What a visitor visa is
A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa (TRV), is a document placed in your passport that shows you meet the requirements to travel to Canada. Citizens of visa-required countries, including Iran, need one to visit, and also to change planes at a Canadian airport unless they hold a transit visa. Stateless people and holders of refugee travel documents also need a visa.
What it allows
Travelling to a Canadian port of entry and asking to be admitted as a visitor, for tourism, family, business or another temporary purpose.
What it does not allow
It does not set how long you may stay, and it does not allow work or study. The border officer decides your length of stay.
Eligibility
Under IRPR s. 179, an officer issues a visitor visa only if satisfied, among other things, that you will leave Canada by the end of your authorized stay, that you hold a valid passport or travel document, and that you are not inadmissible. IRCC's basic requirements are:
- a valid travel document, such as a passport;
- good health (a medical exam may be required);
- no criminal or immigration-related convictions;
- ties to your home country, such as a job, home, financial assets or family;
- an intention to leave at the end of your visit;
- enough money for your stay, depending on its length and on whether you stay in a hotel or with family or friends.
Dual intent
An interest in permanent residence does not by itself prevent a visitor visa (IRPA s. 22(2)), if the officer is satisfied you will leave at the end of your authorized stay.
Why visas are refused
IRCC says the most common reasons are that the officer is not satisfied you will leave at the end of your stay, or that you are inadmissible. Refusal letters usually point to purpose of travel, family ties, finances, travel history or employment.
What the regulation requires
IRPR s. 179 says an officer issues a visitor visa if, after examining the application, it is established that you:
- applied in accordance with the Regulations as a member of the visitor, worker or student class;
- will leave Canada by the end of your authorized stay;
- hold a passport or travel document that lets you enter the country that issued it or another country;
- meet the requirements that apply to that class;
- are not inadmissible (for example for security, criminality, health, financial reasons or misrepresentation);
- meet the medical exam requirements, if you must submit to an exam;
- are not the subject of a declaration under IRPA s. 22.1(1).
Single entry, multiple entry and validity
A visa officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, and how long it is valid. Since November 6, 2024, a multiple-entry visa at maximum validity is no longer treated as the standard document.
Maximum validity
Up to 10 years, but never past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics, whichever is first. The officer can set a shorter date.
What officers weigh
Whether the visit is one-time or recurring, the stability of your funds, any medical needs, your ties to home, and your travel and visa history, including refusals.
Iranian applicants
No IRCC rule makes single entry the default for Iranians. Each case is decided on its own facts. A single-entry visa can be issued for a one-time trip, such as a conference.
Passport and biometrics
Submitting a newer passport may delay processing and does not guarantee a longer visa. Giving biometrics again does not automatically mean a 10-year visa.
A visa can also be cancelled, for example if you become inadmissible, if there are reasonable grounds to believe you will not leave at the end of your stay, or if you are later refused another visa or permit (IRPR s. 180.1).
Documents
The online portal gives you a personalized checklist, and the visa office may ask for more. A typical file includes:
- PassportA copy of your passport, valid at least 6 months beyond your planned travel date, showing the bio page and any pages with stamps or visas. Include previous passports if they show travel history. IRCC does not accept passports issued by Somalia, non-machine-readable Czech passports, temporary South African passports or provisional Venezuelan passports.
- FormsThe application for a temporary resident visa (IMM 5257), family information (IMM 5645 or IMM 5707) where required, IMM 5476 if you use a representative, IMM 5409 if you are in a common-law relationship, and IMM 5475 if you authorize IRCC to release information about your file to someone else. Guide 5256 also asks for the places you have lived in the past 5 years and your jobs in the past 10 years. The portal checklist shows which forms apply to you.
- Proof of fundsBank statements for at least 6 months showing your name and address, plus income, pension or asset records. Explain any large or recent deposits.
- Employment or studiesAn employer letter on letterhead, dated no more than 3 months before you apply, showing your position, salary and approved leave, or business or school records.
- Purpose and itineraryFlight and accommodation plans or event registration, and a short letter explaining the purpose, dates and who pays.
- Invitation and relationshipFor family visits, the host's letter of invitation and proof of status in Canada, with a marriage or birth certificate or another official record of the relationship.
- ChildrenA letter of authorization for a minor travelling alone or with one parent, a copy of the birth certificate, and custody documents where relevant.
- TranslationsAny document not in English or French needs a translation and the original. Unless the translator is certified in Canada, include a translator's affidavit. You and your family members cannot be the translator.
Letter of invitation
A host in Canada can support your application with a letter. IRCC asks that it include:
About you
Full name, date of birth, address and phone number, your relationship to the host, purpose and length of the trip, where you will stay, how you will pay, and when you will leave.
About the host
Full name, date of birth, address and phone number in Canada, job title, status in Canada with a copy of proof, and the names and dates of birth of their spouse and dependants.
How to apply
- Confirm the right documentUse IRCC's visa-or-eTA tool. Iranian citizens always need a visa.
- Choose the online accountApply through the IRCC Portal or an IRCC secure account. The new version of the IRCC Portal is only for people 18 or older, applying alone, applying for the first time, and not using a representative. Paper is allowed only if you cannot apply online (for example because of a disability) or travel on a refugee, stateless or non-citizen document.
