Checked September 25, 2026. A Canada visitor visa invitation letter explains who is inviting the traveller, why the visit is planned, where the traveller will stay and how the trip will be paid for. It is supporting evidence, not a visa, sponsorship approval or guarantee. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may ask for one in a visitor visa application.
The host writes it; the visitor submits it
The person in Canada should write the letter truthfully and send it to the visitor. The visitor includes it with the temporary resident visa application when requested. A convincing letter is specific and consistent with the visitor’s itinerary, finances and other evidence. It should not claim that the host controls the decision or promises that the visitor will be admitted. See IRCC’s invitation-letter guidance for the official information list.
Include the visitor’s details and the actual plan
Identify the visitor by full name, date of birth, address and telephone number. Explain the relationship to the host, the purpose of travel and the planned length of stay. State where the visitor expects to stay, how accommodation and daily costs will be covered, and the intended departure date. If dates are tentative, say so rather than inventing confirmed flights or bookings. The details should match the visitor’s application; a letter saying two weeks while the application describes six months invites an avoidable question.
Identify the host by full name, date of birth, Canadian address and telephone number, job title and citizenship or permanent-resident status. IRCC asks for a copy of suitable proof of status, such as a Canadian passport or citizenship document, permanent resident card, or other accepted record. Include the host’s family details requested in the guidance. Use secure document sharing and remove unnecessary personal data from any public version of the letter.
Who pays? Make the answer clear
There is no single arrangement that fits every visit. If the visitor pays for flights and personal expenses while staying in the host’s spare room, say exactly that. If the host pays for particular costs, name them and ensure the financial evidence is consistent. A vague sentence such as “I will sponsor everything” can be less useful than a precise description of lodging, meals and travel expenses. Do not offer support the host cannot actually provide.
Illustrative structure, not a required government form: “I, [host’s full name], living at [Canadian address], invite [visitor’s full name and date of birth], my [relationship], to visit from approximately [date] to [date] for [purpose]. They will stay at [address]. [Person] will pay for [specified expenses]. We expect the visitor to leave Canada on or about [date]. My contact details and status evidence are enclosed.” Replace placeholders with real facts and add the other personal details IRCC requests. Never submit the sample wording unchanged.
A normal visitor letter is not a super visa letter
A letter inviting a parent or grandparent under the super visa has extra requirements, including a promise of financial support for the visit and a family-size list used for the income calculation. Do not copy the ordinary visitor template into a super visa application without those additions. A regular visitor visa likewise has its own eligibility assessment and may require other evidence. Review the official visitor visa route before assembling the full application.
Final consistency check before sending
- Are names and dates identical to passports and application forms?
- Do the purpose, dates, destination and address agree across the documents?
- Is the financial arrangement realistic and supported where needed?
- Has the host included status evidence and current contact details?
- Does the letter avoid false promises about approval or legal responsibility?
IRCC explicitly says a letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa. The officer evaluates the traveller against Canadian immigration requirements. Treat the letter as one clear piece of a truthful application, not as a substitute for the applicant’s own evidence.
GlobalVisora is an independent information platform. Check the latest IRCC instructions for the applicant’s location and circumstances.