Canada Visas: Different Visa Types, Costs, and Requirements

To enter Canada, most applicants must obtain the appropriate visa, which can be a standard temporary visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), depending on their nationality and how they plan to enter the country.

Canada visas are endorsements on your passport that grant you official permission to enter and stay in the country for a specific time. They are a form of authorization from the Canadian government that you can use as an official document for going in and out of the country.

In this article, we will break down the different visa types for Canada, entry requirements, costs, and the visa application process.

Canada Visas – Key Takeaways

Canada offers several visa types depending on your purpose: visitor visa, work permit, study permit, and permanent residence programs.

Whether you need a visa or an eTA depends on your nationality. Visa-exempt nationals flying to Canada need an eTA; all others need a visa.

Temporary visas cover short-term stays for tourism, work, or study, while permanent residence programs, such as Express Entry, offer a path to living in Canada indefinitely.

Canada Visa fees range from CAD $7 for an eTA to CAD $1,590 for most PR applications, plus CAD $85 for biometrics where required.

All applications go through an IRCC Secure Account, but the process differs by visa type. For example, Express Entry requires a profile and an Invitation to Apply before you can submit.

In most cases, yes, you either need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). But whether you require visas depends on your home country and your travel documents.

For example, citizens of visa-exempt countries (such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, most European Union countries, and others) do not need a visa for short stays, usually up to six months. However, if you are from a visa-exempt country and flying to Canada, you will most likely need an eTA.

On the other hand, citizens of visa-required countries (such as Albania, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and others) must obtain a valid visa before they visit Canada, regardless of the method of travel. Various Canada visas are available for work, travel, study, and permanent residence. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Canada are responsible for processing all types of new visas.

Note: Foreign nationals who already hold a valid status in Canada (e.g., work permit, study permit, temporary resident, or permanent residence) don’t need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to return to Canada.

Canada provides a variety of visas to foreign nationals for different purposes, whether temporary or permanent. Temporary visas are nonimmigrant visas with limited time frames, while immigrant visas can provide a permanent resident status, so you can stay for a longer period.

Tourist Visa (Visitor Visa)

A Canada tourist visa is temporary permission for tourism purposes and a nonimmigrant visa. It is known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or a visitor visa. With it, you can explore local attractions and enjoy recreational activities for up to six months. You can use it to visit family members or friends in Canada or to take short courses that don’t require a study permit. This is often a multiple-entry visitor visa you can continue using until it expires.

• Visa validity: up to 10 years
• Stay limit: up to 6 months per visit
• Application fee: CAD $100
• Visa requirements: valid passport, proof of intent to leave, sufficient funds, clean criminal record, application forms, and other additional documents

Working Visas

A Canadian work visa, also known as a work permit, is a limited residence permit that gives foreign nationals the legal right to work in Canada. You can obtain either an employer-specific or an open work permit. It is specifically designed for people who’ve landed on a job offer from a Canadian employer. You can extend your stay with these Canadian visas by renewing them three to four months before they expire.

• Visa validity: one to three years
• Application fee: CAD $155
• Visa requirements: job offer, valid passport, proof of qualification, sufficient funds, no criminal record, and other additional documents

Study Permit

A study permit is a separate document in Canada for international students that lasts for the duration of the courses plus 90 days. Officials require visas of this type so foreigners can attend full-time studies, vocational training, and academic research. The study permit allows you to reside in Canada for your educational activities.

• Visa validity: the length of your study programs, plus 90 days
• Application fee: CAD $150
• Visa requirements: letter of acceptance, valid passport, sufficient funds ($22,895 for 1 year), application forms, clean criminal record, letter of explanation, Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Immigrant Visas

Canadian immigrant visas are permanent residence programs like the Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Business Immigration, and Self-Employed Persons Program. These programs allow you to live permanently in Canada.

Permanent residents (PRs) get a PR card that provides access to healthcare coverage, federal and provincial programs, free education, and other benefits. Permanent residents can sponsor their dependent family to move with them.

• Visa validity: five years, can be renewed
• Application fee: CAD $1,590 (CAD $990 processing fee and CAD $600 right of permanent residence fee) for PNP and Express Entry programs. CAD $2,495 for the Business Immigration and Self-Employed Persons programs.
• Visa requirements: apply through immigration programs, valid passport, settlement funds, clean criminal record, additional information, and other supporting documents.

Canada Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s primary pathway for foreign skilled workers, consisting of 3 immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It operates through a points-based Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and conducts targeted category-based draws every few weeks.

As of February 2026, there are 10 active Express Entry categories: healthcare, STEM, trades, French-language proficiency, and five newly added categories (physicians, senior managers, researchers, transport workers, and military recruits). This allows candidates in priority occupations to receive invitations at lower CRS scores than general draws.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a screening process for visa-exempt foreign nationals who want to travel to Canada by plane. This entry requirement is a type of pre-check from border control that determines whether you can enter the country. You apply online before you book your flight.

• Validity: up to five years, or until the passport expires
• Application fee: CAD $7
• Requirements: valid passport from a visa-exempt country, email address, payment method

To apply for Canada visas, you must:

• Check your eligibility. Choose the type of visa you need (e.g., visitor visa, student permit, or work visa) and ensure you meet the basic requirements. If you are traveling from a visa-exempt country by air, you will need an eTA rather than a visa.
• Fill out an online application form. Submit your application through your IRCC Secure Account. The process varies by visa type: once you create an account, the system will guide you to the appropriate forms.
• Follow the process for your visa type. The application route depends on which visa you are applying for:
  • Visitor visa (TRV): Complete and submit an online application form directly through your IRCC Secure Account.
  • Study or work permit: Complete the relevant permit application, including your letter of acceptance (study) or job offer (work).
  • Express Entry (permanent residence): Create an Express Entry profile in the pool. If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit a full PR application.
  • eTA: Apply separately at the official eTA application page. It takes a few minutes.
• Collect the documents. Visa applicants usually need a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds, a travel itinerary, biometrics, proof of a medical exam, and other supporting documents. Contact the Canadian government or consulate for additional information on citizenship and immigration services.
• Pay the visa fees. There are different visa fees for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. For example, you must pay CAD $100 for a visitor visa or CAD $1,590 for permanent residence application fees.
• Wait for a decision. Processing times vary by visa type and your home country. In most cases, wait times for immigration services can range from a couple of weeks to a few months. Canada family sponsorship visas can take a year or more. You can use the IRCC processing time calculator to estimate the processing time for your specific application.
• Visa issuance. After your application is approved, you will receive a notification. For a TRV (visitor visa) that includes a visa sticker, for study or work permits, a Port of Entry (POE), and for permanent residence, a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).

The exact list of documents you will need depends on the visa you are applying for. However, the following documents are required regardless of your application route.

• Valid passport
• Clean criminal record
• Ties to a job offer, family members, financial assets, or a home country that prove your intention to leave Canada after the visa ends
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself or dependent family members
• Proof of legal guardian (for applicants under 18)

Medical exams and biometrics documentation may also be required in specific circumstances.

The fees vary based on the type of visa or permit you apply for, and the number of visa applicants included in your Canada visa application. The table below provides the standard visa fees in Canadian dollars.

Note: These visa fees are subject to change by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)