Travelling to…

CANADA

What can we help you with?

Visa
Banking & Taxes
Housing & Renting
Healthcare
Transportation & Driving

Looking for Essentials?

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Visa & Immigration

A visa is an official document that allows a foreigner to enter Canada for a specific reason or purpose, such as tourism, study, work, or immigration. It is usually just a stamp or a sticker in your passport

Do I need a Visa To Travel to Canada?

Whether you need a visa to visit Canada fully depends on your nationality. You can either be from an visa exempt country, meaning you do not need a visa to travel to Canada, but you need an Electronic Travel Authorization.

Or, a country that is NOT visa exempt, meaning you have to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) also called a visitor visa before travelling

VISA-EXEMPT COUNTRIES:

  • Andorra

  • Australia

  • Austria

  • Bahamas

  • Barbados

  • Belgium

  • British citizen

  • Anguilla

  • British Virgin Islands

  • Cayman Islands

  • Falkland Islands

  • Gibraltar

  • Samoa

  • San Marino

  • Singapore

  • Slovakia

  • Slovenia

  • Solomon Islands

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Switzerland

  • Taiwan

  • Papua New Guinea

  • United Arab Emirates

  • Vatican City State

NON VISA-EXEMPT COUNTRIES:

  • India

  • China

  • Pakistan

  • Philippines

  • Nigeria

  • South Africa

  • Most African Countries

  • Most Middle Eastern Countries

  • Some South American Countries

  • Some Asian Countries

  • Montserrat

  • Pitcairn Island

  • Saint Helena

  • Turks & Caicos Islands

  • Brunei Darussalam

  • Bulgaria

  • Chile

  • Croatia

  • Cyprus

  • Czech Republic

  • Denmark

  • Estonia

  • Finland

  • France

  • Germany

  • Greece

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • Ireland

  • Israel

  • Italy

  • Japan

  • Republic of Korea

  • Latvia

  • Liechtenstein

  • Lithuania

  • Luxembourg

  • Malta

  • Monaco

  • Netherlands

  • New Zealand

  • Norway

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Poland

  • Portugal

  • Romania

If you are from a VISA-exempt country, some require you to be an electronic passport holder, so double check with your home country!

Applying for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

If you are from a Visa-exempt country, you do not need a visa, so therefore you need to apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Here is how to do so:

  • Apply online (Canadas official website)

  • Approval is usually instant (but it CAN take a few days)

  • Linked electronically to your passport

  • Valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires

Applying For a Visitor Visa (TRV)

If you are NOT from a Visa-exempt country, you DO need a visa, so you have to apply for a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) or also called a Visitor Visa.

Here is how to do so:

  • Apply visa the IRCC website

  • Submit required documents (passport, proof of funds, travel itinerary)

  • Pay the fee (the fee is $100 CAD)

  • Processing time is very varied, it can be from a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending on your country.

If you're visiting Canada for a holiday (1-2 weeks), you have a lot of options for renting accommodations. However, long-term rentals are not available for tourists.

Options for renting in Canada

    • Most convenient option

    • No rental agreements required

    • Can be expensive for long term stays

    • Prices differ depending on the location and the season

    • Fully furnished apartments or houses

    • Can be cheaper than hotels for longer stays

    • Flexible booking (daily, weekly or monthly

    • Check reviews and cancellation policies

    • Cheaper alternative to hotels

    • Best for solo travelers or backpackers

    • Shared rooms or private rooms available

    • Usually located in major cities

    • Best for stays of a few weeks to a few months

    • Fully furnished with kitchen and laundry

    • More expensive than Airbnb but include hotel services

    • Some locals rent out rooms to travelers

    • Usually required a security deposit

Renting

Driving & Transportation

As you are travelling to Canada, you may need to drive or use the public transportation. This section will explain everything from getting a drivers license, renting a car and what type of public transportation is available in Canada

Public Transportation in Canada

    • Available in big cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal

    • Available in most cities and towns

    • These are only found in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton

    • VIA Rail for is long distance travel and GO Transit are in the Toronto Area

    • Uber and Lyft are only available in major cities

Renting a Car in Canada

If you are visiting Canada, and want to rent a car, here is everything you need when renting a car.

What do I need to rent a Car?

  • Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21+ years old, some allow you to rent at 18+ but you might be charged extra with a young driver fee

  • USA and International Licenses are accepted

  • Non-English/French Licenses may require an International Driving Permit (IDP)

  • Some provinces like Quebec, require an IDP for non-Roman alphabet licenses like Chinese or Arabic

  • Passport for identification

  • Credit Card for a security deposit