Visitor Visa (TRV)

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is informally known as a visitor or tourist visa. It is an official document issued by a visa office abroad that is placed in a person’s passport to show that he or she has met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (a visitor, student or worker).

Eligibility

Visit this IRCC link and answer the eligibility questions to find out what you need to travel to, or transit through, Canada. www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp?_ga=2.46909927.158774489.1531756251-1781315042.1530889724

Documents required

• Document Checklist [IMM 5484] or [IMM 5721]
  • (Refer to the IRCC link above to confirm with form you need)
• Application for TRV [IMM 5257]
• Family Information form [IMM 5707]
• Fee payment (print out payment receipt if you apply on paper)
• Copy of passport pages
• 2 photos if you apply on paper
• Proof of financial support
• Copy of marriage certificate
• Purpose of travel (refer to visa office in your region)
• Copy of current immigration document
• Minors traveling alone or with a parent must provide custody document
• Any additional document applicable to you and/or required by visa office in your region

Refer to visa office in your region and the following link for the official information and requirements: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5256-applying-visitor-visa-temporary-resident-visa.html

Invitation letter

If you are inviting your family for convocation:

• Your family outside of Canada must have a valid visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) to come to Canada. Sometimes, when your family apply for a visa to visit Canada, IRCC ask your family to submit a letter of invitation from you who are residing in Canada.
• A letter of invitation does not guarantee that IRCC will issue a visa. Visa officers assess the visa applicant to decide whether the applicant meets the terms of Canada's immigration law.
• Check the IRCC’s visa processing time to estimate when your family can obtain their visa.

Who should write the invitation letter for your family’s visitor visa application:

• You are responsible for writing an invitation letter on your own.

Documents you may include in your family’s visitor visa application along with your invitation letter:

• If your family is applying for their visitor visa before you complete your program:
  • Confirmation of Enrolment letter. Fill out the Document Request Form and request Confirmation of Enrolment by contacting csr@mitt.ca.
  • Convocation information email you received from MITT Registrar’s Office (They usually email you two months before convocation. Contact grad@mitt.ca if you have not received the email.)
• If your family is applying for their visitor visa after you complete your program:
  • Confirmation of Completion letter. MITT Registrar’s Office will send you the completion letter in 4 to 6 weeks after you complete your program.
  • Convocation information email you received from MITT Registrar’s Office (They usually email you two months before convocation. Contact grad@mitt.ca if you have not received the email.)

IRCC guidelines for writing an invitation letter:

• Refer to the following IRCC website to obtain official instructions in writing the invitation letter: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/letter-invitation.html
• A letter of invitation does not guarantee that IRCC will issue a visa. You should still write the letter in good faith.
• Send your letter (get it notarized, if Visa Application Centre in the applicant’s region asks for that) to the person you are inviting to Canada. The person must then send this letter to the Canadian embassy or consulate outside of Canada when he or she applies for a temporary resident visa.
• Information you should include in the invitation letter:
  • You must include this information about the person you are inviting:
    • complete name,
    • date of birth,
    • address and telephone number,
    • your relationship to the person,
    • the purpose of the trip,
    • how long the person plans to stay in Canada,
    • where the person will stay, and how he or she will pay for things, and
    • when the person plans to leave Canada.
  • You must include this information about yourself:
    • complete name,
    • date of birth,
    • address and telephone number in Canada,
    • job title,
    • whether you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident,
    • a photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada, such as a study permit and TRV (visa sticker on your passport)
    • details of your family, such as names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependents, and
    • the total number of people living in your household, including people you sponsored whose sponsorship is still in effect

How to apply

You may apply online or mail your application to a Visa Application Center (VAC) that serves your area.

Click this link to find a visa application centre: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/offices/find-visa-application-centre.html

Applying online

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the link below and create Government of Canada online account.
   • Click ‘Continue to CG Key’ button and then click ‘Sign Up’ button. www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html
2. Log-in to your account and answer the questions online.
3. Download the application forms. Fill them out and upload them.
4. Prepare required documents from Document Checklist. Scan each document and upload them.
5. Review your application.
6. Submit your application.
7. Once submitted, you will receive the fee payment receipt and Acknowledgement of Receipt letter on your Government of Canada online account. Keep them as a proof of application submission.

Contact the nearest visa office for country specific requirements. www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5256-applying-visitor-visa-temporary-resident-visa.html

Applying on paper

Contact the nearest visa office for country specific requirements. www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Download and print the application package from this link: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5256-applying-visitor-visa-temporary-resident-visa.html
2. Fill out the forms and print them.
3. Prepare the required documents from Document Checklist.
4. Pay the application fee online.
   • Visit this link to pay and print out the payment receipt. www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/pay.asp
5. Review your application package.
6. Mail the complete application package to IRCC. Keep a copy of the application. Send it by a registered mail and keep the tracking number for your record.

Disclaimer: The content on this website is only a guide for MITT students, not official legal advice, and information on this website may change without notice. Students are entirely responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with all IRCC regulations at all times during their studies and while they are in Canada, including requirements for permit and visa. We recommend students to refer to IRCC website at www.canada.ca or contact IRCC Client Support Centre at 1 888 242 2100 to obtain the most-up-to-date information.