Canada visa — Guinea passport

Documents requested

Visitor visa

• Digital copy of the valid passport or travel documentConditions and details

  Document required from all applicants: a clear, colour copy of the passport or travel document used to come to Canada, with the page showing the date of birth and the country or territory of origin, and all pages bearing stamps, visas or annotations. The page recommends a passport valid for at least 6 months from the planned date of travel and recommends renewing it before the application if necessary. A travel document must be issued by a government and indicate name, date of birth, number, citizenship or residence status, photograph and expiry date where applicable.
• Visitor visa application completed online in the IRCC portalConditions and details

  The page requires online submission ("You must apply online"). Paper submission is possible only if the applicant cannot apply online (including because of a disability) or travels with an identity or travel document issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen. A scanner or camera is required for the electronic copies, and the instruction guide must be read before completing the application.
• Documents from the personalised list provided by the portalConditions and details

  When applying online, the portal produces a personalised list of documents; the page asks for all the documents listed in it to be provided. Its content depends on the situation and is not reproduced here.

Depending on your situation

• Biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) provided in personConditions and details

  Unless an exemption applies, an application for temporary residence requires fingerprints and a photograph (US nationals are exempt). Exemptions cited by the page: notably applicants over 79 years of age, children under 14 years of age, and visitor visa applicants who have already provided their data for a permanent residence application that is being processed.
• Letter authorizing a minor child to travel to Canada, if applicableConditions and details

  Requested "if applicable" when a child under 18 years of age is concerned; other documents may be required depending on whether or not the child travels alone (see the "Accompanied minors" recommendation). The questionnaire does not contain a field on accompanied children: the condition is not automated.
• Additional documents required by the visa office of the country of submissionConditions and details

  The visa office may require additional documents depending on the country or territory from which the application is made; the page displays them after that country has been selected. They have not been read here.
• "Use of a representative" form (IMM 5476), if an authorized representative is usedDocument listed among those that the portal list may include, only if the applicant uses an authorized representative (see the "Authorized representative" recommendation).
• Form IMM 5475 authorizing the disclosure of information to a designated person, if applicableOnly if the applicant authorises the disclosure of information from their file to a person other than themselves.
• Medical examination, if IRCC requests itAfter submission, IRCC may request a medical examination and then indicates the procedure to follow.
• Police certificate, if IRCC requests itAfter submission, IRCC may request a police certificate, an interview or additional information.
• Letter of invitation, if a person or a business in Canada has invited the travellerConditions and details

  The page states that a letter of invitation from a person living in Canada may be required, without specifying in which cases for a tourist. The questionnaire does not allow the condition to be automated.

Student visa

• Copy of the information page of a valid passport or travel documentConditions and details

  Proof of identity requires, for the applicant and for each accompanying family member, a copy of a valid passport or travel document, uploaded with the online application; if the application is approved, you must then send the original passport to IRCC. A United States citizen has several options for proving their identity. A United States permanent resident travels with their green card (or equivalent official proof of their status) and a valid passport from their country of nationality.
• Two recent passport-format photos, with the name and date of birth written on the back of eachConditions and details

  For proof of identity, IRCC also requires two recent passport-format photos for the applicant and for each accompanying family member; the person's name and date of birth are written on the back of each photo.
• Proof of sufficient funds for tuition fees, living expenses and round-trip transportation, for yourself and accompanying family membersConditions and details

  Without working in Canada, you must prove that you have the money needed for the first year of studies and, for a program of more than one year, indicate how you will pay for the entire duration of studies (for example a scholarship of more than one year or the parents' employment). IRCC cites, without a complete list, examples of proof: receipt of payment for the first year of tuition and housing, bank student loan, proof of scholarship, pay stubs, letter from the person providing support with proof of their relationship and the amount, Canadian bank account, guaranteed investment certificate, bank statements for the last 6 months showing the origin of the funds. For first-year living expenses (excluding tuition and transportation), the amounts for an application submitted from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec, are CAD 23 448 for one person, CAD 29 192 for two, CAD 35 888 for three, CAD 43 572 for four, CAD 49 419 for five, CAD 55 736 for six, CAD 62 054 for seven, then CAD 6 318 per additional person. For Quebec, the amounts are those of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration. If the country applies exchange controls, you must prove that you will be able to export the funds.
• Documents from the personalized list provided by the IRCC portal after the questionnaireConditions and details

  Before uploading the forms, the applicant answers a few questions; IRCC then creates a personalized document list. You must provide all the documents listed there and submit a complete application: IRCC cannot finalize the permit without it, and documents sent later delay processing.

