VISITORS TO CANADA

A visitor is a person who is lawfully in Canada, or seeks to come to Canada, for a temporary purpose.

Every visitor, except those from countries specifically exempted, must obtain a visitor visa before arriving in Canada. A list of countries whose citizens require visas to visit Canada is presented in this guide. A processing fee is required. 

Visitors to Canada must be able to demonstrate that they will respect the conditions that apply to visitors. One of these conditions is that they will voluntarily leave at the end of their visit. Visa officers look at many factors before deciding whether the applicant is a genuine visitor or someone who will seek to stay in Canada through a refugee claim or an illegal action. The main thing they consider is the applicant's ties to the home country. These ties include the purpose of the visit, the individual's family and employment situation, and the overall economic and political stability of the home country.

They also consider invitations from Canadian hosts, although this is of less importance in the visa officer's decision. For example, the host in Canada may believe the visitor will depart at a specific time but there is no way to enforce this belief. As well, some visitors may not have informed the host of their true intentions.

Decisions on the genuineness of a visitor's intentions are decided on a case-by-case basis, with the burden of proof lying with the applicant.

Individuals who apply to visit Canada must satisfy the visa officer that they:

• are in good health (in some cases a medical examination may be required);

• do not have a criminal record;

• do not pose a threat to Canada's security;

• have a valid passport or travel document;*

• have enough money to support themselves and their dependents while in Canada; and

• will leave Canada voluntarily at the end of their visit.

*Permanent residents and citizens of Greenland, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and the United States who come directly from their country of permanent residence or citizenship need proof of citizenship but do not necessarily require a passport.

Citizens of the following countries require a visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan

Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina-Faso
Burundi

Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China, People's Republic
Colombia
Comoros
Congo (The), Democratic Republic of
Congo (The), People's Republic of
Croatia
Cuba
Czech Republic

Djibouti
Dominican Republic

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia

Fiji

Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana

Haiti
Honduras

India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel *(only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli orange "Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport")
Ivory Coast

Jamaica
Jordan

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, North
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania

Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic of)
Malagasy Republic
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)

Oman

Pacific Islands, U.S. Trust Territory
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland

Qatar

Romania
Russia
Rwanda

Sao Tome e Principe
Senegal
Seychelles, The
Sierra Leone
Slovak Republic
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Syria

Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Venezuela
Vietnam

Yemen
Yugoslavia

Zambia