Visiting Canada

Everything you need to know about visiting Canada

Millions of people visit Canada welcomes tourists, students or temporary workers. Depending on where they live, and the reason for their visit, they will need to meet certain entry requirements proposed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

To visit Canada, you must:

• have a valid travel document, such as a passport
• be in good health
• satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
• satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit and
• have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. For more information, ask the Canadian visa office in your country or region.

You may also need:

• a Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your citizenship (see the section on Visas to Canada in the menu of Travelling around Canada)
• a medical examination and
• a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

When you arrive in Canada, you will be greeted by an officer of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) who will ask to see your passport or travel documents. Even if you do not need a visa to enter Canada, the officer will ask you a few questions. The officer will confirm that you meet the requirements for admission to Canada and stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. The period is usually six months.  If necessary, the officer may limit this period to cover only the intended purpose of your visit. In some cases, an immigration officer at the Canadian port of entry can require you to post a bond in form of a cash deposit to ensure that you comply with certain terms and conditions during your visit to Canada (i.e. leaving Canada when your approved period of stay is over).

Children under the age of 18 should have valid identification with them. If you are travelling with a child and you are not the child’s parent or guardian, you should have a letter from the child’s parent or guardian authorizing entry into Canada. If you are the child’s only guardian, you should have documents to show there is no other guardian. For example, a birth certificate that does not identify the father would be suitable.

You will not be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information, or if you do not satisfy the officer that you are eligible for entry into Canada. You will also have to satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay in Canada.

Please note that you cannot work or go to school in Canada without the proper permit. You will be asked to leave Canada if you work or study without a permit, or if you violate the conditions of your visa.

Most visitors are allowed to stay in Canada for no more than six months but, in some cases, visitors can stay longer. The date that you must leave Canada will be stamped in your passport. If you have a study permit or a work permit, the same expiry date will also be stamped in it.

If you decide you want to stay longer, you can apply for an extension. You must send your application to extend your stay at least 30 days before your Temporary Resident Visa expires. If you stay longer than you are allowed by your visa, you will lose your temporary resident status and you could be asked to leave Canada.

You must apply to extend your stay if you want to:

• visit, study or work longer in Canada
• change the type of your permit (for example, from studying to working in Canada) or
• change the conditions of your stay (for example, if you are studying or working in Canada, and you want to change schools or jobs).

Further information on visiting Canada can be obtained on Citizenship and Immigration Canada website http://www.cic.gc.ca/.