Depending on your situation

• Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), unless an exemption applies, to be uploaded in the space providedConditions and details

  The institution issues the letter of acceptance. It is always required, except for a family member of a person whose study permit or work permit application was approved in writing before arrival in Canada. For post-secondary studies, IRCC asks the institution to confirm that the letter is valid: if it does not respond before the deadline, the application is returned and the processing fees are refunded. You must therefore confirm with the institution that it will validate the letter before resubmitting the application. The letter is attached only in the space provided for this purpose: any other document placed there is shared with the institution, with the applicant's consent.
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), provided by the institution in most casesConditions and details

  The PAL/TAL is a letter from the province or territory where you intend to study: it confirms that a place has been allocated to the applicant. It is required in most cases. IRCC lists exceptions (for example preschool, primary, secondary, master's or doctoral degree-leading programs at a public designated learning institution from January 1, 2026, exchanges with no tuition fees, Global Affairs Canada scholarships); in that case you must provide proof of this with the application. You request it from the institution, usually after accepting the offer and paying tuition fees in whole or in part. It is tied to the institution and must be valid at the time the application is submitted, not at the start of studies: issued in 2026, it is valid until December 31, 2026, unless an earlier expiry date is written on the letter. An expired PAL/TAL cannot be used; after an approved or refused application, or in the event of a change of institution, you must obtain a new one before resubmitting.
• Attestation of issuance of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), to study in QuebecConditions and details

  To study at an institution in Quebec, you need the attestation of issuance of the CAQ, issued by the Government of Quebec, instead of the PAL/TAL; you must ask the institution how to obtain it. Almost all students who want to study in Quebec must have one. The CAQ must be valid when IRCC receives the application and must include the statement indicating that the applicant has a place in Quebec's quota or is exempt from it. The same valid CAQ can be used to resubmit an application, except in the event of a change in level of study. If you change institution, it can be reused only if it was issued before December 6, 2024 and the level of study remains the same, or for a minor child in primary or secondary school whose CAQ is not tied to a specific institution. To obtain it, you must prove that you can cover the costs set by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration.
• Immigration medical examination with a designated physician, if IRCC requires itConditions and details

  A medical examination is to be expected if you plan to stay more than 6 months and you have lived or travelled for 6 consecutive months or more, in the year before arrival, in certain countries or territories, or if you want to work in a job where public health must be protected. For a stay of 6 months or less, it is generally required only for those jobs. It is done with a physician from the list of designated physicians, not with your own physician, preferably before the application (upfront examination). The fees are paid at the appointment and are not refunded if the application is refused. The results are valid for 12 months from the examination and must be valid on the day of entry to Canada.
• Police certificate, if IRCC requests itIn some cases, IRCC requests a police certificate; it is better to request it as early as possible. The student must obey the law and have no criminal record.
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) given in person after the application is submittedConditions and details

  IRCC collects biometrics for most applications; from 14 to 79 years of age, you generally must provide them. United States nationals are exempt from them for a temporary residence application, as are other persons, for example applicants over 79 years of age and children under 14 years of age. The fees are paid at the same time as the application, failing which processing may be delayed. You must provide the biometrics within 30 days of the date of the biometric instruction letter. They are given only once every 10 years to facilitate repeated travel.
• Proof of immigration status in the country of submission, if the applicant is not in their country of originConditions and details

  When you are not in your country of origin, you may need to prove your immigration status in the country from which you are submitting the application. If the government that issued the passport or travel document requires a re-entry permit, you must obtain it before applying for a Canadian visa.
• Documents specific to the visa office of the country of submission, displayed by selecting the country on the application pageConditions and details

