Curious about how to apply for a Canada tourist visa in the Philippines hassle-free? Let me guide you through the essential steps and application requirements for obtaining your Canada tourist visa from the Philippines.
It was my first time getting a tourist visa from Canada, and it’s now done online through the newest IRCC portal website. I will share some tips and my experience. I hope it will increase your chances of a successful application.
First off, let’s discuss about:
What is a Canada Tourist Visa?
A Canada tourist visa or visitor visa allows individuals from the Philippines to visit Canada for tourism and leisure purposes. The visa is essential for those planning to explore Canada’s vibrant cities, picturesque landscapes, and cultural attractions.
Visa Validity and Conditions
A Canada visitor visa typically allows visitors to stay in the country for up to six months. However, the actual duration granted is at the discretion of the immigration officer. It’s important to adhere to the visa conditions, such as not working or studying during the visit period.
During my trip to Canada on a tourist visa, I made sure to respect the conditions set forth by immigration authorities. Exploring the spectacular views of Banff National Park and experiencing local foods made my visit truly memorable.
Canada Tourist Visa Requirements Checklist:
- Application Form IMM 5257 (this will be the form you’ll fill out online on the IRCC website)
- Passport (must be valid; I recommend close to 10-year validity since a Canada visa has 10-year validity)
- National ID or PhilID (optional, but I recommend it)
- Marriage Certificate (if married)
- Proof of Funds or Means of Financial Support:
- Bank Certificate (latest copy)
- Bank Statement (at least 6 months of account details, including balances)
- Certificate of Employment (if employed)
- Income Tax Return
- Proof of Assets (optional: Land Titles, ORCR, investments, etc.)
- If someone else is funding your trip, submit a letter from the person providing your funds with their bank certificate, ITR, or proof of financial status
- If self-employed:
- DTI / SEC Business Registration
- Mayor’s Permit
- ITR
- Travel History:
- Copy of previous passports with entry and exit stamps of your travel abroad within the last 10 years)
- Copy of expired and valid visas
- Supporting Documents:
- Travel itinerary – if you’re traveling as a tourist, attach a detailed itinerary of your stay in Canada
- Hotel reservations – it could support your application as it shows your accommodation in Canada
- Letter of Invitation – if you’re applying to visit a family member, submit a letter signed by your family member in Canada. Their PR card or tax document must also be attached to this letter.
- Use of a Representative (Form IMM 5476) – submit one if you’re applying for a visa on behalf of someone else (family member, friend, or third party)
- Authority to release personal information to a designated individual (IMM 5475) – submit and sign this form if you want to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to release your personal information to someone you choose (i.e.: your representative)
- Visa Processing Fee and Biometrics Payment:
- Visa Fee is 100 CAD per applicant
- Biometrics Fee is 85 CAD per applicant
Majority of credit cards are accepted, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Helpful Tips to Help Your Visa Application:
Gather all the applicable documents before you start an application online. Scan clear and colored copies of your documents and save the files on your computer. You will upload those files on your visa application. Follow these tips when uploading:
- IRCC Portal accepts these file formats: .jpg, .png, .doc, .docx, .tiff, .pdf
- The size of each file upload must not exceed 2 MB.
- You can only upload one file per requirement.
- For example, under the “Travel History” requirement, you may need multiple pages of your travel stamps and copies of visas. You must merge those pages and save them in one file before uploading.
- Likewise, under the “Proof of Funds” requirement, you may need to submit your bank certificate, bank statement, ITR, Land Title, etc., in one file.
- Ensure you submit all required documents per application.
If your documents are scanned and saved on file, then let’s proceed with how to get the visa.
How to Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa Online in the Philippines (Using the IRCC Portal)
1. Create an IRCC portal account and sign in
The IRCC portal is the new platform of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If this is your first time applying for a visa in Canada, sign up for an account. Otherwise, sign in and then accept the terms and conditions.
2. Start an application
Click the “Apply for a visitor visa.“
A new page will prepare your application to visit or study in Canada. Review the tips and acknowledge that you read and understand the information provided. Click the “Start application” button.
