Letter of invitation for visitors to Canada

Sometimes, when you apply for a visa to visit Canada, we ask you to give us a letter of invitation from someone in Canada. A letter of invitation doesn’t guarantee that we’ll issue a visa. Visa officers assess you to decide whether you meet the terms of Canada’s immigration law.

Information for the person writing the letter of invitation

• complete name
• date of birth
• address and telephone number
• your relationship to the person
• the purpose of the trip
• how long the person plans to stay in Canada
• where the person will stay, and how he or she will pay for things
• when the person plans to leave Canada

You should include this information about yourself:

• complete name
• date of birth
• address and telephone number in Canada
• job title
• whether you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• a photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada, such as
  • a Canadian birth certificate, if you were born in Canada
  • a Canadian citizenship card, if you are a naturalized citizen
  • a copy of your PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing (if you are a permanent resident)
  • a Secure Certificate of Indian Status or Certificate of Indian Status (status card)

  Your letter of invitation for your parent or grandparent must include

  • a promise of financial support for the duration of their visit
  • the list and number of people included in the family size calculation

  This information is only a guide. You must write the letter of invitation yourself.