A Canadian visitor visa (formally a Temporary Resident Visa or TRV) is a document affixed to a passport that authorises a foreign national from a visa-required country to travel to a Canadian port of entry and seek entry to Canada. The TRV itself does not grant entry — a border services officer at the port of entry makes the final determination and sets the authorised period of stay (typically 6 months).

Citizens of some countries are exempt from the TRV requirement but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) instead before travelling by air. Citizens of the United States are exempt from both the TRV and eTA requirements.

The TRV requirement is set by s 11 of the IRPA and the associated Schedule to the IRPR which lists visa-required and visa-exempt countries. IRPR r 179 sets out the criteria for issuing a TRV: the officer must be satisfied the applicant will leave Canada by the end of their authorised stay, is not inadmissible, has sufficient funds, and will not work or study without authorisation.

Applications for a TRV are submitted online through IRCC's portal or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). Required documents typically include:

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
• Purpose of visit documentation (itinerary, hotel bookings, invitation letter)
• Financial support evidence (bank statements, employment letter, pay stubs)
• Ties to home country (employment, property, family)
• Biometrics (required for most applicants aged 14–79)

A single-entry TRV allows one entry to Canada. A multiple-entry TRV (METV) allows multiple entries and is valid for up to 10 years (or 1 month before passport expiry, whichever is earlier). IRCC typically issues METVs by default where the applicant qualifies.

The period of authorised stay is set by the border services officer at the port of entry — typically 6 months — regardless of the TRV validity period. A TRV valid for 10 years does not mean the holder may stay for 10 years; it means the holder may seek entry multiple times during those 10 years, with each authorised stay determined by the officer.

Visitors who wish to extend their stay beyond the period authorised by the officer must apply for an extension before the authorised stay expires. Overstaying creates inadmissibility under s 41 of the IRPA and may result in a departure order.

Study or work while on a visitor visa generally requires a separate permit, unless the activity falls within an exemption (e.g. short courses under 6 months, certain business activities). Business visitors conducting activities that do not constitute "work" for Canadian employers may enter on a TRV without a work permit.