- Upload and payUpload clear copies, pay the processing and biometrics fees by card, and keep the receipt and a full copy of the application. IRCC accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay (online only) and Visa Debit. The card does not have to be yours. If you use a prepaid card, keep it for 18 months in case of a refund.
- BiometricsAfter the biometric instruction letter arrives, book a VAC appointment. Booking is free; do not pay anyone for an appointment.
- Extra stepsIRCC may ask for an interview, more documents, a medical exam or police certificates. An incomplete application may be refused.
- Passport requestIf approved, you will get a letter asking for the same passport you applied with. You cannot travel until the visa is in it.
A spouse being sponsored for permanent residence may get faster processing once the sponsor has the acknowledgement of receipt; IRCC does this automatically, and the applicant must still meet every visitor visa requirement. For processing times, use IRCC's official tool. They change often and do not include the time you need to give biometrics.
Biometrics
Who gives them
Most applicants. You are exempt if you were 13 or younger, or 80 or older, when you applied, and in a few other cases, such as U.S. nationals.
How long they last
Biometrics are generally reused for 10 years. A visa cannot be valid longer than your biometrics.
Deadline
Generally 30 days from the instruction letter. If you cannot make it, ask IRCC for more time through its web form.
Where, for Iranian applicants
There is no VAC in Iran. You may use any VAC, for example in Türkiye (Ankara, Istanbul), Armenia (Yerevan), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Iraq (Erbil), Azerbaijan (Baku) or Georgia (Tbilisi). Check that country's own entry rules first.
Medical exam
- For a stay of 6 months or less, an exam is generally not required unless you will work in a job where public health must be protected, such as health care, child care, school settings or domestic work.
- For a stay of more than 6 months, an exam is required if you lived in or travelled to a designated country or territory for 6 months or more in a row in the year before you arrive, if you will work in a job where public health must be protected, or if you apply for a super visa.
- The exam must be done by a physician on IRCC's panel; your own doctor cannot do it. You can do it before applying (an upfront exam) or after IRCC sends instructions. Results are valid for 12 months.
More notes for Iranian applicants
- Canada has no embassy, consulate or visa office in Iran. IRCC lists Ankara as the visa office for Iran, but files may be processed elsewhere in IRCC's network.
- You cannot use an eTA, even with a U.S. visa or a previous Canadian visa.
- Iran is not on IRCC's list of countries that trigger a medical exam for visits over 6 months. An exam is still needed if you lived 6 months or more in a designated country in the past year, for certain jobs, or for a super visa.
- There are no special visitor visa measures for Iranians in 2026.
- Persian documents need certified translations or a translator's affidavit, as described above.
Fees
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa, single or multiple entry | $100 per person |
| Family maximum (5 or more applying together at the same time and place) | $500 |
| Biometrics | $85 per person; $170 for a family of 2 or more applying together |
Source: IRCC fee list, last modified September 21, 2026. VAC service charges, translations, medical exams and courier are extra.
Travelling and entering Canada
At the border
A visa does not guarantee entry. The CBSA officer decides whether to admit you and for how long, usually up to 6 months.
No stamp
Without a stamp, your stay ends at the earliest of 6 months after entry, passport expiry or biometrics expiry. You may ask the officer for a stamp.
Every entry is new
A multiple-entry visa can be used again while it is valid, but each arrival is a new examination with its own length of stay.
Carry with you
Passport, invitation, itinerary and proof of funds, in your hand luggage.
To stay longer, see extending your stay.
If your application is refused
- Read the reasonsOnline applicants see the decision and reasons in their account. To see the officer's full notes, you can make a request under the Privacy Act or the Access to Information Act.
- Decide whether to reapplyIRCC states no waiting period. Applying again with the same information is unlikely to change the result. Reapply only with new information that addresses the refusal reasons, such as a different purpose of travel or new employment or financial circumstances, and approval is never guaranteed.
- Judicial reviewIf you believe the decision was unreasonable or unfair, you can ask the Federal Court for leave for judicial review. For a decision made outside Canada, the deadline is 60 days from the day you were notified or became aware of the decision (IRPA s. 72(2)(b)). It is 15 days for a matter arising in Canada. Get advice immediately, because the time limit is short.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose a multiple-entry visa?
No. You apply for a visitor visa and the officer decides whether to issue single or multiple entry and for how long. The fee is the same.
Does a host's money replace my own funds?
A host can support you, but the officer still looks at your own situation, including your ties and reasons to return. Document the host's support clearly.
Can I use a newer passport than the one I applied with?
Send the passport you applied with. A different passport can delay processing and does not guarantee a longer visa.
Official sources
- IRCC: About the visitor visa
- IRCC: Visitor visa eligibility
- IRCC: Apply for a visitor visa
- IRCC: After you apply
- IRCC: Guide 5256
- IRCC: Letter of invitation
- IRCC: Update on issuing visas (November 6, 2024)
- IRCC: Program delivery instructions on visa types
- IRCC: Who needs to give biometrics
- IRCC: Where to give biometrics
- IRCC: Find a visa application centre
- IRCC: Medical exam requirements by country
- IRCC: Measures for Iranian nationals
- IRCC: Fee list
- IRCC Help Centre: My visa was refused
- Justice Laws: IRPR s. 179
- Justice Laws: IRPA s. 72
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.