How Much Does a Canada Visa Cost in 2026? (and How to Apply)

Editorial review: October 2026. Fees and rules change often. Always confirm on official sources before paying anything.

“How much does a Canada visa cost?” sounds simple, but the honest answer has three layers: the official fee, the mandatory costs that come with it and the expenses nobody puts in the spreadsheet.

This guide separates each one and walks through the application — so you do not pay twice or fall for a fake website.

The official fees

These are the amounts published by the Government of Canada:

Item	Amount	Note
Visitor visa (TRV)	CAN$100 per person	For visa-required nationalities
Biometrics	CAN$85 per person	Maximum CAN$170 for families applying together
eTA	CAN$7	Visa-exempt nationals, plus eligible citizens of some visa-required countries (e.g. Brazil, Mexico); air travel only
Family cap (visa)	CAN$500	For 5 or more family members applying together
Transit visa	No fee (biometrics included)	For travellers only passing through Canada

Biometrics exemptions that matter in practice: children under 14, applicants over 79, people applying only for an eTA, and those who already gave biometrics for a permanent residence application still in process.

The source is the IRCC biometrics page, which lists fees and exemptions. The visitor visa and eTA fees are on each document’s page.

The application, step by step

1. Find out which document applies. Visa or eTA? If unsure, use the official tool — the guide on eTA or visa explains the difference.
2. Create an IRCC account. The whole application is online, with document uploads.
3. Fill in the form. Nationality, personal details, travel history, purpose of visit. Consistency matters: mismatches between the form and documents are a common reason for refusal.
4. Pay the fees. Credit or debit card, in Canadian dollars. Keep the receipt.
5. Give biometrics. You receive an instruction letter with a deadline to attend a collection centre. Bring your passport and the letter.
6. Wait for the decision. Processing time varies; track it in the portal.
7. Send your passport if requested. In some cases the visa is issued as a counterfoil in the passport, which must be sent to the application centre.
8. Travel. Carry the passport with the visa, supporting documents and health insurance.

The costs that are not fees

This is where budgets blow up. Beyond government fees:

• Photos in the required format.
• Certified translations of documents not in English or French.
• Travel and accommodation to the biometrics centre, when there is none in your city.
• Collection centre service fee, charged separately by the operator.
• Health insurance for the trip.
• Medical exams, when required (some longer stays).
• Currency conversion and bank fees if you pay in another currency.

None of these is fixed, because they depend on your city, your documents and the operator. Be wary of anyone advertising a “fixed total cost”: what exists is a range.

Mistakes that cost money (and sometimes the visa)

• Applying on a site that is not the government’s. IRCC does not charge for “advice” or “priority booking”. Sites that charge CAN$100 and then add hundreds in “service fees” are common.
• Leaving biometrics for later. There is a deadline to attend; missing it can close the application.
• Buying flights before the decision. IRCC does not reimburse travel losses.
• Sending incomplete documents. Each application generates a personalized checklist; following it avoids additional requests that delay everything.
• Trusting a “guaranteed approval”. Nobody can guarantee a visa decision.

Is professional help worth it?

It depends. A relatively simple visitor application with organized documents is usually doable without an intermediary. Cases with a previous refusal, complex travel history or difficult documentation may benefit from a professional — as long as they are a CICC-regulated consultant or an immigration lawyer.

What is not worth it is paying for a “package” that promises an outcome. The government decides; nobody buys approval.

Read also: “How to Create an IRCC Account: 2026 Guide”

After approval

Visas are usually multiple-entry and can be valid for up to 10 years — but that is the document’s validity, not your stay. The border officer decides how long you can stay, usually up to 6 months per entry for visitors.

Having a visa does not guarantee entry. Carry proof of accommodation, return travel, funds and ties to your country. And remember: visitors cannot work or study.

Tools and further reading

• eTA or visa: who needs what — the guide to the two documents.
• How to immigrate to Canada — if your plan is to stay.
• Cost of living by city — to budget the trip realistically.
• How to apply for the Quebec CAQ — if you plan to study or work in Quebec.

If the application is refused

A visitor visa refusal has no formal appeal. What you can do is reapply, fixing the reason cited — and, to understand that reason, you can request the officer’s notes (GCMS notes) through an access to information request.

The most common refusal reasons are: documents that do not prove ties to your country, insufficient funds for the trip, inconsistent travel history and doubts about your return. Reapplying without changing anything usually produces the same result.

If you decide to reapply, wait until you have the missing documents, write a letter explaining what changed and pay the fees again — they are not reused.

Checklist before paying

Before clicking “pay”, confirm: a valid passport (with enough validity), photos in the required format, financial documents from recent months, proof of employment or study, accommodation, itinerary, an invitation letter (if any) and translations of documents not in English or French. Missing one item costs more than reviewing.

When to apply and how not to miss deadlines

The most common planning mistake is treating the visa as something you solve in a week. It is not.

Processing time varies by country, application type and season — and IRCC publishes a current estimate on its website. Use that estimate as a starting point, not a guarantee: it changes and does not account for the time you take to gather documents.

In practice, the timeline is usually: a few weeks to gather documents and translations, the processing time itself and, in some cases, a few more days to send and receive the passport back. If you have a fixed travel date, start at least two to three months ahead.

Biometrics have their own deadline: you receive an instruction letter and must attend within the period indicated. The good news is that collected biometrics stay valid for several years, so future applications may not need a new collection.

And one rule that prevents losses: do not buy flights or book non-refundable accommodation before the decision. If the visa is delayed or refused, the loss is yours — and the government will not reimburse it.

2026 immigration series

• eTA or visa: who needs what
• How to immigrate to Canada
• Work permit: open, closed and LMIA
• Express Entry 2026: CRS and categories
• Arrima and PSTQ 2026

Frequently asked questions

How much is a visitor visa?

CAN$100 per person plus CAN$85 biometrics. Families applying together pay at most CAN$170 in biometrics.

And an eTA?

CAN$7, no biometrics, air travel only. For visa-exempt nationals and eligible citizens of some visa-required countries.

Are fees refundable?

As a rule no: you pay for processing, even if refused. Biometrics are not refundable either.

Do I need an agent?

Not mandatory. If you hire one, check CICC regulation or a law licence — and beware of guaranteed approval.

How long does it take?

It varies by country and season. Check IRCC processing times before booking flights.

This content is informational and does not replace an individual assessment. For your situation, consult a CICC-regulated consultant or an immigration lawyer.