Other services
Visitor visas and super visas
Help for families who want relatives to visit Canada, and for visitors who need to extend their stay.
Overview
A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, lets people from many countries visit Canada for a short stay: to see family, travel, or attend an event.
A super visa is a long-stay visa for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
If you are already in Canada as a visitor and want to stay longer, you can apply for a visitor record to extend your stay.
Who this may be for
- Relatives visiting family in Canada
- Parents and grandparents planning long visits
- Visitors in Canada who need more time
- Visitors whose status expired recently and who need to restore it
General eligibility considerations
The purpose of the visit
You must show why you are visiting and that you will leave at the end of your stay.
Ties to your home country
Work, family, property and other ties help show that your visit is temporary.
Funds
You must show you can pay for your stay.
Admissibility
Health, criminal history and past immigration history can affect an application.
Super visa requirements
An invitation letter, minimum income for the family member in Canada, private medical insurance, and a medical exam. See our parents and grandparents page.
How the process works
Consultation
We look at the purpose of the visit and the applicant's history.
Document list
We give you a clear list for the applicant and the family member in Canada.
Preparing the application
We complete the forms and organize the supporting documents.
Submission and biometrics
We submit the application and guide the applicant through biometrics.
Decision
We follow the application and respond to requests until a decision is made.
Documents you may need
- Valid passport
- Letter of invitation from family in Canada
- Proof of funds
- Proof of ties to the home country
- Travel history
- Proof of the inviting person's status in Canada
- For super visas: insurance and income documents
How Bonti can help
- Choosing between a visitor visa and a super visa
- Clear invitation letters and supporting documents
- Visitor extensions and restoration of status
- Representation with IRCC
Common questions
Can a visitor work in Canada?
No. Visitors generally cannot work in Canada without a work permit.
Do I need a visa or an eTA?
It depends on your citizenship and how you travel. Citizens of some countries need a visitor visa. Citizens of many visa-exempt countries need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. We can confirm which applies to you.
My visitor status is about to expire. What should I do?
Apply to extend before your status expires. If you apply in time, you can generally stay under the same conditions while IRCC decides.
Next step
Talk to us about your situation.
Start with a 30-minute consultation. You will leave with a clear next step and a list of documents to prepare.
Related services