Planning a trip to Montréal, Québec City or another destination in Québec? Learn whether you need a Canadian visitor visa or eTA, what documents you need, how much it costs, how to apply and how long you can stay.
The first step before planning a trip to Québec is determining what travel document you need to enter Canada. The requirement depends primarily on your nationality, passport, travel document and method of travel.
Most international visitors fall into one of three broad categories:
The Canadian government's official entry-requirements checker should always be used before booking your trip because the rules are based on the passport and circumstances of the traveller.
If you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country and are flying to Montréal or Québec City, you will generally need an eTA rather than a visitor visa. If your nationality is visa-required, you generally need a Canadian visitor visa.
A common search term is "Québec tourist visa," but technically the visitor visa is issued by the Government of Canada, not by the Québec government.
Québec is a province of Canada and does not issue its own tourist visa for international visitors. Therefore, someone travelling from France, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, China, Morocco, Brazil or another country must determine the Canadian entry requirements that apply to their passport.
| Traveller | Typical document for Québec visit |
|---|---|
| Visa-exempt foreign national flying to Canada | eTA + valid passport |
| Visa-required foreign national | Canadian visitor visa + valid passport |
| U.S. citizen | Generally no visitor visa or eTA |
| Canadian permanent resident | Valid PR card or applicable PR travel document |
| Canadian citizen | Canadian travel documentation applicable to the journey |
The table is a general overview. Always verify your exact requirements with the Government of Canada before travelling.
An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an electronic entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. It is electronically linked to the passport used in the application.
An eTA is not a visa and it does not guarantee admission to Canada. A border services officer makes the final decision when you arrive.
The current Canadian eTA application fee is CAD $7. Most applications are processed within minutes, although some applications can require additional information and take longer.
An eTA can generally be valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
Official Canada eTA informationA Canadian visitor visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is the document placed in your passport when Canada requires you to have a visa to travel to Canada as a visitor.
A visitor visa may be issued as a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. The visa officer decides which type is issued and how long it remains valid. A multiple-entry visitor visa can generally be valid for up to 10 years, or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first.
The validity of the visa is different from the length of time you are allowed to remain in Canada during an individual visit.
Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to 6 months. However, the border services officer can authorize a shorter or longer period depending on the circumstances.
If a visitor is not given a specific departure date in a passport stamp or visitor record, the normal period can be up to six months, subject to applicable passport and immigration-document limitations.
If you need to remain in Canada longer than your authorized period, you generally need to apply to extend your stay before your current status expires.
Applicants for a Canadian visitor visa must demonstrate that they meet Canada's temporary-entry requirements. The exact supporting documents depend on the applicant and the purpose of travel.
Common supporting evidence can include:
Canada does not publish one universal minimum bank balance that every tourist must have for a visitor visa. The amount of money considered sufficient depends on factors such as the length of the trip, accommodation arrangements, transportation and whether the traveller is staying with friends or relatives.
Your financial documents should make sense in relation to the trip you describe in your application.
For example, a two-week hotel-based holiday in Montréal and Québec City will normally require a different budget from a short visit staying with a family member.
The visitor visa is a Canadian federal immigration document. The current government fee for a visitor visa is:
Fees can change, so verify the current amount on the official Government of Canada website before submitting an application.
Many visitor-visa applicants need to provide biometrics, which generally means fingerprints and a photograph.
After submitting an application, applicants who need biometrics receive instructions explaining where and how to provide them.
The biometrics fee is separate from the visitor-visa processing fee.
The visitor-visa application is normally submitted through the Government of Canada's online immigration system.
There is no single processing time for every visitor-visa application. Canadian visitor-visa processing times vary according to the country from which you apply and other factors.
Biometrics processing can also affect the overall timeline. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on an old processing-time estimate found on another website.
Apply sufficiently early before your intended travel date and check the current IRCC processing-time tool.
Accommodation information can help demonstrate the purpose and itinerary of your visit. It can include:
You should provide information that is consistent with your actual travel plans. Do not submit fake hotel reservations or fabricated documents.
If you are visiting family or friends in Québec, an invitation letter may be useful and may sometimes be requested.
An invitation letter can explain:
An invitation letter does not guarantee that a visitor visa will be approved. The visa officer independently assesses whether the applicant meets Canada's requirements.
