Last checked against IRCC guidance: October 5, 2026
For years, most people approved for a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa, or TRV) got a 10-year multiple-entry visa, or one valid until their passport expired. That changed on November 11, 2024, and the new approach still applies in 2026. IRCC told its officers that maximum-validity multiple-entry visas are no longer the standard document. Officers now decide case by case.
What changed
- No automatic 10-year visa. Officers can issue a single-entry visa, or a multiple-entry visa with a shorter validity than the 10-year maximum.
- The maximum hasn’t changed. A visa can still be valid for up to 10 years, or until one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first. You just can’t count on getting it.
- How long you can stay on each visit hasn’t changed. That’s decided by the border officer when you arrive and is usually up to 6 months.
What officers consider when deciding
Under IRCC’s instructions, officers weigh factors such as:
- the purpose of your visit and how long you plan to stay
- your financial situation and proof of funds
- your ties to your home country, such as a job, family, property or studies
- your travel history, both to Canada and elsewhere
- any previous visa refusals
- your current residence status
- medical or health issues
- economic or political conditions in your home country
A first-time traveller with limited travel history is more likely to get a single-entry visa or a short validity. A frequent traveller with strong ties and a clean record has a better chance of a longer multiple-entry visa.
Costs
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa (per person) | 100 |
| Visitor visa, family of 5 or more (same application) | 500 maximum |
| Biometrics (per person) | 85 |
| Biometrics, family applying together | 170 maximum |
How to improve your chances of approval and a longer visa
- Explain your purpose clearly. Include a short cover letter with your dates, where you’ll stay and what you’ll do.
- Show stable finances. Give recent bank statements with a consistent history. Large one-off deposits just before applying raise questions.
- Prove your ties at home. An employment letter with approved leave, a business registration, enrolment proof, or property and family documents all help.
- Build your travel history. Previous trips to the US, UK, Schengen area or nearby countries, where you followed the rules, help.
- Be consistent and honest. Any mismatch between your forms, bank statements and letters can lead to refusal. False information can lead to a 5-year ban.
- If you need multiple entries, say why. For example, you might have family in Canada you visit regularly, or ongoing business meetings.
If you got a single-entry visa
- You can use it for one entry only. If you leave Canada, even briefly to the US, you’ll need a new visa to come back.
- On a short-validity visa, you must enter Canada before it expires. Your permitted stay can go beyond the visa’s expiry date.
- You can apply again later. A good record from this trip will strengthen future applications.
Visa-exempt travellers
Citizens of visa-exempt countries, such as the US, UK and most EU countries, don’t need a visitor visa. If you fly to Canada, you’ll need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) unless you’re a US citizen.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a 10-year visa?
Yes, it’s possible, but it’s no longer the default. It depends on your profile.
Does a multiple-entry visa in an expired passport still work?
Yes, if it’s still valid. Travel with both the old passport containing the visa and your new valid passport.
How long does processing take?
It depends on where you apply. Check IRCC’s processing times tool before you apply. See our IRCC processing times guide.
How we checked this guide
This guide is based on IRCC’s November 2024 change to its visitor visa instructions, which was still in effect in October 2026, and IRCC’s current fee list. Always confirm the latest on canada.ca before you apply.
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Official sources to check before you apply or travel
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice (entry requirements by country)
- U.S. State Department travel advisories
Visa rules, fees, processing times and entry requirements change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official government website, or with the embassy or consulate, before you apply, pay or travel. One Visa Center is an independent information site, not a law firm or government agency, and this article is not legal advice. Read how we research, fact-check and use AI tools in our Editorial Policy.
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