Canada Visitor Visa Application Fees and Extra Costs
Canada visitor visa costs can go beyond the official IRCC application fee. In addition to biometrics, some applicants may pay Visa Application Centre service charges, passport transmission or courier fees, translation costs, photo costs, medical exam fees, or currency conversion charges. Some applicants choose professional support to review eligibility, prepare forms, organize supporting documents, address previous refusals, or check the application before submission, but those fees are separate from IRCC’s government charges. Because fees and payment instructions can change, applicants should confirm the latest information on IRCC’s official pages before submitting a Canada visitor visa application.
IRCC Government Fees for a Canada Visitor Visa
The visitor visa fee charged by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the official application fee for a temporary resident visa. This fee applies to foreign nationals who need a visitor visa to enter Canada as visitors. The same fee applies whether IRCC issues a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, and IRCC decides which type of visa to issue based on the application. Some travellers may need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa, depending on their passport and how they travel to Canada.
VISITOR VISA FEES
- Visitor visa application fee: $100 CAD per person
- Visitor visa family fee: $500 CAD for a family of five or more applying at the same time and place
- Biometrics fee: $85 CAD per person, if required
- Family biometrics fee: $170 CAD for a family of two or more applying at the same time
Total with biometrics: $185 CAD per person
The $500 CAD family fee is a maximum visitor visa application fee for a family of five or more people applying together. It is not a separate $500 fee for each person, and it does not include biometrics. If biometrics are required, the family biometrics maximum may apply separately. To qualify for the family maximum, the family members must apply at the same time and place.
A visitor visa fee is different from the fee to extend visitor status in Canada. If a person is already in Canada and applies to extend their stay as a visitor, the current visitor record fee is $100 CAD per person. If a person’s status expires and they need to restore visitor status, the restoration fee is $246.25 CAD, with no separate visitor visa fee required for restoration. A Temporary Resident Visa from inside Canada is also separate from extending visitor status; it applies to eligible temporary residents in Canada who need a valid visa to leave Canada and return. Visitor visa fees are for temporary residence; people applying to immigrate to Canada must follow separate permanent residence programs and fee rules.
BIOMETRICS FEES
For visitor visa applications, biometrics refers to the fingerprint and photo information IRCC uses to help confirm an applicant’s identity. Most temporary residence applicants need to give biometrics unless an exemption applies, such as because of the applicant’s age or immigration situation. If biometrics are required, the fee is $85 CAD per person or $170 CAD for a family of two or more applying at the same time.
Temporary residence biometrics are usually valid for 10 years. If an applicant already gave biometrics for a previous visitor visa, study permit, work permit, or other temporary residence application, valid biometrics may be attached automatically to the new application. For visitor visas, the visa validity may be limited by the expiry date of the applicant’s passport or biometrics. Applicants with expired or soon-expiring biometrics should check IRCC’s biometrics validity tool and follow IRCC instructions if new biometrics are required.
DO CANADA VISITOR VISA FEES VARY BY COUNTRY?
The official Canada visitor visa application fee is the same no matter where the applicant applies from. IRCC lists visitor visa fees in Canadian dollars, so the amount paid in local currency can change because of exchange rates, card provider charges, bank fees, and currency conversion costs.
Country-specific costs usually come from services outside the IRCC application fee. Depending on where the applicant applies from, they may need to pay Visa Application Centre service charges, passport transmission or courier fees, local taxes, translation or notary costs, medical exam fees, or other service-provider charges.
There is usually no separate Canadian embassy or consulate fee in addition to the IRCC visitor visa application fee. VAC fees, courier charges, translation costs, medical exam fees, and professional fees are separate costs applicants may pay to other service providers during the application process.
How to Pay Canada Visitor Visa Fees Online
Canada visitor visa fees are usually paid online during the application process. In some situations, applicants may use IRCC’s online payment system separately, such as when paying a fee for a paper application, paying an additional fee after submission, or paying a fee that IRCC requests later. Payment options can depend on the fee type, how the application is submitted, and where the applicant is paying from.
Applicants should choose the correct temporary residence fee category when paying visitor visa fees, sometimes referred to as processing fees, through IRCC’s online payment system. The fee selected should match the application type, the number of applicants, and the biometrics requirement.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY ONLINE
- A valid email address
- An accepted credit card, prepaid card, or debit card
- The correct temporary residence fee category
- The correct number of visitor visa applicants
- The biometrics fee, if biometrics are required
- Access to save or print the payment receipt
IRCC accepts credit cards, prepaid cards, and debit cards. Accepted card brands include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Visa Debit, and Debit MasterCard. The payment card does not have to be in the applicant’s name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt, but it does not need to match the application. Some online card payments may require 3-D Secure confirmation through the card issuer. If a payment is refused, applicants may need to contact their bank or card provider, check whether online international payments are allowed, or use another accepted card.