A short business trip is different from tourism, although both can involve temporary visitor status. Business visitors may attend activities such as meetings, conferences, conventions or training without entering the Canadian labour market, provided they meet the applicable business-visitor requirements.
If you intend to work in Canada, you should not assume that a visitor visa is sufficient. A work permit or another work authorization may be required.
Québec Work Visa & Work Permit GuideA short course or study activity may sometimes be possible without a study permit depending on its length and circumstances. However, longer studies generally require a study permit and, for Québec, may also require a Québec authorization such as a CAQ.
A visitor visa should not be used as a substitute for a study permit when a study permit is required.
Many international visitors travel to Québec to visit children, parents, siblings, spouses, partners or friends. The same basic visitor-entry requirements apply, but supporting documents can help explain the relationship and purpose of the trip.
If you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may also want to investigate Canada's Super Visa. The Super Visa is different from an ordinary visitor visa and has additional eligibility requirements.
Official Canada Super Visa informationChildren must meet Canada's entry requirements just like other visitors. A child needs appropriate travel documentation, and the documentation needed can depend on whether the child is travelling alone, with both parents or with only one parent.
When a minor travels with only one parent, Canada recommends carrying documentation such as the child's birth certificate and a letter of authorization from the other parent. Additional custody or guardianship documents may be relevant.
A child travelling alone or with an adult other than a parent or legal guardian should have appropriate authorization and supporting documents.
Most international tourists visiting Québec arrive through one of the province's major airports.
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is the principal international airport serving the Montréal metropolitan area and an important entry point for Québec.
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport provides air connections to Québec City and surrounding areas.
After arriving, travellers can continue their trip by public transportation, rental car, taxi, intercity bus or other transportation depending on their destination.
A first-time visitor can combine Montréal and Québec City with additional destinations depending on the length and season of the trip.
Your ideal itinerary depends heavily on the season, transportation method and whether you prefer cities, nature, food, history or outdoor activities.
Winter travel to Québec can be very different from summer travel. Snow, freezing temperatures and shorter daylight hours can affect transportation and outdoor activities.
Winter visitors should plan appropriate clothing and allow additional travel time when weather conditions are poor.
Québec City and Montréal offer museums, restaurants, festivals and indoor attractions as well as winter activities.
There is no single best travel season for everyone. Each season offers different experiences.
| Season | What Visitors Can Expect |
|---|---|
| Spring | Changing weather, emerging greenery and fewer peak-summer crowds. |
| Summer | Warm-weather activities, festivals, outdoor dining and longer daylight. |
| Autumn | Fall colours, cooler weather and scenic regional travel. |
| Winter | Snow, winter sports, seasonal events and cold-weather conditions. |
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for international visitors. A visitor should not assume that Canada's provincial healthcare system will pay for all medical treatment received during a tourist stay.
Travel insurance can potentially cover eligible expenses such as emergency medical treatment, depending on the policy. Always read exclusions, coverage limits and pre-existing-condition provisions before purchasing a policy.
The cost of a Québec vacation depends on your destination, travel season, accommodation, transportation and activities.
A visitor budget can include:
Even if you receive a Canadian visitor visa, you must still meet Canada's entry requirements when you arrive.
A border services officer can assess:
Providing false or incomplete information can lead to serious immigration consequences.
Generally, a visitor cannot simply start working in Québec because they hold a visitor visa. Work authorization is governed by Canadian federal immigration rules.
If your actual purpose is employment, you should investigate whether you need a work permit or qualify for a work-permit exemption before travelling.
Québec Work Visa GuideA tourist visa is designed for temporary visits. It is not the same as permanent residence and does not automatically give you the right to settle permanently in Québec.
People who want to immigrate to Québec should investigate the appropriate Québec and Canadian immigration pathways instead of relying on visitor status.
Québec Residency Guide| Feature | Visitor | Permanent Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Temporary visit | Long-term settlement |
| Work | Generally not authorized | Generally permitted |
| Study | Limited circumstances | Generally permitted subject to applicable rules |
| Length of stay | Normally temporary | Long-term status subject to residency requirements |
| Application type | Canadian visitor entry document | Permanent-residence immigration process |