Verify that you need a tourist visa to visit Canada. Not all people need visas to enter Canada, depending on the nation of your citizenship, you may be exempt from applying a visa. Americans do not need a visa to enter, only a passport or enhanced driver's license (for return purposes). Other nations that are visa exempt include:
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Western Samoa and all European Union member states.
Legal Permanent Residents in the United States, whether of a nationality listed above or not, do not require a visa for visiting Canada as long as they can prove their legal U.S. residency.
Obtain a visa application packet if you are a citizen of a nation not listed above and do not hold legal permanent residency in the U.S. This can be done either in your home country or while temporarily visiting the U.S.. All application packets must be downloaded and printed from the website of the Citizenship and Immigration of Canada bureau (cic.gc.ca).
Complete the application form legibly in black ink and gather the needed supplemental documentation. Required documents that must accompany the application form include; a valid passport, 2 color passport size photographs, proof of financial stability (such as printed bank statements), an itinerary of travel whether by car or plane, names and addresses of Canadian hosts or invitation from friends, hotel reservation, and any other document (such as a letter of employment) that may help support the nature and length of your trip to Canada. Depending on the country in which you apply through, the Canadian consulate may require extra documents. Check the website of the specific Canadian Embassy or consulate to verify.
Place the application form along with all needed documents inside of a secure mailing envelope. Include also the non-refundable application fee of either $75 Canadian dollars for a single visit or $150 for multiple entries. If paying in a foreign country with foreign currency, the cost fluctuate based on whatever the current conversion rate is between the Canadian dollar. Each consulate has its own policies on the type of payment accepted (i.e. cash or check), so check the website in your country or region to verify.
Send your application package to the nearest consulate, commission or embassy of Canada . To discover your nearest agency, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website under "Find a CIC Office."