PAYMENT STEPS
- Select the temporary residence fee category
- Choose the visitor visa fee if applying for a TRV
- Enter the number of applicants
- Add the biometrics fee if required
- Review the total before paying
- Complete payment through the online system
- Save the receipt after payment
- Review the visitor visa document checklist to confirm whether the receipt or other payment proof must be included.
Paying the correct amount helps avoid delays, but it does not guarantee faster visitor visa processing times. If the application fee, biometrics fee, or number of applicants is entered incorrectly, IRCC may ask for the missing amount or require the applicant to correct the payment before processing can continue. If more than one payment is made, all receipts should be kept together.
If the biometrics fee or another required fee was not paid when the application was submitted, the applicant may need to pay it separately and provide proof of payment before processing can continue. Applicants who paid the wrong fee, overpaid, or paid twice should follow IRCC’s payment or refund instructions for their situation and keep all receipts with their application records.
Third-Party Costs for a Canada Visitor Visa
IRCC government fees are only part of the total cost of a Canada visitor visa application. Some applicants also pay third-party costs depending on where they apply from, how they submit their passport, which documents they need, and whether IRCC asks for additional steps after submission.
COMMON THIRD-PARTY COSTS MAY INCLUDE:
- Visa Application Centre service charges — VAC fees vary by country, service provider, local tax rules, and service type. These are separate from IRCC government fees.
- Passport transmission or courier fees — these may apply if the applicant must submit a passport after approval or use courier return services.
- Translation, affidavit, or certified copy costs — documents that are not in English or French may need certified translation or formal supporting paperwork.
- Photos, printing, scanning, and document preparation — these are not IRCC application fees but may still affect the total cost of preparing the application.
- Medical exam costs, if requested — not every visitor visa applicant needs a medical exam, but if IRCC requests one, the applicant pays the panel physician directly.
- Bank or currency conversion charges — these may apply when paying from outside Canada or using a card issued in another currency.
Third-party costs are not fixed in the same way as IRCC’s Canadian-dollar fee. To estimate the total cost before applying, applicants should check the local Visa Application Centre website, confirm prices directly with any service providers they plan to use, and review possible card, bank, or currency conversion charges before making payments.
Third-party costs should not be confused with the application fee itself. The IRCC visitor visa fee is the official government charge. VAC fees, courier charges, translation costs, medical exam fees, and representative fees are separate costs paid to other service providers.
A parent or grandparent applying for a regular visitor visa pays the same visitor visa government fee as other applicants. A super visa uses the same visitor visa application fee, but it has separate requirements, including medical insurance and financial support rules, that can affect the overall cost.
Professional Fees for Canada Visitor Visa Applications
Professional help is optional for a Canada visitor visa application, and many applicants choose to prepare and submit the application on their own. Because visitor visa rules are part of Canadian immigration law, professional support can help with eligibility review, forms, supporting documents, a purpose-of-travel letter, proof of funds for a visit, family ties, previous visitor visa refusals, application preparation, submission review, and post-submission follow-up.
Professional fees are separate from IRCC government fees and third-party costs such as Visa Application Centre charges, courier fees, translations, certified copies, photos, medical exams, and other outside expenses.
Booking a visitor visa consultation can be a helpful first step for applicants who want guidance before choosing a visitor visa package. A consultation or eligibility assessment can clarify the applicant’s situation, required documents, possible concerns, and overall strategy before moving forward. Consultation and assessment services range from $50 to $200, depending on the type of appointment booked. In eligible cases, the initial consultation fee may be credited toward the Full Package or the Do It Yourself Package.
The Full Package ($2,000) is intended for applicants who want support with the complete application from start to finish. It is the most comprehensive option and is best suited for applicants who want help with overall strategy, forms, supporting documents, submission, and follow-up after the application is filed.
The Do It Yourself Package ($1,200) is designed for applicants who want to prepare the application themselves while still receiving professional guidance and review. It is best suited for applicants who want more control over the preparation and overall application process, while still receiving structured support and professional feedback before submission.
The Peace of Mind Package ($650) is intended for applicants who have already prepared most of the application and want a professional review before submitting it. This option is generally best for applicants who want a final check of their package, documents, and overall presentation before filing.
Taxes, IRCC government fees, biometrics fees, Visa Application Centre charges, courier fees, translations, medical exams, and other third-party costs are not included.
