What IRCC asks for
On its visitor visa application page, IRCC suggests including documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you'll do in Canada — giving "flight details" and "proof of accommodation" as examples.
IRCC doesn't say you must buy a paid ticket before your visa is approved. A flight reservation with your planned dates, plus a hotel reservation or an invitation letter from your host, documents the trip without committing you to a non-refundable fare.
Fees to budget for
At the time we checked, IRCC listed a visitor visa processing fee of CAD $100 per person, or CAD $500 for a family of five or more applying together. Biometrics, where required, are an additional CAD $85 per person or CAD $170 per family. Fees change — confirm them on IRCC's site when you apply.
Worked example: what a consistent file looks like
A two-week family visit to Toronto might include:
- A return flight reservation, e.g. leaving 3 May and returning 17 May, with every family member named.
- Either a hotel reservation for 3–17 May, or an invitation letter from the relatives you're staying with, giving their address and the same dates.
- A short day-by-day plan if you're visiting more than one city.
The dates on all three should match what you put on your application form. If you stay with family, you may only need the flight reservation — not the hotel.