Note that you have 60 days to submit a complete application. After 60 days, the system will delete your information.
3. Set if you’re a Group or just one person
Indicate if you want to apply yourself and someone else (i.e., spouse, children, siblings) at the same time. Otherwise, tick off “No.” Save and continue.
4. Application for a visitor visa or study permit
Select the type of visa you want to apply. In this case, select “Visitor Visa or Super Visa.“
Indicate your purpose and why you need a visa.
If you’re applying for a tourist visa, select “to visit Canada as a tourist.“
If you want to visit a family member, relatives, common-law partner, children, etc., select the appropriate purpose for your visit.
Your answers in this section (number 4) will determine the required documents for your visa application. So, answer correctly and honestly.
Provide brief information about what you’ll do in Canada. This section only allows 475 characters. Thus, be straightforward.
Set the dates when you will enter and leave Canada.
Type your UCI (Unique client identifier) in the box. If this is your first time applying to IRCC, skip this.
5. Indicate if you are a representative
Are you applying on behalf of someone else? Then answer “Yes”; otherwise, choose “no” if you’re only applying for yourself.
6. Provide your personal details
The following sections are about your personal details, such as your surname, first name, birth date, gender, travel document (passport information), citizenship, national identity document, names used in the past, contact details, and countries or territories where you’ve lived for the past 5 years for more than 6 months.
You will also be asked if you have a valid national identity document. Filipino citizens now have national ID, also known as PhilID. If you have one, you can provide its document number, 16-digit number found at the front of the ID.
7. Biometrics and fingerprints validity
Applicants’ biometrics (fingerprints and photos) are required for visa applications to Canada. They have a validity of 10 years, so we only need to provide them once every 10 years. Answer yes or no if you have already had your biometrics taken.
8. Provide details about your travel funds
Indicate how much money you have for your stay in Canada (in CAD). Your budget must justify your trip, depending on how many days you stay in Canada.
Then, answer whether someone else is giving you money for your trip. If your answer is yes, mention the details. There is no need to write the details if your trip is self-funded,
9. Provide the details about your education and employment
In this section, you must answer whether you ever studied at a post-secondary school (university, college, or vocational school). You don’t need to have completed a degree or diploma. If you answer yes, enter the required information.
It’s helpful to check your Transcript of Records (TOR) or diploma before answering the details in this section.
Afterward, provide details about your employment for the last 10 years. Be accurate and honest even if you have retired or been unemployed.
10. Provide your travel history
Answer whether you have traveled to a country or territory outside your present country or residence in the past five years. If yes, provide the details for each country, including the dates, location, and purpose of travel.
The next section is about whether you have stayed in Canada beyond the validity of your status, attended school, or worked in Canada without authorization.
Also, indicate if you have been refused a visa or permit, denied entry, or ordered to leave any country or territory. If yes, explain nicely what happened and why.
11. Answer the security and medical background questions
This section concerns criminality and security checks, so read each question correctly. Then, answer each question truthfully. Likewise, you need to answer each the medical background question.
If you had a medical exam performed by an IRCC-authorized physician within the last 12 months, provide your IME or UMI number. Otherwise, answer no.
12. Provide your family information
Simply answer each question about your family background, including your current marital status, children, and parents. Do tell if they are traveling with you to Canada.
13. Provide your contact information
This section will ask about your native language or mother tongue, the language you want to use to communicate with IRCC, your email address, and your phone number.
14. Review the summary of your application
The next page will display a summary of your application. Review and check each section. You can edit or change anything as long as you don’t submit your application yet. When you are one hundred percent sure of your answers, you can proceed to submit your application.
15. Upload your supporting documents
The next section will require you to upload the requested documents. They are based on what you applied for and how you answered the questions on your application. You need to upload all documents requested by the IRCC in your visa application. Again the requirements are different per individual’s status.
There is a size limit of 2MB per file. For example, if you have 5 documents to submit, each file must be a maximum of 2MB. The accepted file formats are .tiff, .jpg, .png, .doc, .docx, and .pdf.
