Canadian Visa Invitation Letter

If you want to visit Canada for 6 months or less, you need to obtain a Temporary Canada Visa. It is possible that the Canadian Embassy where you are applying request an invitation letter to Canada from someone you know there. There can be a variety of reasons why you need to visit canada; such as business, tourism, visiting friends and family, etc.

In this article, you will find what an invitation letter is, how you can get it. The article also presents some sample invitation letters to Canada.

What is an invitation letter?

Invitation letter concerning a visitor visa in Canada  is a signed letter from someone inviting you to the country. This invitation letter can be from a friend, business partner, family, meaning someone close who can verify your identity and purpose of your visit.

This letter is an appeal from the person in Canada requesting the Canadian Consulate to give the applicant a visa allowing them to enter the country. In some ways, this is a guarantee that you aren’t giving false information about the purpose of visit in Canada and that you will not overstay your visa or don’t leave Canada. This letter also confirm that you will get financial support if you can’t support yourself.

This letter of invitation can strengthen the rest of your visa application and serves as evidence on why the Canadian Consulate should give you a visa if it meets the requirements.

Who can write an invitation letter for Canadian Visa?

As mentioned above this letter can be written by anyone who you know well. It can be a relative, a close friend or a business partner if you visit Canada for business. 

You should take into consideration that the person sending the invitation letter is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. The person must have legal status in Canada. It will increase the chances of getting a visa if you have a reliable stream of income and a good standing status.

What are the requirements for the invitation letter to Canada?

Following are some requirements for the invitation letter to Canada: 

  • The information of the visa applicant
  • The information of the person inviting the applicant
  • Specific information for the Super Visa

The information on the visa applicant

This must be included in the invitation letter about the visa applicant:

  • The full name (first name and last name)
  • Date of birth
  • Contact information (telephone number and email)
  • Exact address
  • The relationship that the applicant has with the person inviting them
  • The purpose of the visit to Canada
  • The duration of the visit
  • Where the applicant will stay in Canada and how they will pay for their stay
  • The date when the person will arrive in Canada and the date they will leave

The information of the person inviting the applicant

Following is the information needed to be included by the person inviting the applicant:

  • The full name (first name and last name)
  • Date of birth
  • Contact information (telephone number and email)
  • Exact address in Canada
  • Status in Canada (Canadian permanent resident or citizen) through providing a copy of their status such as:
    • Canadian citizenship card or passport if the person is a citizen
    • Canadian birth certificate if the person was born in Canada
    • Copy of their Permanent Resident card or the IMM 1000 (Proof of Landing document), if they are a permanent resident
  • The job title
  • Names and dates of birth of close family members and dependents (spouse or common-law partner and children)
  • The total number of people that live in your household, including people that the person has sponsored or whose sponsorship is still in effect)

Specific information for the Super Visa

The visa for the parents and grandparents is a Super Visa, and it’s valid for more than 6 months. Because this visa is for a longer stay than the other Temporary Resident Visas allow, it must include additional information such as: 

  • A written and signed declaration that you will financially support your parents or grandparents for their whole stay in Canada
  • Proof that you have enough income for the total number of people living in your household, including for the visiting parents or grandparents

Where should you send an invitation letter?

The letter needs to be submitted with the rest of the application, and it should be dated and signed by the person inviting the applicant. A request for its notarization might be issued by the Canadian Consulate. 

If applying online, the letter should be scanned in PDF form and attached to the application. The letter should be printed and a copy must be included if a physical application is in question.

Sample Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa

Below you can see a full written sample letter with blanks to fill with personal information. This sample letter can be used on any occasion as long as the above-mentioned requirements are met.

The person that is being invited is referred to as “Applicant” and the person inviting the applicant is referred to as “Inviting Person”.

Name of Place in Canada, Date

 

To the Canadian Embassy in (Country Name)

(Embassy Address)

(Embassy Phone Number)

 

Subject: Invitation Letter for Mr./Miss (Applicant’s Name)

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is (Inviting Person’s Name), I was born on (date of birth), and I am from (location in Canada). I am a (status in Canada – citizen or permanent resident) and I live in (address in Canada). My household has (number of people living in the household) and I work (job title, company, and location), earning (monthly or annual salary).

Through this letter, I am inviting (Applicant’s Name), born on (date of birth) and currently living in (address in Foreign Country) to Canada for a short stay. (Applicant’s Name) will be staying in (location and address in Canada such as a hotel or your house) from (date of entry) until (date of departure). I am (Applicant’s Name), (State relationship such as brother, sister, friend, etc), and we will be visiting and touring around Canada for (duration in days or months) in different locations.

(Applicant’s Name) currently works (enter job title and location), earning (monthly or annual salary) with which they will be able to afford the stay in Canada. (Applicant’s Name) is a genuine visitor who will not overstay their visa. Their work obligations in (Name of a foreign country) extend and (Applicant’s Name) is needed back to work as soon as they return from Canada.

Please see attached a certified copy of my (Document proving status in Canada such as passport, birth certificate, or PR card) and my bank report for the past 6 months.

Feel free to contact me should you have any further questions regarding myself or (Applicant’s Name).

I look forward to having (Applicant’s Name) visit me in Canada so we can spend time together and visit Canada.

Kind regards,

 

(Inviting Person’s Name)

(Address)

(Phone number)

(email)                                                                                                              Signature

 

Real life example of an Invitation Letter

Montreal, January 03, 2019

 

To the Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica

(Embassy Address)

(Embassy Phone Number)

 

Subject: Invitation Letter for Miss. Abbie Kelley

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Rose Kelley, I was born on August 6th, 1976 and I am from Montreal, Canada. I am a Canadian permanent resident and I live in 3215 Bayfield St. My household has 3 people living in it (my husband and two children) and I work as a Postage Officer at Montreal International Postage, earning CAD$93,000 per year.

Through this letter, I am inviting Abbie Kelley, born on July 26th, 1979 and currently living in San Jose, Escazu in Costa Rica to Canada for a short stay. Abbie will be staying at my house from February 5th until May 5th, 2019. I am Abbie’s sister and we will be visiting and touring around Canada for 1 month in different locations.

Abbie currently works as a Managing Partner at the Kelley Specter law firm, earning CAD$68,000 per year with which she will be able to afford the stay in Canada. Natali is a genuine visitor who will not overstay her visa. Her work obligations in Costa Rica extend and she is needed back to work as soon as she returns from Canada.

Please see attached a certified copy of my Permanent Resident Card and my bank report for the past 6 months.

Feel free to contact me should you have any further questions regarding myself or Abbie Kelley.

I look forward to having Abbie visit me in Canada so we can spend time together and visit the country.

Kind regards,

Rose Kelley

3215 Bayfield St., Montreal, Canada

(Phone number)

(email)                                                                                                              Signature