Planning a trip to Canada or helping a parent visit? This guide covers everything about Canada's Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), the eTA, Super Visa for parents and grandparents, extending your stay, and World Cup 2026 visitor demand.
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), commonly called a visitor visa, is a document placed in your passport that allows you to enter Canada as a visitor. Not every foreign national needs a TRV. citizens of certain countries can enter visa-free or with only an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). But for most nationals, including those from India, China, the Philippines, and many other countries, a TRV is required before boarding a flight to Canada.
A standard visitor visa allows stays of up to 6 months per entry, though the border officer at the port of entry makes the final call on how long you can stay. The visa itself can be issued as single-entry or multiple-entry, valid for up to 10 years.
For a full breakdown of the application, required documents, and processing times, see our complete TRV application guide.
Required for nationals of most countries. Applied for online or at a Visa Application Centre. Fee: $100 CAD. Processing: days to weeks depending on the visa office.
For citizens of visa-exempt countries (not including the US). Applied for online only. Fee: $7 CAD. Most approvals arrive within minutes to 72 hours. Required to board a flight to Canada.
A special multi-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs to stay up to 5 years per entry. Valid for 10 years. Requires private medical insurance.
Already in Canada? You can apply to extend your stay before your authorized period expires. You must apply at least 30 days before your status expires.
Whether you need an eTA or a TRV depends entirely on your citizenship. The distinction matters because applying for the wrong one wastes time and money.
Fee: $7 CAD. Applied for online at canada.ca.
Fee: $100 CAD. Applied for online or through a VAC.
The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is one of Canada's most generous visitor provisions. It allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, on a visa that is valid for up to 10 years with multiple entries.
It requires a child or grandchild in Canada to meet an income threshold, and the parent or grandparent must purchase private Canadian medical insurance with at least $100,000 in coverage. But it avoids the long wait associated with the parent and grandparent permanent residency program.
Canada is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside the United States and Mexico. Six Canadian cities will host matches: Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Montreal. If you're planning to attend matches in Canada, you'll need a valid TRV or eTA. and you should apply well in advance, as processing volumes will be significantly higher than normal during this period.
With millions of football fans applying for visas around the same time, processing times for Canadian TRVs are expected to be longer than usual in 2025-2026. Apply as early as possible. ideally 3 to 6 months before your planned travel date.
If you're attending matches in multiple Canadian cities, or planning to travel between Canada, the US, and Mexico during the tournament, request a multiple-entry visa rather than single-entry.
Having match tickets, hotel bookings, and a clear itinerary strengthens your TRV application by demonstrating the purpose of your visit and your ties to your home country.
Our licensed RCICs can review your situation, advise on the right visa type, and help you build the strongest possible application. whether it's a standard TRV, Super Visa, or extension.
Book a ConsultationIf you're already in Canada as a visitor and want to stay longer, you must apply for a visitor record before your current authorized stay expires. and you must do so at least 30 days before expiry. If you apply before your status expires, you remain in Canada on implied status while IRCC processes your application.
Waiting too long can result in loss of status. Overstaying without authorization creates future admissibility problems. See our guide on how to extend your stay in Canada for full details.
Documents, fees ($100), biometrics, processing times, and step-by-step instructions for applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa.
Who needs an eTA ($7) vs a TRV ($100) to enter Canada, visa-exempt countries, US citizens, and common mistakes.
How the Super Visa works, LICO income requirements, the $100,000 medical insurance requirement, and how it compares to permanent sponsorship.