  Depending on the country or territory from which you submit the application, the local visa office may require additional documents. They are displayed on the "How to apply" page: select "Outside Canada", then "Apply online", then your country or territory from the list.
• Port of entry introduction letter after approval of an application made outside Canada, to be presented on arrivalConditions and details

  If the application is made from outside Canada and approved, IRCC sends a port of entry introduction letter indicating that you are authorized to study in Canada. It does not take the place of a study permit: you must bring it and show it to the border services officer on arrival. It bears the permit reference number, which is used to issue it. For an eligible application submitted from Canada, IRCC sends the permit by mail to the Canadian address provided.
• Visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), issued upon approval of the study application if necessaryConditions and details

  When an eTA or a visitor visa is necessary, IRCC issues it automatically upon approval of the study permit application: there is no separate application and no additional fees. The eTA is tied to the passport used for the application and is valid for 5 years or until the passport expires if that occurs earlier: you must travel with that passport. The visa is placed in the passport and indicates whether you may enter once or multiple times; you must enter Canada before it expires.

Work visa

• Form IMM 1295 for a work permit application made from outside CanadaConditions and details

  All applicants for a permit from outside Canada attach form IMM 1295. IRCC provides a guide to complete it. For an online application, the portal produces a personalized document checklist to be followed; certain situations provided for by IRCC allow a paper application.
• Photocopy of a valid (unexpired) passport or travel documentAll applicants attach a photocopy of their valid passport or travel document. On arrival in Canada, the passport must remain valid longer than the intended duration of stay.
• A photo that meets visa photo specificationsAll applicants include a photo that meets IRCC specifications for visa photos.
• Documents from the personalized list provided by the IRCC portalConditions and details

  By answering the portal questionnaire, the applicant obtains a personalized document list: all documents listed there must be provided. An incomplete application may be refused without processing.
• Proof of sufficient funds to support oneself and one’s family during the stay and for the returnConditions and details

  To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, one must show that one has enough money to take care of oneself and one’s family during the stay and to return. The amount depends on the size of the family, the community where one settles and the permit program; IRCC refers to the low income cut-offs, given as a general reference (2023 data), to estimate a minimum.
• Port of Entry introduction letter given by IRCC after approval, to be presented on arrivalConditions and details

  If the application is approved, IRCC sends a letter stating that one is authorized to work in Canada: the port of entry introduction letter. It is not the work permit. One must bring it, on paper or in electronic version, and present it at the port of entry; the permit is issued only on arrival in Canada. It is received if one submitted the application online or provided an email address in the form.

Depending on your situation

• For an employer-specific permit: job offer from an eligible Canadian employerConditions and details

  To apply for an employer-specific work permit, a job offer from an employer that is not on the list of non-compliant employers is required. The application may be refused if one plans to work for an employer listed as ineligible or for an employer that typically offers striptease, erotic dance, escort or erotic massage services, or if the job offer is not genuine. If a permit is required and one does not yet have it, it is not legal to work in Canada or to state that one is authorized to work there. A job offer is not required for an open work permit, which is reserved for eligible persons.
• For an employer-specific permit: employment contract provided by the employerConditions and details

  For an employer-specific work permit, whether the job requires an LMIA or is exempt from one, the employer provides the employment contract to be included with the application. If an open work permit applicant is asked to provide employment documents, IRCC asks to upload a document bearing “Not applicable”.
• Copy of the positive LMIA (decision letter with Annex A) and the LMIA file number, provided by the employer, if the job requires an LMIAConditions and details

  A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), sometimes called a confirmation letter, shows that a foreign worker is needed to fill the job and that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available. If the LMIA is required, the employer gives the worker a copy of the decision letter, its Annex A (job details) and the file number; the worker then submits their permit application. Some jobs are exempt from it.
• Job offer letter specifying pay, deductions, duties and working conditions, if the job requires an LMIAConditions and details

  For a job that requires an LMIA, the employer also provides a job offer letter, usually less detailed than a contract. It states the pay and deductions, the duties and the employment conditions, for example working hours.
• Job offer number (letter A followed by 7 digits), obtained by the employer in the employer portal, if the job is exempt from an LMIAConditions and details

