Inviting family to visit during your stay in Canada is an increasingly common practice for international students, and the process is not as difficult as it sounds. Please check the CIC website for the list of countries that require an Entry Visa. You may invite you family members to visit you for reasons such as attending your upcoming convocation or simply to visit you wile you are studying. If your family members are citizens of one of these countries, they will need to apply for a visa in order to enter Canada.

Canadian Visa Officers will be primarily concerned that are your family members are able to support themselves financially during their time in Canada, and that they will not remain in the country beyond the expiry date of their Entry Visa. Applications for a visa must be made outside of Canada at a Canadian Visa Office.

You can support your family member’s application by providing the following:

• A Letter of Invitation written in English. For more information on preparing a letter of invitation click here. It is essential to include the information requested by CIC.
• A photocopy of your Study Permit
• An original Status Letter from U of T confirming that you are a registered student (can be requested through the Registrar’s Office for $7.00).
• Financial Support Information ( if you will be providing support financially)

Your family members will be responsible for submitting the TRV application and all other supporting documents required by the issuing Canadian Visa Office abroad.

To view the Invitation Letter template, please click this link!