What you need to visit Canada as a tourist?

Most travellers need a valid entry document such as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visa to visit Canada. This will depend on your citizenship or your situation.

Basic requirements
To visit Canada, you will need to meet some basic requirements, such as:

• have a valid travel document, such as a passport,
• be in good health,
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions,
• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country,
• convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit, and
• have enough money for your stay. (The amount of money you will need can vary. It depends on things such as how long you will stay, and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.)

You may also need a:

• medical exam and
• letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

In addition to the basic requirements, most visitors need a valid entry document

Entry Documents

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Visitor visa

Travel documents
When travelling to Canada, you always need to carry proper travel documents and identification for yourself and any children travelling with you.

Transport companies, such as airlines, must make sure you have proper, valid travel documents. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or unable to board the plane.

The following travel documents are not considered reliable. You cannot use them to enter Canada:

• passports supposedly issued by Somalia,
• non-machine readable passports issued by the Czech Republic,
• temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa and
• provisional passports issued by Venezuela.

To find out what else you may need to know before you come to Canada, see Arriving in Canada and specific requirements for minor children.

Permanent residents of Canada

If you are a permanent resident of Canada you must show your permanent resident card when you re-enter Canada on a commercial vehicle, such as an airplane, boat, train or bus. If you return to Canada in a private vehicle, such as your car, there are other documents you can use.

If you plan to leave Canada, check your card’s expiry date to make sure that it will still be valid when you return. Most cards are valid for five years.