Canadian Visitor Visa (TRV)
A temporary resident visa lets a national of a visa-required country travel to Canada. Approval turns on one question: whether an officer is satisfied you will leave at the end of your stay. The way visas are being issued changed in late 2024, and it is worth understanding before you apply.
Multiple-entry is no longer automatic
IRCC's instructions changed on 6 November 2024. Officers now exercise judgement on whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, and on how long to make it valid. A multiple-entry visa can still be issued for up to 10 years, or to your passport or biometrics expiry — but it is an outcome, not a default.
Officers weigh the purpose of the visit, whether travel is one-off or recurring, your finances, ties to your home country, travel history and previous compliance, and conditions in your country. The fee is $100 either way, so there is nothing to buy and no upgrade to request.
If you have held a 10-year visa before, do not assume the next one will match it. Applications are assessed fresh, against current instructions.
Fees and documents
- ● Visitor visa $100 per person, with a $500 family maximum where five or more apply together at the same time and place.
- ● Biometrics $85 per person, $170 family maximum.
- ● eTA $7 for visa-exempt travellers arriving by air — valid up to 5 years or until your passport expires, usually approved within minutes.
- ● Processing is country-specific and published live by IRCC; from inside Canada it has been running around 21 days.
- ● A medical exam is required for stays over six months in certain circumstances.
What actually decides the application
Refusals in this area are formulaic on paper but consistent underneath. The most common findings are insufficient ties to the home country, a purpose of travel that does not add up, finances that do not support the plan, and family circumstances in Canada that suggest an intention to stay.
None of these is answered by sending more documents. They are answered by a coherent account of who you are, why you are travelling, what you are returning to, and how it is paid for — with documents that support that account rather than substituting for it.
If you have been refused
There is no waiting period before reapplying, but reapplying without addressing the reason usually produces the same result. It is worth obtaining the officer's notes, understanding what actually failed, and rebuilding from there. For a parent or grandparent, a super visa may be a better fit than a standard visitor visa, and the requirements are different.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Looking for related services? See our full Temporary Residency overview or all services.
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Frequently asked questions
Will I get a 10-year multiple-entry visa?
Maybe. Since November 2024 it is no longer the standard outcome — officers decide on both entry type and validity based on your circumstances. The fee is identical, so there is no way to pay for a multiple-entry visa, and no reason to ask for one specifically.
How much does a visitor visa cost?
$100 per person, with a $500 maximum where five or more family members apply together at the same time and place, plus $85 per person for biometrics with a $170 family maximum. An eTA, for visa-exempt travellers arriving by air, is $7.
Why was my visitor visa refused?
Most refusals cite insufficient ties to your home country, purpose of visit, or finances. The letter is generic but the underlying assessment is not. Getting the officer's notes is usually the first step, because reapplying without knowing what failed tends to produce the same outcome.
Can I extend my stay once I am in Canada?
Yes, by applying for a visitor record before your current status expires. Note that processing has been running very long — around 316 days at the time of writing — but applying before expiry gives you maintained status while you wait, which is the point.
Is a visitor visa the same as a super visa?
No. A super visa is specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, allows stays of up to five years per entry, and requires $100,000 in medical insurance plus a host who meets an income test. For a parent visiting long-term it is usually the better route.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Temporary Residency services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
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