  For a job exempt from an LMIA, the employer submits the job offer in IRCC’s employer portal, which generates the job offer number required for the permit application. This number is used only once: the employer provides a new one for any subsequent application. Some exempt employers, such as foreign missions or international organizations, do not have to submit a job offer and therefore do not provide a number.
• Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), for paid employment of more than 30 days in Québec when the job requires an LMIAConditions and details

  When the job requires an LMIA and the worker plans to hold paid employment in Québec for more than 30 days, the employer obtains a CAQ from the Québec Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration and gives a copy to the worker, who includes it with the application along with the positive LMIA decision letter. A worker hired without an LMIA, under the International Mobility Program, does not need a CAQ.
• For an employer-specific permit: letter from the current employer and references from former employersFor an employer-specific work permit, IRCC always asks for a letter from the applicant’s current employer and a reference letter from former employers.
• For an employer-specific permit: work experience and proof that you meet the job requirementsConditions and details

  For an employer-specific permit, IRCC asks for proof of past experience, for example pay stubs, and proof that you meet the job requirements, including the licence or certification if the trade is regulated. If the job requires neither a licence nor certification, upload a sheet bearing “Not applicable” in the corresponding location. For an open permit, if employment documents are requested, upload a document bearing “Not applicable”.
• For an employer-specific permit: curriculum vitaeIRCC always asks for a curriculum vitae with an employer-specific work permit application.
• Immigration medical examination with a designated physician, if IRCC requires itConditions and details

  IRCC may request a medical examination depending on the type of work and the country of residence. For a stay of more than 6 months, it is required in particular if one has lived or travelled for 6 consecutive months or more in certain countries in the year before arrival, or if one will work in a job where public health must be protected; for a stay of 6 months or less, it is generally required only for those jobs. It is done by a doctor from the list of designated doctors, preferably before the application; if proof of it is brought to the border, the permit does not include a medical condition. The results must be valid on the day of entry to Canada.
• Police certificate, if IRCC requests itThe application may be refused if the applicant has a history of criminal activity; IRCC may then request a police certificate.
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) given in person after submitting the application, if applicableConditions and details

  After submitting, one must wait for the biometrics instruction letter, then make an appointment as soon as possible to avoid delays. United States nationals are exempt from it for a temporary residence application, as are other persons, for example applicants over 79 years of age and children under 14 years of age. They may need to be given again even if they are still valid, for example if they expire soon: IRCC cannot issue a work permit longer than the validity of the biometrics.
• Certified translations of documents that are neither in English nor in FrenchThe document list may include certified translations when the documents are not written in English or French.
• Proof of current immigration status in the country of submission, if the applicant is not a citizen of itConditions and details

  An applicant who is not a citizen of the country or territory from which they are submitting their application must send proof of their current immigration status in that country or territory.
• Family Information form (IMM 5707), marriage certificate or common-law union declaration (IMM 5409), depending on the situationConditions and details

  The document list may include the IMM 5707 Family Information form, a marriage certificate or the solemn declaration of common-law union (IMM 5409). The spouse, common-law partner and dependent children may be authorized to visit, study or work in Canada with the worker; IRCC suggests checking whether they need a visa or an eTA, a study permit or an open work permit.
• Forms IMM 5476 (use of a representative) and IMM 5475 (authorization to disclose information), if applicableConditions and details

  Form IMM 5476 is added only if the applicant uses an authorized representative. Form IMM 5475 is added only if the applicant authorizes the disclosure of information from their file to a person other than themselves.
• Documents specific to the visa office of the country of submission, displayed by indicating the country from which one is submitting the applicationConditions and details

  Depending on the country or territory from which one is submitting the application, the local visa office may require additional documents; the application page displays them after the country is selected, and some offices do not require any.
• Valid visitor visa, if a visa is required to travel to CanadaConditions and details

  Even when the work permit is approved, the worker who requires a visitor visa to travel must have it with them on arrival. A work permit exemption does not exempt from the visitor visa or, depending on nationality, from the electronic travel authorization.