Canada
Canada visa
Americas · Northern America
In Canada, immigration falls under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), whose pages appear on the official canada.ca portal. For a visit, the portal names the visitor visa (temporary resident visa), the electronic travel authorization (eTA), the transit visa, the super visa and the visitor record. A visitor visa application is filed online through the IRCC portal, with payment of the fees and, where applicable, collection of biometrics.
Updated on 13 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- Authority
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Submission channel
- IRCC online account and portal ("IRCC Portal"), with biometrics after filing where applicable
- Electronic visa
- The portal names the electronic travel authorization (eTA), which is distinct from the visitor visa
Do you need a visa?
Zimbabwe passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.
For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.
Good to know
Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) required. IRCC list "What you need to enter Canada", amended on 31/07/2026.
Official source: IRCC (Canada.ca) — What you need to enter Canada: entry requirements by country or territoryIRCC (Canada.ca) — What you need to enter Canada : exigences d’entrée par pays ou territoire (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026
VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.
Canada visa: who needs one?
Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.
Visa exemption 1
List of nationalities
Electronic travel authorization 53
List of nationalities
- Andorra
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- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
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- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
Visa required 126
List of nationalities
- Afghanistan
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- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
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- Belarus
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- Lebanon
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- Mauritania
- Mauritius
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- Mongolia
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- Mozambique
- Myanmar
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- Rwanda
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- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
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- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
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- Syria
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- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Information not available 17
List of nationalities
A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.
Documented visa types
- Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
- The portal describes it as "an official document that we stick in your passport". Length of stay not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- Official page (new tab)
- Transit visa
- Official page (new tab)
- Super visa
- Official page (new tab)
- Visitor record
- Official page (new tab)
Where and how to apply
The "Immigration and citizenship" section of canada.ca, maintained by IRCC, brings together online accounts (including GCKey), fee payment, forms and application tracking.
For a visitor visa, the page "How to apply for a visitor visa" states that the application is filed online through the IRCC portal, in its current version or its new version, after payment of the fees. Biometrics are collected after filing where applicable.
Steps in the procedure
- Gather the documents needed for the application ("Gather the rest of the documents you might need").
- Pay the fees ("Pay your fees").
- Submit the application through the IRCC portal ("Submit your application").
- Give your biometrics after filing where applicable ("Give your biometrics after you apply (if applicable)").
Documents mentioned by the authority
- A digital copy of the valid (not expired) passport or travel document ("a digital copy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document").
- A letter authorizing a minor child to travel to Canada, where applicable.
- The additional documents linked to the purpose of the visit, the page stating that they vary with that purpose.
- The personalized document list provided in the portal at the time of the online application, as announced by the page.
The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.
Stated fees and processing times
According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, processing of a visitor visa is stated at CAN$100 per person and CAN$500 for a family of five or more; biometrics are stated at CAN$85 per person and up to CAN$170 for a family. The visitor visa page mentions a price "Starting from: $CAN 100".
The portal states that the processing time varies by country and does not include the time needed to give biometrics; it refers to a tool for checking processing times.
After the decision
The portal publishes pages for checking application status and for consulting processing times. The "Visit Canada" page also names the visitor record in connection with extending the stay.
The authority decides whether to grant or refuse.
Prepare your application
-
Tourism (short stay)
Electronic travel authorization: documents, fees and steps Visitor visa: documents, fees and steps See my document list — Tourism (short stay) -
Study
Student visa: documents, fees and steps See my document list — Study -
Work
Work visa: documents, fees and steps See my document list — Work
Frequently asked questions
Where is the application filed?
Online, through the IRCC portal, after payment of the fees; biometrics are collected after filing where applicable.
Is there an electronic visa?
The portal names the electronic travel authorization (eTA), which is distinct from the visitor visa.
How much does a visitor visa cost?
According to the page consulted on 17 September 2026, processing is stated at CAN$100 per person and CAN$500 for a family of five or more, to which the biometrics fee is added.
What is the processing time?
The portal states that the processing time varies by country and does not include the time needed to give biometrics; it refers to a tool for checking processing times.
Points to check with the authority
- The processing times page is cited as a link, but its content, which varies, was not recorded: no figure for a processing time is therefore reported.
Official links
Authority marks the official website of an administration of the destination country.
- Immigration et citoyenneté — Gouvernement du Canada (IRCC) (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026 Authority
- Visa de visiteur (visa de résident temporaire) (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026 Official portal
- Comment demander un visa de visiteur (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026 Official portal
- Visit Canada (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026
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