A visa that lets you come and go for years
Canada’s visitor visa — officially the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — is usually issued as a multiple-entry visa, letting you travel to Canada again and again over its validity. For families with relatives in Canada, or anyone who travels there often, it removes the hassle of reapplying for every trip.
How long does it actually last?
Here’s where 2026 matters. A Canadian visitor visa can be valid for up to a maximum of ten years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. But since November 2024, the automatic ten-year visa is no longer the default. The visa officer now decides both whether it’s single or multiple entry and how long it’s valid. In practice, many travellers receive a visa of around five years, often shaped by their passport’s remaining validity. So while you can hope for the maximum, it’s honest to expect the officer to set the term.
And as with most visitor visas, validity isn’t stay length: each visit is generally limited to six months, confirmed by the border officer when you arrive. It’s a visa for visiting — not for living in Canada.
The one visa where a refusal costs you nothing
Most visa applications carry a non-refundable government fee. Canada’s is about CAD $185 per person (a CAD $100 visa fee plus CAD $85 for biometrics). At Vira Visa, Canada is the one service where, if you’re refused, you pay nothing at all — we cover even that government fee ourselves. It’s the strongest version of our money-back promise, and it means you truly risk nothing to apply.
What approval really depends on
Canada wants to see two things clearly: that you can fund your trip, and that you’ll return home afterward. That means solid proof of funds and genuine ties to your home country — a job, a business, family, property. With Canada tightening temporary-resident numbers in 2026, a well-built, consistent application matters more than ever. This is exactly where careful preparation earns its value.
Visiting family for longer: the Super Visa
If you’re a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, there’s a separate option worth knowing — the Super Visa — which allows much longer stays per visit. If that’s your situation, ask us and we’ll check whether it’s a better fit than a standard visitor visa.