How to Write a Canadian Invitation Letter to Visit Canada?
To go to Canada by invitation, you must have an invitation letter written by someone living in Canada. Applying for a Canadian visa by invitation means submitting strong supporting documents for different types of visas such as a work visa or temporary resident visa, but the invitation letter does not guarantee visa approval.
There are some visa types such as super visa and work visa that require an invitation letter among Canadian visa applications, but the invitation letter declaration is not mandatory for the general visitor visa, which is a temporary residence visa. The invitation letter declaration is requested by the IRCC authorized visa offices according to the visa applicant’s personal conditions.
Why is a Canada Visa Invitation Letter Required?
A Canadian visa invitation letter is deemed necessary because it is a declaration by the person living in Canada that the documents submitted by the visa applicant do not contain false information, that the person writing the invitation can sponsor the visa if necessary, and that the applicant will return to his/her own country at the end of the visa. The person writing the invitation letter requests permission for the visa applicant to enter Canada from the consulate where the application is made.
The invitation letter serves as an important supporting document in visa applications, as the intention of candidates who have obtained a Canadian visa invitation document to enter Canada can be better analyzed.
Where to Get an Invitation Letter for a Canadian Visa?
Visa applicants who want to get an invitation letter for a Canadian visa must know someone who will visit Canada and the letter must be written by this person. Those who will send a request for a Canadian visa and invite the visa applicant to Canada must be Canadian citizens or have a permanent residence permit.
Close relatives such as parents, siblings, spouses, children, close friends or business partners if going to Canada for business purposes are the people who can write an invitation letter for a Canadian visa.
How to Send a Visa Invitation from Canada?
A visa invitation from Canada must be sent by the person who wrote the invitation letter, with a wet signature or electronic signature, indicating the date. Regardless of whether the invitation letter is written by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, it may be requested to be notarized according to the criteria of the visa office where the application is made.
After the invitation letter is sent to the visa applicant by mail from Canada, the applicant is obliged to present the original invitation letter along with other documents.
How Many Days Does It Take to Receive an Invitation from Canada?
Canadian invitations arrive in an average of 9 to 20 days, depending on the preferred cargo company.
How to Apply for a Visa to Go to Canada by Invitation?
Candidates applying for a Canadian visa can apply for a visa online or in person if they have all the other documents prepared along with the invitation letter. Online applications are made through the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) website. If the visa application is made online to go to Canada with an invitation, the invitation letter must be scanned and converted to PDF format and added as a document during the application phase.
If the visa applicant applies in person, an appointment must be made directly at the authorized visa center. If the application is made face to face, a printout of the invitation letter must be taken and a copy must be added to the other application documents. The Canada visa application approved by IRCC is sent to the visa applicant via a confirmation e-mail and candidates who have applied online are requested to submit their passports to the authorized visa center.
What are the types of visas that can be obtained with a Canadian invitation letter?
The types of visas that can be obtained with a Canadian invitation letter are listed below.
- Canada visitor visa
- Canada family visit visa
- Canada work visa
- Canada business visa
- Canada conference visa
- Canada guest visa
How to Write a Sample Invitation Letter to Canada?
The Canadian invitation letter, which should be written in English or French, must include the visa applicant’s information, the person writing the invitation, and the information required for the visa category applied for. The Canadian invitation letter must include personal information about the visa applicant such as name and surname, date of birth, full address, degree of relationship with the person writing the invitation, contact information such as telephone number and e-mail address, the duration of the visitor’s stay in Canada, accommodation address, how the visit will be financed, and the date of arrival and departure from Canada.
The Canadian visa invitation must include personal information such as name and surname, date of birth, full address in Canada, status regarding citizenship or residence permit in Canada, contact information such as telephone number and e-mail address, work information, name, surname and date of birth of the inviting person’s dependents such as spouse, common-law spouse, child, and the total number of people living in the household. The person writing the Canadian invitation letter must submit a copy of their citizenship card or passport if they are a Canadian citizen, a copy of their birth certificate if they were born in Canada, and a copy of their residence card if they are a permanent resident, along with the invitation letter.
A sample invitation letter from Canada is given below.
What are the other documents required to go to Canada with an invitation?
Other documents that need to be prepared to go to Canada with an invitation are listed below.
- Canadian letter of intent
- Canada visa photo
- Canada family information form
- Canada travel health insurance
- Canadian letter of intent
- Canada visa photo
- Canada family information form
- Canada travel health insurance
In addition, the following standard documents must be declared during the application.
- Passport
- Bank account statement for the last 6 months
- Documents showing investment and other income such as title deeds and vehicle licenses
- If the expenses will be covered by the inviting person, the inviting person’s bank account information and the Notice of Assessment from the Canadian Revenue Agency.
- If the visa applicant is retired, a photocopy of the pension certificate; if the applicant is a business owner, a tax certificate and documents related to the business activity; if the applicant is a student, a student certificate and transcript; if the applicant is an employee, a travel permit document from the workplace stating the job description and salary.