Holders of a foreign passport with either require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. To find out if you need a TRV or eTA to travel to Canada, please click here. Entry requirements by country or territory can be found here.
Visa Processing Times
The processing times for visa applications posted online are historical, meaning they’re measured based on how long it took to process 80% of applications in the past six to eight weeks. As a result, processing times maybe different than those posted online at the time of application submission. Participants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible ahead of their departure date to allow sufficient time for their application to be processed and if approved, subsequent visa issuance in their passport.
- If you require an eTA, please click here. You will fill out the online form, pay the fee and receive your authorization by email. That ETA will then be linked to the passport you applied with.
- If you require a TRV, you must apply online through the IRCC Secure Network. Please see those instructions below.
How to Apply for a Temporary Resident Visa
- Apply for your visitors visa through your IRCC secure account. You will be prompted to either sign in using your GCKey user ID and password, or through a Sign-in partner. If you don’t already have an account, you can create one by clicking “Register” under the “Don’t have an account?” section.
- Once signed in, you’ll click “Apply to come to Canada” to start the application process. For business travel, select “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit” and then select “Other” as the main purpose of your visit. IMPORTANT NOTE: Tag your visa application with the special event code for the 2026 IEEE PES General Meeting. The special event code will be provided to you once your registration has been fully processed. On the visa application form, in the “Details of Visit to Canada” section, select “Other” for box 1a and then enter the special event code in box 1b.
- If you are required to complete biometrics, you will be issued a Biometrics Instructions Letter (BIL) which must be done for your visa application to be processed. Please schedule your appointment as soon as you receive your BIL.For information on whether or not you must provide biometrics, please refer to the Fast Facts About Biometrics.
- Once your application is approved, you’ll be instructed to submit your passport to a visa application center where your visitor visa will be inserted into your passport. This must be done before you travel to Canada. NOTE: You will not be able to enter Canada without having your visa affixed to your passport.
Paper Application (IMM 5257)
You are invited to submit a paper application only if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You cannot apply online because of a disability
- You are traveling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen
Read the instruction guide for details on how to apply by paper. Select your country or territory from the drop down menu for instructions on how to prepare and submit your application to your local visa office. Need help? Refer to the guide for information on how to complete your application (IMM 5257). For further assistance, see the Help Center or submit an inquiry via the web form.