Immigration Corner | What is the most important question on a Canadian visitor visa application?

Dear Miss Powell,

I’m planning to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. What is the most important question I will need to answer?

JA

Dear JA,

The most important question you must answer in a Canadian visitor visa application is this: why will you leave Canada when your visit ends?

That single question sits at the centre of almost every decision made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), even though it is rarely phrased so directly. Applicants often focus on why they want to visit Canada. Immigration officers focus on what will pull them back home.

WHAT CANADA IS REALLY ASSESSING

Canada’s visitor visa, formally known as a Temporary Resident Visa, allows entry for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or short-term study. Despite its name, it is not a casual application. Under section 179(b) of Canada’s immigration regulations, an officer must be satisfied that a visitor will leave Canada at the end of their authorised stay.

This requirement is commonly referred to as the “genuine temporary resident” test. It is not about whether you are a good person or whether your plans sound pleasant. It is about whether your circumstances make departure from Canada more likely than staying.

WHAT “GENUINE TEMPORARY RESIDENT” MEANS IN PRACTICE

You need not prove that you have no interest in Canada. You can have family here. You can even hope to immigrate one day. Canada does not refuse visitor visas simply because someone likes the country or may apply again in the future.

What matters is whether your life clearly continues elsewhere after this visit. Officers look at employment, business activities, studies, financial commitments, family responsibilities, and long-term residence outside Canada. Your purpose of travel must also be specific, limited in time, and credible when viewed against your personal and economic situation.

Canada is not deciding your future forever. It is deciding whether you will leave this time.

HOW OFFICERS READ YOUR APPLICATION

IRCC officers assess the entire picture. They review travel history, including whether you complied with visas in other countries. They look at patterns, not just one trip. Frequent or extended visits, back-to-back stays, or spending more time in Canada than in your home country can raise concerns, even if each visit was technically lawful.

Officers also look for consistency. What you say in your forms must align with your documents and with common sense. A strong job claim without proof of approved leave, or a business owner with no recent activity, can undermine credibility.

It is also important to understand that approval is not the end of the process. Even with a valid visitor visa, your temporary intent can be reassessed by a border officer when you arrive in Canada.

DOCUMENTS OFFICERS FIND MORE AND LESS PERSUASIVE

Officers tend to give weight to documents that prove clear ties outside Canada. These include employer letters confirming your role, salary, and approved leave; proof of active self-employment or business operations; confirmation of school enrolment; evidence of long-term housing such as property ownership or a lease; and financial records that reasonably support the cost of the visit.

Some documents are commonly submitted but carry less weight on their own. These include flight itineraries, hotel bookings, old or inactive bank statements, credit card statements, personal photographs, and general letters of support without detail. These items are not prohibited, but they rarely answer the key question about return by themselves.

REASON FOR REFUSAL

Canada’s refusal letters are often brief and do not explain every concern. This can leave applicants confused. Most refusals come down to one issue: the officer was not satisfied that the visit would be temporary.

Before sending your application, ask whether a stranger reading your file would clearly understand not only why you are coming to Canada, but why you must go back. If that answer is clear, consistent, and supported by credible evidence, you are addressing the most critical issue in the process.

If you are uncertain about how to present your circumstances, it may be helpful to seek advice before sending your application.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and author of Tell Me a Story Grandma. Contact her via Facebook or at www.deidrepowell.com.