than six months.
- Stay past your authorised period without an extension.
- Use public health care as a visitor.
- Break the conditions written on your status.
At the airport, a border officer asks about your visit and may check your documents, so keep them ready. The officer writes how long you can stay. Note that date and plan your trip around it.
Source: IRCC guidance on what visitors may do, current for 2026, including short courses of six months or less without a study permit. Activities must fit within your authorised stay. Rules can change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
Plans changing while in Canada?
Get a free assessment and we will explain extensions, short courses, and the right permit if you want to stay longer.
How long you can stay and how to extend
A visit visa and the time you can stay are two different things. This table explains validity, stay, and how to extend.
| Item | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa validity | Up to 10 years | Or until your passport expires |
| Stay per entry | Up to 6 months | Recent updates indicate up to 1 year in some cases |
| Entry type | Multiple entry | Usual default; single entry in some cases |
| Extension | Visitor record | Apply before status expires, about 30 days ahead |
| If status lapses | Restore within 90 days | Extra fees, no guarantee |
Source: IRCC guidance on visitor stays and extensions, current for 2026. The border officer sets the exact stay at entry. Recent updates indicate officers may grant up to one year per entry in some cases, but six months remains common. Apply for an extension on time to keep maintained status while you wait. Rules can change.
To stay longer, apply for a visitor record before your current status ends. Leaving it too late means applying to restore status, which is harder. We help you time and prepare an extension correctly.
What officers look for, and refusal reasons
A visit visa is approved when you show a genuine short visit, enough funds, and strong ties to your home country. Knowing what officers check helps you prepare.
Common refusal reasons include weak proof of funds, unclear ties to your home country, an incomplete file, doubts about the purpose of the visit, or concern that you may not leave on time. Medical or admissibility issues can also matter. Many cases can be reapplied with a stronger file.
A Canada visit visa, the Temporary Resident Visa, costs CAD 100 per person plus about CAD 85 for biometrics, covers tourism, family, business, medical, and child or dependant travel, can be valid for up to ten years, and usually allows a stay of up to six months per entry. It does not allow paid work or long study, which need separate permits.
Factual overview, verified against IRCC visit-to-Canada guidance, current for 2026. Fees, stay periods, and rules are set by IRCC and can change at any time. A visa does not guarantee entry.
Meeting the criteria improves your chances, but the final decision rests with the immigration authority and the border officer. We give you a realistic view and help you build the strongest possible application.
Speak with BestMigrationConsultant.com about your Canada visit visa
Our immigration experts guide Indian applicants through every Canada visit visa, from tourist, business, and family visits to medical, child, and dependant applications, including fees, documents, pre-travel preparation, and biometrics. Call +91-7670800002 or visit BestMigrationConsultant.com, and start with a free assessment today.