Letter of invitation for a Canadian visitor visa

Inviting family or friends to visit you in Canada? A letter of invitation can support their visitor visa application. Here’s what the letter is, exactly what it should include, and how to get it notarized online in minutes, wherever you live in Canada.

What is a letter of invitation?

A letter of invitation is written by someone living in Canada to invite a visitor. Your visitor sends it with their temporary resident visa (visitor visa) application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It helps the visa officer understand who your visitor is, why they’re coming and where they’ll stay.

A letter of invitation doesn’t guarantee a visa. The visa officer still decides whether your visitor meets Canada’s requirements.

What to include about your visitor

• Full name and date of birth
• Address and telephone number
• Your relationship to them
• The purpose of the trip
• How long they plan to stay
• Where they’ll stay and how they’ll pay for their expenses
• The date they plan to leave Canada

What to include about you, the host

• Full name and date of birth
• Your address and telephone number in Canada
• Your job title
• Whether you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, with a photocopy of proof of status (for example a birth certificate, citizenship card, PR card, IMM 1000 or Indian status card)
• Details about your household, including the names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants

Write the letter yourself and be truthful. You aren’t legally responsible for your visitor once they arrive, but you should follow through on what you promise in the letter.

Inviting a parent or grandparent (super visa)

If your parent or grandparent is applying for a super visa, your letter must also include:

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

Do you need to notarize it?

IRCC doesn’t require a letter of invitation to be notarized. Many hosts still choose to notarize it, because it confirms who signed the letter and adds credibility to the application.

How to notarize your letter of invitation online

With Notaring, you can do it from home in three steps:

1. Book a time that suits you and upload your letter and a valid photo ID.
2. Meet a notary on a secure two-way video call from your phone, tablet or computer.
3. Sign electronically. The notary applies their digital seal and you download your notarized letter right away.

Notarization starts at $20. Book your appointment and send your visitor their letter the same day.

Frequently asked questions

Does a notarized letter guarantee the visa?

No. Notarizing confirms who signed the letter, but the visa officer makes the final decision on the application.

Can I sign from anywhere in Canada?

Yes. A letter of invitation goes to IRCC, a federal department, not to a provincial office, so you can have it notarized with us wherever you live in Canada.

Can two hosts sign the same letter?

Yes. If you and your spouse are both inviting your visitor, you can each join the same secure video call from wherever you are, using the same link.

What should I send with the letter?

Include a photocopy of your proof of status in Canada, such as your citizenship card, PR card or birth certificate. For a super visa, your visitor will also need the documents IRCC lists for that application.

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Write a letter of invitation.