Visiting Canada: eTA, Visitor Visa and Super Visa (2026)

You need an eTA only when flying to or through a Canadian airport. Travelers who arrive by land or sea from a visa-exempt country need only a valid passport.

Changing planes in Canada? Even if you never leave the airport, you need an eTA or a transit visa, depending on your passport. Some travelers from visa-required countries who are flying to or from the US can transit without a Canadian visa under special IRCC transit programs, if they meet the conditions. Check IRCC's transit rules before you book a connection through Canada.

Your passport decides which one you need:

• Visa-exempt countries (for example the UK, most of the EU, Australia, Japan, and South Korea) use an eTA. It costs CAD $7, is linked to your passport, and is valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires. Most applications are approved within minutes.
• Visa-required countries (for example India, China, Nigeria, and the Philippines) need a visitor visa, officially a temporary resident visa (TRV). You apply online, give biometrics, and wait for a decision. Since November 2024 officers decide case by case whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and how long it lasts.
• Some nationalities, including Mexicans, can use an eTA only if they meet extra conditions, such as holding a valid US non-immigrant visa or having held a Canadian visa recently, and are flying in. Otherwise they need a visitor visa.

Check IRCC's "Find out if you need a visa" tool before you book. Apply only on canada.ca; unofficial sites charge extra.

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for a Super Visa. It allows stays of up to 5 years per entry, and the visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years. To qualify:

• the child or grandchild in Canada must meet a minimum income for their family size and sign a letter of invitation
• the visitor must buy private medical insurance that meets IRCC's rules for at least 1 year
• the visitor must pass a medical exam and meet normal visitor rules

The Super Visa is especially important in 2026 because the Parents and Grandparents Program for permanent residence has paused new intake. See family sponsorship.

Allowed: tourism, visiting family, business meetings and conferences as a business visitor, and short courses of 6 months or less.

Not allowed: working for a Canadian employer, studying in a longer program without a study permit, or accessing public health care.

Staying longer. The border officer decides how long you can stay; if nothing is stamped or written, it is usually 6 months from entry. To stay longer, apply for a visitor record before your status ends; see extending your status. While IRCC decides, you can usually stay under maintained status.

Changing plans. Visitors can no longer apply for a work permit from inside Canada under the temporary pandemic-era policy, which ended in August 2024. If you want to work, see working in Canada.

An eTA or visa lets you travel to Canada, but a border services officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) makes the final decision when you arrive. Be ready to show:

• your valid passport and, if needed, your visa
• where you will stay, and a return or onward ticket
• enough money for your trip
• an invitation letter if you are visiting family or attending an event

You must declare goods you bring, and you must report cash and similar instruments worth CAD $10,000 or more. Answer questions truthfully; misrepresentation can lead to a 5-year ban.

Criminal records matter. Canada can refuse entry for past convictions that many travelers think are minor, including impaired driving (DUI). If you have any record, read about inadmissibility before you travel, because you may need rehabilitation or a temporary resident permit.

Visitor visa refusals are common. Officers most often say they are not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, based on your ties at home, travel history, finances, or the purpose of your trip. To improve your chances:

• explain your trip clearly and show a return plan
• show your job, business, family, or studies at home
• provide bank statements that match the trip cost
• include past travel to Canada, the US, the UK, or Europe if you have it

If you are refused, you can reapply with better evidence, or request your notes to understand why; see GCMS notes and refusals. A lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) can help if you have been refused more than once.