Instructions for applying for a visa to Canada by invitation

We will tell you in detail how to independently prepare and submit documents for a visitor visa to Canada in 2023.

You will need a visa to Canada by invitation if you are planning a trip to visit family, friends or relatives. In this case, the inviter must be a citizen of Canada, a permanent resident, or a student or temporary worker.

To have a reason to travel to someone in Canada, you need to confirm your connection with that person. It could be a relationship, a relationship, or just a friendship. Please note that evidence will be required. If providing them will not be a problem, then feel free to request an invitation.

Is it possible to travel to Canada now on a visitor visa?

Yes. There are no restrictions specifically for Russians. Also, on October 1, 2022, coronavirus restrictions were lifted. Read more in the article about the features of entering Canada now .

We have a new article on how to stay in Canada on a visitor visa .

Who can be the inviting person

As we wrote earlier, to obtain a visitor visa to Canada, Russians will need an invitation. There is a list of people who can provide it to you:

Relatives.
Including brothers/sisters, grandparents, parents.

To receive an invitation from any of your family members, you will need to provide birth certificates confirming your relationship.

For example, to obtain a visa to Canada by invitation, parents must provide the child’s birth certificate and copies of their passports.
Friends and acquaintances.
To obtain a visa by invitation from friends, you must show the immigration service that you really know each other and communicate.

In this case, it is possible that the visa officer will contact the inviting person. He will check the facts of your acquaintance and communication with the information provided in your motivation letter.
Business partner / business event.
Some people call this subtype of visit visa a Canada business visa. In fact, all this applies to the Visitor visa. The main thing to remember is that the business partner or organizers of the business event must also provide an invitation.

If there is something that is sponsored or provided by the inviting party, indicate it in the invitation.

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Documents for a visa to Canada by invitation

You need to apply for a visitor visa to Canada online on the immigration service website. The list of documents for a visitor visa is below.

1. International passport.
  Must have at least 2 pages for visa and stamps.
2. Digital photography.
  Read more about photo requirements for a Canada visa .
3. Copies of foreign passport.
  All marked pages + photo page.
4. Copies of canceled passports.
  All pages with marks + photo page.
5. A copy of the Russian passport (or another national one).
  Photo spread + registration.
6. Certificate from the place of work.
  This document is necessary to confirm that you actually work in your country of residence, it also shows your income and increases your credibility in the eyes of the visa officer.
7. Bank statement and certificate.
  These are similar documents and differ in that the statement contains expenses and income for a certain period (for a visa to Canada you need to take 4 months). Both documents contain information about the owner of the bank account and the balance of funds.
  
  If you have any other documents for a visitor visa to Canada that confirm additional income, feel free to submit them.
8. Invitation and invitation documents:
  - invitation in free form in English or French. Read more about the invitation for a visa to Canada ;
  - copy of pr-card/visa (Work Permit or Study Permit )/passport of Canada;
  - documents from the bank if the inviter pays for the trip;
  - documents on communication with the invitee (if relevant).
9. Documents about connection with the country of residence.
  Canada is wary of those who have “nothing to lose,” so your job is to prove otherwise.
  
  Attach everything: real estate certificates, birth certificates of minor children, marriage certificates, etc.
10. Motivation letter.
  Try to describe in it those aspects of your biography that are not clear from the documents, and also tell us about your desire to visit Canada on a visitor visa in the most loyal manner possible. Follow the rules of business correspondence and be polite. Convince the officer that you really want this.
  
  Read more about the content and preparation of a motivation letter . And if you need help preparing such a document, then check out our service for writing a motivation letter .
11. For individual entrepreneurs.
  You will need an INN and OGRN, as well as reporting for the latest period.
12. For minors:
  - birth certificate;
  - financial documents. Since a minor cannot pay his own expenses, they must be covered either by the inviting party or by one or both parents;
  - sponsorship letter ;
  - consent for the child to travel to Canada on a visitor visa from one or both parents, depending on whether the child is traveling alone or with one of them;
  - copies of parents’ passports.
13. For citizens of other countries.
  A copy of a document confirming legal residence, as well as a copy of temporary registration.
14. For citizens who cannot pay for the trip on their own.
  You will need a sponsorship letter containing information about the sponsor and sponsored person, as well as travel dates and country of travel.
15. Temporary Resident Visa Application (IMM 5257).
16. Family Information (IMM 5645 or IMM 5707).

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Visitor visa cost

A Canada visa by invitation costs the same as a tourist visa . The cost will consist of:

1. - consular fee – 100 CAD (Canadian dollars);
  - biometric fee – 85 CAD.

Transport and courier costs depend on the region where you are located.

Visa processing times and validity

Now, due to the situation in the world, the processing time has been significantly increased and ranges from 3 to 12 months. Less often faster or longer.

You can get a visa for the dates of your trip, for one month, for six months, or until the end of your passport, as very often happens. Try to attach as many documents as possible to increase your chances.

Stages of obtaining a visitor visa to Canada

The procedure for applying for such a visa is as follows:

1. 1. Request an invitation from the inviter, as well as related documents.
  2. Prepare all other documents for submission.
  3. Translate all documents .
  4. Register in your personal account .
  5. Upload completed documents.
  6. Download, fill out and upload forms.
  7. Pay consular fees.
  8. In a day you will receive an invitation to take biometrics – take the biometrics in the nearest city. Read more about this here.
  9. If the answer is yes, you must send your passport for a visa to be affixed.
  10. Pick up your passport with visa.

Reasons for refusals and procedures

If you have been refused a visitor visa to Canada, then you should not give up; perhaps not all is lost.

Let’s look at the main reasons for refusals, which will also help you eliminate the shortcomings and submit your documents again.

1. - Incomplete package of documents. Despite the fact that the official website has a fairly narrow list of documents, in practice it is better to include the maximum amount of information;
  - false information in application forms and forged documents;
  - insufficiently reliable work (short work experience, low wages);
  - insufficient funds in the account. We recommend having an amount at least 5 times the cost in Canada;
  - insufficient justification for communication with the inviter.

We have a service for auditing documents after refusal . You can also check out our other Canada visa services .