Many foreign citizens can visit Canada as a tourist without needing a visa. These are foreign citizens from “visa-exempt” countries. However, if your country of origin is not visa-exempt, then you will need a visitor visa to enter Canada.

The official name of the visa for visiting Canada is called a “Temporary Resident Visa” (TRV). This is also known as a visitor visa. Canada welcomes millions of temporary residents each year.

There are two types of visitor visas (two TRVs) in Canada. The first is a single-entry visa, and the other is a multiple entry visa. If your application is a success, then the government of Canada will issue you a multiple entry visa. However, occasionally the government will issue a single-entry visa if the application had unique circumstances.

Requirements for a Visitor Visa to Canada:

Finances	Applicants must be able to prove they have enough finances to live, eat, travel, return and support any dependent family members during their stay in Canada.
Criminal Record	Applicants must not have a criminal record, must not be a threat to security of Canada, and must not have ulterior motives behind their application other than work, study or tourism.
Documentation	Applicants must have proper identification documents, such as passports and birth certificates of home country.
Health	Applicants must be in good health and may be required to do a medical examination.

Application Procedure for Visitor Visa to Canada:

The application procedure for a visitor visa can be online or in person at an official Visa Application Center. Applicants that want to bring their family need to submit an application for each family member. Depending on various factors, such as an applicant’s country of origin, an applicant may be required to submit biometric information such as fingerprints and official photographs.

Visitor Visa Extension:

A visitor visa will originally last for six months. However, this can be extended if the applicant applies 30 days prior to the expiration of the original six months. If the application for an extension is still being processed while the visitor visa expires, then the applicant may remain in Canada in the interim waiting period. During this time period, an applicant may also try applying for a permanent residence through Canada’s official immigration programs.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The information and facts referred to herein may be amended, removed or otherwise changed by the applicable government authority. As such, the information contained herein is provided with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.