Canada Visitor Visa Invitation Letter: Format and Contents

Your host in Canada writes the letter in their own words; IRCC has no required template. IRCC asks it to give the visitor's full name, date of birth, address and phone number, your relationship, the purpose and length of the trip, where they will stay and how they will pay for things, and when they will leave. A letter supports the application; it never guarantees a visa.

Read IRCC’s letter of invitation page

Last verified: November 2026

$100
IRCC’s fee for the visitor visa (TRV) the letter supports, per person
$85
Biometrics for a visitor visa, per person, where required
about 5 weeks
IRCC’s published wait for a visitor visa applied for outside Canada, which varies by country

IRCC sets these fees. The Fee Calculator totals the cost for your group.

Who writes a Canada visitor invitation letter?

An invitation letter (also called a letter of invitation) is a document written by a person in Canada, a Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, a permanent resident or a temporary resident, inviting a foreign national to visit. IRCC says you must write the letter yourself and write it in good faith.

IRCC does not require a specific form or template, and its list of what the letter should contain is only a guide. A letter can support many visitor visa applications by corroborating the relationship, purpose, and any financial support. Some details can vary by visa office, so confirm current requirements on canada.ca.

The rule

Writing a letter of invitation does not make you legally responsible for the visitor once they are in Canada.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on canada.ca

When does IRCC ask for an invitation letter?

When IRCC expects one: IRCC says that sometimes, when you apply for a visa to visit Canada, it asks for a letter of invitation from someone in Canada. For some reasons for visiting, its application page says you must include a letter from the person or business inviting you, with proof of your relationship to a family member who invites you.
When it is optional: IRCC says it asks for a letter of invitation sometimes, not every time. For a business visit, its application page lists a letter from the business or company in Canada. For a tourist, its recommended documents include an itinerary: flight details, proof of accommodation or registration for an event.

What does IRCC ask the letter to include?

About the visitor, IRCC asks for:

Their complete name, date of birth, address and telephone number
Your relationship to them
The purpose of the trip
How long they plan to stay
Where they will stay and how they will pay for things
When they plan to leave Canada

About you, the host, it asks for:

Your complete name, date of birth, address and telephone number in Canada
Your job title
Whether you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
A photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada
Details of your family, such as the names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants

A promise of financial support and the number of people in your family size are asked only in a letter for the super visa.

What proof of status does the host attach?

The host attaches a photocopy of a document proving their status in Canada. IRCC names a Canadian birth certificate or citizenship card (citizen), a PR card or IMM 1000 proof of landing (permanent resident) and a status card; a temporary resident can copy their work or study permit.

Does an invitation letter decide the visa?

No. An invitation letter is one piece of a broader application, and an officer decides. IRCC says only that it sometimes asks for a letter, and that a letter does not guarantee a visa.

An applicant with no demonstrable ties to their home country and insufficient funds can still be refused with a good invitation letter.

Which free tool checks your own case?

Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.

What do people ask?

Is there a sample or template for a Canada visitor visa invitation letter?

No official one. IRCC publishes a list of what the letter should contain, but says it is only a guide and the host must write the letter in their own words.

What are the requirements for a Canada visitor visa invitation letter?

IRCC asks for the visitor's full name, date of birth, address and phone number, the host's relationship to them, the purpose of the trip, how long they plan to stay, where they will stay and how they will pay for things, and when they plan to leave. The host adds their own name, date of birth, address and phone number in Canada, job title, status in Canada and family details, and attaches a photocopy of proof of status. The Proof of Funds for a Visitor Visa guide covers the visitor's own financial documents.

Does a Canada visitor visa invitation letter need to be notarized?

IRCC's letter of invitation page does not ask for a notarized letter. A visa office can still ask for more documents, so follow any instruction IRCC sends. The Visitor Visa Canada guide explains the application the letter goes into.

What should an invitation letter for parents include?

The same information as any letter, plus proof of the family link, such as a birth certificate. For a regular visitor visa, the letter is supporting evidence. For the parent and grandparent super visa, IRCC sets mandatory rules: a signed letter from the child or grandchild with a promise of financial support, proof the host meets the minimum necessary income, the list and number of people in the family size, and medical insurance. The Super Visa Income Requirements 2026 guide covers the income test.

Can a friend or sibling write a Canada visitor visa invitation letter?

Yes. IRCC says the letter comes from someone in Canada; its application page lists a family member's status as a Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, a permanent resident or a temporary resident in Canada. The letter should state the relationship. A temporary resident should attach a copy of the document proving their status, such as their permit. The Visitor Visa Canada guide covers the full application.

Does an invitation letter guarantee the visa will be approved?

No. An invitation letter is supporting evidence: it backs up the stated purpose and the host relationship. The officer decides on the whole application, including the visitor's own funds, ties to their home country, travel history and admissibility. A strong letter cannot fix a weak application, and IRCC says a letter of invitation does not guarantee that it will issue a visa. The Visitor Visa Refused guide explains the common refusal reasons.

Does writing an invitation letter make me legally responsible for the visitor?

No. IRCC states that writing a letter of invitation does not make you legally responsible for the visitor once they are in Canada. You must still write it in good faith, tell the truth, and intend to keep any promise in it, such as covering accommodation. False information puts the visitor at risk: under IRPA s.40, a foreign national can be inadmissible for five years for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts. The section applies to permanent residents and foreign nationals, not to a Canadian citizen host. The Admissibility Explorer shows how it reads.

Does the invitation letter need to be in English or French?

Yes, unless IRCC tells you otherwise: all supporting documents must be in English or French. A letter in another language must come with the English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, and a certified photocopy of the original. The Document Checklist tool lists the other papers for the visitor visa application.

Part of:Visiting Canada

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.