How to Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa
Here's what to do if you don’t qualify for a visa-free eTA!
Published on Jan 16, 2026
In 2023, the Canadian government expanded its electronic Travel Authorization or eTA program to include 13 more countries, allowing certain travelers to fly to Canada without applying for a traditional visa. This update covered Filipino citizens, but there’s a catch.
To qualify for an eTA, travelers must have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or currently have a valid non-immigrant U.S. visa. The eTA also only applies to those entering Canada by air. If you plan to arrive by land or sea—whether by car, bus, train, or cruise—you’ll still need a visitor visa, a.k.a. a temporary resident visa.
If you don’t meet those conditions, here’s what applying for a Canadian tourist visa looks like the old-fashioned way, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and VFS Global.
How to Apply for a Canada Visitor Visa for Filipinos
1. Check if you need a visitor visa
Before starting, confirm that you’re not eligible for an eTA. If you’re entering Canada by air without a qualifying travel history, or arriving by land or sea, a visitor visa is required, according to IRCC.
2. Prepare your documents
IRCC outlines a core set of documents for a Canadian temporary resident visa. Not all documents are mandatory for every applicant, and submitting everything does not guarantee approval.
You’ll generally need:
A valid passport
Proof of financial capacity, such as bank statements covering at least six months
A travel itinerary, including flight details and accommodation
Proof of ties to your home country, such as employment, family, or property
Travel history, if available, including old visas and entry stamps
Additional required forms may include:
Family Information Form (IMM 5645) for applicants 18 and older
Use of a Representative Form (IMM 5476), if someone is applying on your behalf
Authorization documents for minors, if applicable
IRCC may request more documents depending on your situation.
3. Apply online through the IRCC portal
IRCC now processes visitor visa applications primarily online. Paper applications are only accepted in limited cases, such as for applicants with disabilities or those using refugee travel documents.
Once you complete your online application, you’ll submit your documents digitally and pay the required fees.
4. Pay your visa and biometrics fees
After submitting your application, you’ll need to pay the government processing fee. If biometrics are required, that fee must be paid upfront as well.
According to IRCC, biometrics include fingerprints and a digital photo and are usually required unless you’ve given biometrics recently.
5. Wait for your Biometric Instruction Letter
If biometrics are required, IRCC will issue a Biometric Instruction Letter, which explains how and where to provide your fingerprints and photo.
6. Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre
Once you receive your letter, you can schedule an appointment at a Canada Visa Application Centre operated by VFS Global. If biometrics aren’t required for your application, you may visit the centre without an appointment during business hours, according to VFS Global.
7. Track your application
If you applied through a Visa Application Centre, you can track your application using VFS Global’s tracking services. Online applications submitted directly to IRCC can only be tracked through the IRCC portal.
8. Submit your passport (if requested)
If your application is approved, IRCC will send a passport request letter. Only after receiving this letter should you submit your passport through VFS Global, either in person or by courier.
Once processing is complete, your passport will be returned with either a visa counterfoil or a letter explaining the decision, according to VFS Global.
Fees to Pay
Based on IRCC and VFS Global information, here are the standard fees applicants should expect:
Visitor visa (single or multiple entry): CAD 100 per person (approx. P4,200)
Visitor visa (family of five or more): CAD 500 (approx. P21,400)
Biometrics fee (per individual): CAD 85 (approx. P3,600)
Biometrics fee (family): CAD 170 (approx. P7,200)
In addition to IRCC’s government fees, VFS Global charges separate service fees for application handling and optional add-ons. Based on VFS Global Philippines’ published rates, these include:
Package transmission fee: CAD 27.26 (approximately P1,090) per applicant (Applies to passport or document submission at a VAC, unless submitted at the same centre as biometrics with no prior submissions)
One-way courier service: P 625
Two-way courier service (within Metro Manila and Metro Cebu only): P 1,282
SMS application status alerts: P 120
Photocopying: P 9 per page
Printing: P 9 per page
ICAO-compliant visa photographs: P 153
Locker service: P 137
Premium Lounge service: P 4,577
All optional services are paid directly at the Visa Application Centre. Fees may vary by location and are subject to change, according to VFS Global, so applicants are advised to check current rates before their appointment.
Canada Visa Application Centers in the Philippines
Manila
Canada Visa Application Centre
29th Floor, The World Center Building
330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Metro Manila
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cebu
Canada Visa Application Centre
Unit 1–4, 7th Floor, Faustina Center
Bonifacio District, F. Cabahug Street, Kasambagan
Cebu City, Philippines
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For the most up-to-date requirements, fees, and processing timelines, visit the official websites of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and VFS Global Philippines.
Kat is Preview's Lifestyle Editor, explorer, and occasional rhymer. When not globe-trotting, she's over her computer, writing her next big novel.