Canada Visa Requirements: What You Need to Apply

Updated: January 14, 2025 | By Online Visa Support

Planning to visit Canada? Some new announcements and Visa Requirements for Canada can be expected. Keep reading to learn more about the changes.

Canada has an aging demographic and a declining birth rate. This puts a lot of strain on the economy to provide social security to all its residents. This makes immigration a key point of Canada’s economic structure, the country being highly dependent on immigrants to keep the economy strong.

Introduction to Visa Requirements for Canada

Each year, IRCC, or Canada’s Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada designs an Immigration Levels Plan. This aims to assign a quantitative value to the number of immigrants that will be allowed to enter the country. In 2025, Canada aims to issue 395,000 new permanent resident visas, 232,150 of which will be on Economic grounds.

Alongside these, they also plan to approve visa applications for 673,650 temporary residents (Visitor Visas for students and workers). This includes:

International Mobility Program: 285,750

Temporary Foreign Worker Program: 82000

Students: 305,900

In contrast to its earlier immigration plans, Canada aims to reduce permanent resident visas issued by 21% in 2025. Further, 40% of new approvals for the permanent visa will come from the existing pool of temporary immigrants.

Types of Visas Available for Canada

No new visa categories have been introduced by the Canadian Government for 2025. Thus, the categories available will be:

Visitor Visa for Tourists: This is meant for people who aim to travel to Canada to visit its multiple tourist stops.

Study Permit: For students looking to study in Canada, an application for a Visitor Visa for Students is necessary.

Work Permit: The work permit (Visitor Visa for workers) allows people to live in Canada on a temporary basis for work. It can be issued either as an Employer work visa (ties you to a particular employer and location) or an Open work visa (offers the flexibility of location and employment switchovers).

Permanent Residency Visa: This visa option is meant for people planning to permanently migrate to Canada.

Key Visa Requirements for Canada

To apply for a visa to Canada in 2025, no new additions have been announced till date. However, it is best to keep an eye out for official announcements and treaties that can facilitate the visa process.

For now, the visa requirements for Canada can be explained as given below.

1. General Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Visitor Visa, the following are essential::

A valid passport (to serve as the travel document)
No prior criminal records or convictions
A certificate of good health (from a recent medical exam)
Proof of intention of leaving Canada
Sufficient funds for your stay in Canada

2. Required Documents for Canada Visa Application

In terms of documents, the visa requirements for Canada are:

Government ID
A valid passport
Refugee documents (if applicable)
A recent photo
Biometric details
Appointment letter (for work permit)
Enrolment letter (for student visa)
Labour Market Impact Assessment (if applicable)

3. Important Fees and Payment Details

The fees required to apply for a visa to Canada will depend on the visa category you have to opt for, the country whose passport you hold, and whether you need to get your biometrics taken.

Additionally, you will have to get a health check, that will involve some costs as well as medical insurance. You may also need travel insurance when visiting as a tourist.

Simple Steps to Apply for a Canada Visa

The steps for the application are as follows:

Visit the online visa portal
Go through the instructions given
Gather all necessary documents
Start working on your visa application
Fill in the entire form questionnaire
Upload supporting documents against the right entry fields
Go over the filled visa form to root out mistakes/typos.
Make corrections if necessary
Submit your visa form and proceed to the payment portal
Pay the application fee
Complete your application and await approval

In case you have to submit your biometric data, you will have to pay additional charges. Once you receive your BIL (Biometric Instruction Letter), you will have to schedule an appointment within 30 days. If the validity of the visa that you have opted for is greater than that of your biometric data, it is mandatory to get your biometrics renewed.

1. Online Application Process

One of the main focus areas for Canada visas is that the visa form and visa requirements for Canada are only available online. Thus, in most cases, it is mandatory to go online to file the application either through the facilitator site or the IRCC website.

However, facilitator sites offer seamless expedited services and detailed guidance to apply for the visa and address any issues that may come up.

2. In-Person Application Process

Unless you have certain physical limitations that bar you from applying online or a special case that needs to be considered by the embassy/ consulate, there is no option for an in-person application.

However, along with the online application, you may have to attend an interview at the consulate with respect to your visa application.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Canada Visa Application

Though it is human to make errors, visas and all other official forms need to be filled in with accuracy. For a timely approval, focus on the following:

1. Inaccurate Information and Documentation

To submit documents for the online visa form, it is best to first go through the visa requirements for Canada. Obtain each required document. Further, they should be scanned as per the specifications mentioned on your visa form.

To add, each document uploaded vis-à-vis the visa form should be true and accurate. Any mistakes in the documentation can delay your approval or lead to a cancellation.

2. Missing Deadlines

In case the visa option selected is not eTA, it can take several weeks to get approved. Hence, it is doubly important to meet visa requirements for Canada and submit the application as early as possible. Further, once approved, it is important to schedule the appointment for biometric data submission within 30 days.

It is important to maintain all deadlines since missing a deadline can lead to your application being canceled.

3. Underestimating Financial Proof Requirements

In order to travel abroad, whether to work, pursue your education, or have a vacation, it is important to prove to the visa officials that you have sufficient funds to support your stay. This includes a statement of liquid funds that you currently hold and credit card records that you will be using for your expenses.

If the visa officials are not satisfied with the documentation provided, you will be called for an interview. When applicants are unable to provide proper proof of finances, their applications are either withheld or denied.

Ensure a Successful Canada Visa Application

Since the Canadian government has not disclosed any changes in the application process that might be implemented in 2025, we will have to step into the new year keeping in mind the current visa requirements for Canada.

With the online visa application process, traveling to Canada is one step easier. Plan your travels, create an itinerary, apply early for your visa, and submit an accurate form for an on time approval against your visa application.

For queries, go through our visa guide and speak to our helpdesk.