Relatives from India, the Philippines, Pakistan, China and Nigeria need a visitor visa; relatives from the UK, the EU, Australia and other visa-exempt countries need only an eTA when flying; US citizens need neither. The visitor visa costs $100 plus $85 biometrics and was refused about 51% of the time in 2025. The eTA costs $7 and is usually approved within minutes. Neither requires insurance, and the timing rule is the same for both: buy the policy after approval and before the flight.
Which relatives need a visitor visa?
Citizens of visa-required countries, which is most of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. IRCC’s entry requirements page lists India, the Philippines, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Mexico among them. The visa is needed for any mode of travel, including by land from the US.
| Country of citizenship | Document needed | Fee (CAD) | Biometrics | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka | Visitor visa (TRV) | $100 | $85, or $170 family maximum | Up to 10 years or passport expiry |
| Philippines, Mexico | Visitor visa, or eTA if IRCC’s conditions are met and arriving by air | $100, or $7 for an eTA | $85 for the visa; none for an eTA | Up to 10 years; eTA up to 5 |
| UK, Ireland, all EU states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Norway, Switzerland | eTA when flying; passport only by land or sea | $7 | None | Up to 5 years or passport expiry |
| United States (citizens) | Passport or proof of citizenship | None | None | Not applicable |
| United States (lawful permanent residents) | Green card plus passport when flying; green card alone by land | None | None | Not applicable |
Fees from IRCC’s visitor visa page and eTA facts page. Biometrics are not required for applicants under 14 or over 79, per IRCC.
Which relatives need only an eTA?
Citizens of visa-exempt countries arriving by air. IRCC says “visa-exempt foreign nationals need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport,” and that they “do not need an eTA when arriving by car, bus, train or boat.” The eTA is linked to the passport and “valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.”
| eTA fact | IRCC wording |
|---|---|
| Cost | “An eTA costs CAD $7” |
| Approval time | “Most applicants get their eTA approval (via an email) within minutes” |
| If documents are requested | Instructions by email within 72 hours; can take several days |
| Length of each visit | “normally for up to six months at a time” |
| US citizens | “U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement” |
| Dual Canadian citizens | Need a Canadian passport, not an eTA |
What are the approval odds?
About half for the visitor visa, near certain for the eTA. IRCC’s briefing note to the parliamentary committee put the visitor visa refusal rate at 51% for 2025, 54% for 2024 and 39% for 2023, per Go Far Global’s summary. The super visa, by contrast, is approved 75 to 81% of the time. IRCC does not publish per-country rates.
| Route | Approval rate | Stay per visit | Insurance required by IRCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (TRV) | About 49% in 2025 (51% refused) | Normally up to 6 months | No |
| eTA | Not published; almost all approved within minutes | Normally up to 6 months | No |
| Super visa (parents and grandparents only) | 75 to 81% | Up to 5 years | Yes, $100,000 for 1 year |
For a parent, the approval gap is the strongest argument for the super visa. The decision guide sets the two routes side by side.
When should I buy insurance for each?
After the visa decision and before departure for a visa applicant; as soon as the flight is booked for an eTA holder. The policy must be in force on the arrival date to avoid a waiting period, and every carrier lets you move the start date before it begins.
| Step | Visitor visa applicant | eTA holder |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for the travel document | Online through the IRCC portal; give biometrics within the deadline in the instruction letter | Online, $7, usually approved in minutes |
| Wait for the decision | Weeks to months; check IRCC’s processing-time tool for the country | Minutes to 72 hours |
| Book the flight | After approval | After approval |
| Buy the insurance | After approval, before departure; effective date = arrival date | After booking, before departure; effective date = arrival date |
| If refused | Policy not yet bought; nothing to cancel. If bought early, send the IRCC letter for a full refund at most carriers | Rare; contact the carrier before the effective date |
Buying before the visa decision is possible and most carriers refund in full with the refusal letter, per the refunds page. It is simpler to wait, because the premium is per day and there is no price advantage to buying early.
Does either document require insurance?
No. IRCC’s visitor visa application page lists a passport, an invitation letter, travel history, an itinerary, bank statements and an employer letter as documents, and does not mention insurance. The eTA asks only for a passport, an email address and a payment card. The super visa is the only visitor category with an insurance condition.
The hospital does not read the visa. A non-resident on an Ontario ward is billed $3,750 a day at Niagara Health, with intensive care and physician fees on top. Insurance is optional for the application and necessary for the trip.
Country-specific pages
The rules differ by country of origin, and so do the common mistakes. Each page below covers the visa route, the home-country insurance gap and the carriers that suit the typical visitor.
| Visitor | Page |
|---|---|
| Americans crossing by car or flying in | US visitors |
| British and European relatives with an EHIC or GHIC | UK and European visitors |
| Parents and relatives from India | Indian visitors |
| Parents and relatives from the Philippines | Filipino visitors |
| Parents weighing a visitor visa against a super visa | Parents on a visitor visa |
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]). We serve Ontario residents; other provinces are planned for 2028. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
Which countries need a visitor visa for Canada?
India, the Philippines, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, Mexico and most of Asia, Africa and South America, per IRCC's entry requirements list. Some Filipino and Mexican citizens qualify for an eTA instead if they fly and meet IRCC's conditions. The visa costs $100 plus $85 biometrics and can be valid up to 10 years, with each visit normally up to six months.
Which countries need only an eTA?
The UK, every EU member state, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore and other visa-exempt countries, when arriving by air. The eTA costs $7, is linked to the passport, lasts up to five years or until the passport expires, and is usually approved by email within minutes. Arriving by car, bus, train or boat needs no eTA, only a passport.
Do US citizens need a visa or an eTA?
Neither. US citizens are exempt from the eTA and the visitor visa and need only proof of citizenship, ideally a passport. US lawful permanent residents are also exempt from the eTA but must carry a valid green card and, when flying, a passport from their country of nationality. Neither group has Canadian health coverage, so insurance still applies.
Does IRCC require insurance for a visitor visa or an eTA?
No. Neither application asks for insurance. The super visa is the only visitor category with an insurance condition: $100,000 for one year from a Canadian or OSFI-listed insurer. For a visitor visa or eTA, insurance is the family's choice, but a non-resident on an Ontario ward is billed about $3,750 to $4,005 a day.
When should I buy insurance for a visa applicant?
After approval and before the flight. Visitor visa approval ran about 50% in 2025, so buying before the decision risks a cancellation. Most carriers refund in full with the IRCC refusal letter, but it is simpler to wait. For an eTA holder, buy as soon as the flight is booked; the eTA itself is approved in minutes.
Can a relative on an eTA stay as long as one on a visitor visa?
Yes, normally up to six months per visit for both. The border officer sets the actual period and may stamp a shorter date. Both can apply for a visitor record from inside Canada to stay longer. The super visa, available only to parents and grandparents, allows up to five years per entry.
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Sources
- IRCC – Entry requirements by country (visa-required and eTA-required lists)
- IRCC – Apply for a visitor visa (fees $100 and $85; validity up to 10 years; documents)
- IRCC – eTA facts (CAD $7; up to 5 years; air only; US citizens exempt; six months per visit)
- IRCC – Apply for an eTA (approval within minutes; documents within 72 hours)
- IRCC – Biometrics facts (fees; exemptions under 14, over 79, eTA applicants)
- IRCC – Visitor record: about the document (most visitors can stay up to 6 months)
- Go Far Global – Visitor visa approval rate data (IRCC CIMM package, May 2026; 51% refusal in 2025)
- IRCC – Super visa: get the right documents (insurance condition)
- Niagara Health – 2026-27 non-resident rate schedule