If you’re applying to visit Canada as a tourist, your “tourist visa” is usually a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa / TRV) that’s placed in your passport. A complete file typically includes (1) identity (passport copies), (2) purpose of travel (itinerary + where you’ll stay), (3) proof you can pay (funds), and (4) proof you’ll leave Canada (ties to home country). This Canada tourist visa checklist is designed to help you upload a clean, consistent set of documents and avoid the most common “incomplete / inconsistent” issues that trigger delays or refusals.
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Table of Contents
- What “tourist visa” means for Canada
- Canada tourist visa checklist (quick list)
- Identity & travel documents
- Purpose of travel (what you’re going to do)
- Proof of funds (how you’ll pay)
- Proof you’ll leave Canada (ties to home)
- Biometrics, fees, and timing
- Photo requirements (when you need printed photos)
- Official sources
- FAQ
- Conclusion
What “tourist visa” means for Canada
On IRCC’s official guidance, a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) is “an official document that we stick in your passport” showing you meet the requirements to travel to Canada. If you’re visa-required, this is the document most people mean by “Canada tourist visa.”
Source: IRCC: Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
Canada tourist visa checklist (quick list)
Use this as your “top-of-stack” checklist before you upload anything:
- Passport scan (bio page + any stamped/visa pages your application asks for)
- Digital copy of your application forms (the IRCC portal generates them based on your answers)
- Proof of funds (amount depends on length of stay + hotel vs staying with family/friends)
- Purpose-of-trip evidence (itinerary + accommodation + who you’re visiting / why you’re going)
- Ties to home country (job/business, family, property, studies, ongoing obligations)
- Biometrics plan (if required): fee + appointment logistics
- Fee receipts
- Photo specs (only if your process requires printed photos)
Tip: If you apply online, IRCC says a personalized document checklist is created during the online process, and you do not need to submit the generic PDF checklist (it’s just to help you complete the application).
Source: IMM 5484 checklist page (Last updated: March 2026)
Identity & travel documents
These documents establish “who you are” and what travel document the visa should be issued against.
- Passport (valid travel document)
- Include clear scans; make sure your name, passport number, and dates are readable.
- Any prior visas / travel history pages your application asks for
- If you have multiple passports (current + expired): keep your story consistent across them
Practical consistency check:
- Your trip dates should match across itinerary, leave letter, accommodation, and funds planning.
- Your name spelling should be consistent across passports, letters, and bank statements.
Purpose of travel (what you’re going to do)
Your goal here is to make the officer’s question easy to answer: “What exactly is this person doing in Canada, and is it compatible with a visitor stay?”
Include as applicable:
- Trip itinerary (high-level is fine; clarity matters more than “perfection”)
- Accommodation proof (hotel booking, or address where you’ll stay)
- If visiting family/friends: invitation context and host details (if relevant to your situation)
- If travelling as a group/family: who is travelling together, and how costs are shared
Proof of funds (how you’ll pay)
IRCC’s visitor-visa eligibility guidance says you must “have enough money for your stay,” and that the amount depends on how long you’ll stay and where you’ll stay (hotel vs friends/relatives).
Source: IRCC: Who can apply (visitor visa)
Funds evidence usually works best when it’s boring and consistent:
- Bank statements (showing stable balances + activity that matches your income story)
- Income evidence (salary slips, employment letter, business income proof, etc.)
- Sponsor support (only if truly applicable; match the sponsor’s funds to the trip cost narrative)
If you’re unsure how to frame funds without over-explaining, start with the principles in our proof-of-funds guide: proof of funds for visa applications.
Proof you’ll leave Canada (ties to home)
Many refusals come down to the officer not being satisfied you’ll leave at the end of your stay. Your supporting documents should help answer:
- What do you return to (job, studies, business responsibilities)?
- What anchors you where you live now (family, property/lease, ongoing obligations)?
