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Canada · Visitor visa

Canada Visit Visa from Pakistan

Pakistani citizens need a visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, to visit Canada for tourism or to see family. You apply online through the IRCC portal and give biometrics at a visa application centre when asked. The officer must be satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay and can support yourself.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026

At a glance

Official name
Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
How to apply
Online through the IRCC portal
Biometrics
Fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre, after an instruction letter
Length of stay
Usually up to six months, decided by the border officer
Entries
Single or multiple entry, decided by the visa officer
Parents and grandparents
A super visa allows longer visits

Who this is for

  • Relatives visiting family members who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, students or workers
  • Tourists planning a holiday in Canada
  • Parents attending a child's graduation or wedding

When another route fits better

  • Parents or grandparents who want long stays with children or grandchildren: apply for the super visa.
  • Studying a programme longer than six months: apply for a study permit.
  • Working in Canada: you need a work permit.

Documents to prepare

Everyone

  • Passport, plus old passports showing previous travel
  • Bank statements covering several recent months
  • Employer letter confirming your job, approved leave and return date, or business documents if self-employed
  • Proof of assets and ties, such as property documents or family responsibilities in Pakistan
  • Copies of previous visas and entry stamps
  • Travel plan with flight reservations and accommodation
  • A letter explaining the purpose of your trip

If you are visiting family

  • Invitation letter from your host
  • Proof of your host's status in Canada, such as a passport, PR card or permit
  • Proof of relationship, such as a NADRA Family Registration Certificate or birth and marriage certificates
  • Your host's financial documents if they are paying for some or all of your trip

Step by step

  1. 1

    Confirm the right application

    Check that you need a visitor visa and whether the super visa suits a long family visit better.

  2. 2

    Create your IRCC account

    Open an account on the IRCC portal and answer the questions that generate your document checklist.

  3. 3

    Upload documents and pay

    Upload clear scans with translations where needed, then pay the application and biometrics fees.

  4. 4

    Give biometrics

    Wait for the biometrics instruction letter, then book an appointment at a visa application centre in Pakistan. Previous biometrics may still be valid.

  5. 5

    Respond to requests

    IRCC may ask for more documents or a medical exam with an approved panel physician. Reply by the deadline given.

  6. 6

    Submit your passport

    If approved, you will be asked to send your passport to the visa application centre so the visa can be placed in it.

  7. 7

    Travel

    At the Canadian border, the officer decides how long you can stay and may write a date in your passport or give you a visitor record.

Costs to plan for

  • The visitor visa application fee. Check the current fee, including any family rate, on canada.ca.
  • The biometrics fee.
  • Visa application centre charges for passport submission and return.
  • A medical exam fee if IRCC asks you to have one.
  • Certified translations of documents not in English or French.
  • Travel health insurance, which is strongly advised and is required for a super visa.

Why applications get refused

  • The officer is not satisfied you will leave Canada, given your family ties in Canada and in Pakistan.
  • Financial documents that do not show a stable history or enough money for the trip.
  • A purpose of visit that does not look consistent with a temporary stay.
  • Limited previous travel.
  • Employment or business in Pakistan not clearly shown.
  • Misrepresentation, which can bar you from applying for a period of time.

Tips before you apply

  • Write a clear letter of explanation covering who you are visiting, why, for how long and who is paying.
  • Make sure your bank statements, employer letter and form all tell the same story.
  • If you are refused, a relative in Canada can request the officer's notes, known as GCMS notes, with your consent. They show the officer's reasoning.
  • Reapply only after strengthening the points the refusal letter mentions.

Questions people ask

A visitor visa suits most tourists and family visitors. The super visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and allows much longer stays. It has extra requirements, including medical insurance and an invitation with financial support from the child or grandchild.

The visa officer decides. A visa may be valid for up to ten years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. Validity is not the same as length of stay.

You can apply for a visitor record before your authorised stay ends. Apply in good time and keep evidence that you can support yourself.

Visitors can take courses or programmes of six months or less. For anything longer, you need a study permit.

Official sources

Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.