If you need to submit multiple documents in one file, merge them so the file doesn’t exceed the 2MB limit. For safety reasons, I use the paid version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to compress my documents and reduce their size. There is a free trial, which you can check out.
16. Pay the application fee
After your document submission, it’s time to pay your visa processing fee and biometrics. The visa fee is 100 CAD, and the biometric fee is 85 CAD. You can pay using a credit card.
17. Consent and Declaration
After successfully paying for your visa application, you’ll be taken to the Consent and Declaration page. Read the information carefully and type your name to sign the declaration. Doing that will complete the submission of your application.
18. Wait for an email confirmation from IRCC
IRCC will email you whenever there is an update regarding your visa application. The next message you will receive is a confirmation that the IRCC has received your application. Then, you will receive instructions for your biometrics.
19. Have your biometrics taken at the VAC (Visa Application Center)
Print the Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) sent by the IRCC. Then, set an appointment at the Visa Application Center in the Philippines (addresses are listed below). You can set an appointment online. You have 30 days to submit your biometrics, so you must schedule an appointment soon.
Canada Visa Application Center in the Philippines Address:
Manila:
VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.,
29th Floor, The World Center Bldg,
330 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
Cebu:
VFS Services Phils. Pvt. Inc.,
9th Floor Unit 905 Kepwealth Center,
Samar Loop Cor. Cardinal Rosales Ave.,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
How to Submit Your Biometrics?
- Book an appointment online at the VFS Global (Canada VAC in the Philippines)
- You will receive an appointment letter from the VAC and a consent form. Print them out and bring them with your BIL (Biometrics Instruction Letter) and passport.
- Come to the VAC (Visa Application Center) 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
- Wait for your queue number. Have your fingerprints and photos taken.
- IRCC will send you a letter confirming the validity of your biometrics submission. Keep a copy of that letter for future reference.
20. Wait for your Passport Request
After collecting biometrics, the IRCC will send you a Passport Request letter and a message that your visa application is approved. You must set another Passport Submission appointment at the VAC (Visa Application Center).
How to submit your passport?
Congratulations! If your Canada visitor visa has been approved, you can submit your passport to the VAC via courier service or in person.
In-person:
As usual, arrive at the VAC 15 minutes before your appointment time. Bring your valid passport, passport request letter from the IRCC, and the Visa Application consent form sent by the VAC. You may need to pay a small service charge for package transmission.
The VAC will issue a receipt based on the additional services you have used at the VAC. Your receipt will also contain your application reference number and tracking number, which you can use to track the progress of your passport online. Keep that receipt because you will use it when collecting your passport.
By courier:
If you cannot attend personally to submit your passport, you can opt to submit it using a courier service. When using a courier service, ensure that you follow all the instructions the Visa Application Center sets. The complete instructions are posted here: Send Passport by Mail.
21. Receive your passport with visa
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. The VAC will email you regarding the collection of your passport. You can collect it in person, use a representative, or by courier.
FAQ About Canada Tourist Visa Application for Filipino Citizens:
How long is the processing time for a Canada tourist visa in the Philippines?
Depending on the submission of the online application, biometrics appointment, and visa approval, an average visitor visa is issued in 5 to 7 working days.
I have an existing United States visa; do I still need a tourist visa to visit Canada?
If you currently have a valid US nonimmigrant visa, you can apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa to Canada. You must also meet these requirements: you’re coming to Canada temporarily (up to 6 months) and traveling to Canada by air.
I’m a Philippine passport holder with an expired Canada visitor visa. Can I apply for eTA?
Yes, if you meet these requirements:
- You’ve held a Canadian visitor visa or temporary resident visa in the past 10 years
- You’re traveling to Canada for a temporary visit (up to 6 months)
- You’re flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport using your valid passport
Watch my travel vlog in Canada here: Exploring Banff National Park in Canada
That’s all for sharing my experience applying for a tourist visa. The new IRCC portal is very straightforward. Applying for a visa is truly simple and easy to do. Don’t get scared, you can do it and successfully be granted a visa. Be honest always.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered professional immigration advice. It is based on personal experience and might not relate to everyone’s case. Seek an immigration expert if you’re uncertain about your application.