Good “ties” evidence is often:
- Employment: role, salary, approved leave dates, return-to-work expectations
- Business: registration, tax filings, invoices, ongoing contracts
- Studies: enrollment, term dates, fees paid, return date expectations
- Family responsibilities that require return (where applicable)
Biometrics, fees, and timing
Fees (official amounts)
IRCC’s fee list shows:
| Item | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa (including super visa) – per person | CAN$100 |
| Biometrics – per individual | CAN$85 |
| Biometrics – per family (2+ eligible people applying at the same time) | CAN$170 (max) |
Source: IRCC fee list (Date modified: 2026-04-01)
Biometrics (who needs them)
IRCC explains biometrics are “your fingerprints and photo,” and that (unless exempt) you need to give them when you apply for temporary residence. The biometrics page also lists key exemptions, including children under 14 and applicants over 79, and repeats the biometrics fees above.
Source: IRCC: Biometrics (Page details: 2026-03-30)
Timing (how to set expectations)
Processing times vary by country and don’t include the time you need to give biometrics (as noted on IRCC’s visitor visa page).
Source: IRCC: Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) (Page details: 2026-03-05)
IRCC has also published how its online processing times tool uses forward-looking estimates for some application types, and backward-looking (historical) estimates for others. For temporary residence, it describes backward-looking times as based on how long it took IRCC to process 80% of applications in the past 8 or 16 weeks.
Source: IRCC notice: Improving estimates for application processing times
Official IRCC video: “Send a complete application”
This Government of Canada video focuses on avoiding delays by submitting a complete application. It’s linked from an official Canada.ca page and hosted on YouTube.
Source page (official): Save Time: Send a Complete Application
Photo requirements (when you need printed photos)
Not every online application flow requires printed photos, but if you’re asked for photos for a Temporary Resident Visa application, IRCC publishes specific specs.
IRCC’s TRV photograph specifications say:
- Provide two photographs
- Photo frame size at least 35 mm × 45 mm
- Head size (chin to crown) 31 mm to 36 mm
- Photos taken within the last six months
Source: Temporary Resident Visa application photograph specifications (and its linked PDF)
Related guides
If you're building the rest of the application pack, these companion guides help:
- Documents Required for Canada Tourist Visa (2026 Checklist)
- Canada Visa Photo Requirements: Size, Rules, Mistakes
- Invitation Letter for Visitor Visa Canada: Checklist
Official sources
- Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
- Who can apply (visitor visa eligibility)
- Document Checklist (IMM 5484) + PDF link (Last updated: March 2026)
- Fee list (Date modified: 2026-04-01)
- Biometrics (Page details: 2026-03-30)
- TRV photo specs (35×45 mm; head 31–36 mm; 2 photos; last 6 months)
- IRCC notice on processing-time estimates
- Video source page: Save Time: Send a Complete Application
FAQ
Is “Canada tourist visa” the same as a visitor visa (TRV)?
Usually, yes. IRCC describes the visitor visa (temporary resident visa) as an official document placed in your passport showing you meet requirements to travel to Canada. If you’re visa-required, that’s the document most people mean by “tourist visa.”
How much is the Canada visitor visa fee in 2026?
IRCC’s fee list shows the visitor visa fee is CAN$100 per person (same fee for single or multiple entry visas). Biometrics, if required, are an additional CAN$85 per person.
Do I always need biometrics for a Canada tourist visa?
Not always. IRCC says biometrics are required for temporary residence unless you’re exempt, and it lists exemptions including children under 14 and applicants over 79. Always confirm your specific situation in the IRCC flow.
How much money do I need to show for a Canada tourist visa?
IRCC doesn’t set one universal number in its eligibility overview. It says you must have “enough money for your stay,” and the amount depends on how long you’ll stay and whether you’re staying in a hotel or with friends/relatives.
Do I need printed photos for my TRV application?
It depends on the application route and what IRCC requests. If you are asked for photos for a Temporary Resident Visa application, IRCC’s specifications require 2 photos, at least 35 mm × 45 mm, with head size 31–36 mm, taken within the last 6 months.
Conclusion
A strong Canada tourist visa checklist is less about “more documents” and more about a coherent story: identity, purpose, funds, and ties to home country—all consistent with each other. If you want help validating your upload pack before submission, start with the Canada visa requirements checklist and then run a full pre-submission review inside Vidicy: create your workspace.