This post was most recently updated on October 6th, 2018
How to write an Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa
An invitation letter for Canadian Visa is simply a regular invitation letter that contains details of the invitee, that are relevant for visa applications. The invitation is one of the documents that a travel visa applicant will present during the application for a travel visa.
Your letter must include the following information about the person being invited:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- The person’s address and telephone number.
- Your relationship to the person being invited.
- The purpose of the trip.
- How long the person you are inviting intends to stay in Canada.
- Details on accommodation and living expenses.
- The date the person you are inviting intends to leave Canada.
Your letter must also include the following information about the person writing the letter:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- Address and telephone number in Canada.
- Occupation.
- Whether you are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
- A photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada. For instance, a Canadian birth certificate if you were born in Canada or a Canadian citizenship card if you are a naturalized citizen. If you are Permanent Resident, you must send proof of your permanent resident status (a copy of your PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing).
Before you start writing your letter
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Where do I send the Invitation Letter to? – Your GUEST!
After writing your invitation letter, sign it and send it to your guest. Even if your letter is addressed to the visa officer, you should still send the letter to your guest.
Your guest will add it to the documents that they will submit as they apply for a visa.
Sample Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa – Written for a close friend
This is a sample Invitation letter for Canadian visa written for a close friend. Use this sample to inspire the writing of your next Invitation Letter for visa.
March 27th, 2018
To whom it may concern,
This is to certify that John Smith will be visiting me in Ottawa, Canada from June 1st 2018 to September 15th, 2018. John has been a close personal friend of mine for 5 years and will be staying at my home for the duration of his stay.
My address:
234 Lachine Ave, Ottawa, Ontario. H4X 1R4. Canada
Tel: 613-767-0987.
I am a Canadian Citizen
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
David Adidas
GUESTS:
Name: Mr John Smith
Address:.1 Progress Street, Accra, Ghana.
Date of Birth – May 12, 1976
Telephone: +233-803-217-3333
Relationship: Friend.
Sample Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa written for Parents
This is a sample invitation letter written to invite parents to visit Canada. The sample invitation letter is written by a son who works in Canada.
Please take note that if your parents or grandparents are applying for the new Canadian super visa, you will need a similar letter. However, you may mention that proof of financial eligibility is attached.
The names on it are fictitious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format. There are other formats that can be used. The most important thing is for the information required to be on it.
Writing an Invitation Letter is just one piece of the puzzle, your guest may need help with Visa Application or Interview.
James Lopez
24 Princess Street,
Kingston, Ontario
CANADA. K7N 2Y5
Tel: 613-675-7865
March 24, 2018
Dear Mum and Dad,
Please take this as a formal invitation for you to visit me in Kingston, Ontario, Canada for 3 months. You should plan to come between June 1st, 2018 and Sept 1st, 2018. This is the best time to come because it will be summer and the weather will be most conducive to you. It will also allow me to take some time off work to show you some of the interesting places in Canada.We would visit Montreal, Toronto, and the capital city Ottawa. I am sure you will enjoy your visit.
You will be staying with me during your visit and I will be responsible for your transportation and feeding while you are here.
You can use this letter as part of your application for the Canadian visa. I look forward to seeing you again after such a long time.
I love you.
Your son,
James Lopez
Date of Birth: 23 June 1980
Occupation: Engineer (Bell Canada)
GUESTS:
Name: Mr John Lopez
Address:.1 Progress Street, Accra, Ghana.
Date of Birth – May 12, 1946
Telephone: +233-803-217-3333
Relationship: Father.
Passport No: 22222222
Name: Mrs Maria Lopez
Address:.1 Progress Street, Accra, Ghana.
Date of Birth – May 12, 1944
Telephone: +233-803-217-3333
Relationship: Mother
Passport No: 44444444
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport or permanent resident card. If you are able to notarize the letter, it will be fine. Personally, I have not notarized any of my letters and visas have been issued.
Video About Obtaining A Visitor Visa to Canada
Sample Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa written to Spouse
James Lopez
24 Princess Street,
Kingston, Ontario
CANADA. K7N 2Y5
March 27th, 2018
Visitor Visa for Mrs. Lucy Lopez: Passport No. 123456, Date of Birth: 20 May 1980,
This is to certify that my wife Lucy Lopez will be visiting me in Kingston, Ontario, Canada from June 1st, 2010 to July 30th, 2018. I am a graduate Student at Queens University in Kingston and I will be graduating at the end of the winter semester. I would like my wife to attend my convocation which will be taking place on June 20th, 2018 at the Victoria Hall. A copy of the details of the convocation is attached.
Lucy will be staying at my home for the duration of her stay.
Should there be any reason to contact me, you may reach me by phone or email as detailed below.
Thanks
Tel: 613-767-0987.
Jlopez@gogo.ca
Kind regards,
James Lopez
GUEST:
Name: Mrs. Lucy Lopez
Address:.1 Progress Street, Accra, Ghana.
Date of Birth – May 20, 1980
Telephone: +233-803-217-3333
Relationship:Wife.
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport or permanent resident card. If you are able to notarize the letter, it will be fine. Personally, I have not notarized any of my letters and visas have been issued.
Sample Invitation Letter for Canadian Visa written for Guest Minister at a Church Event.
If you plan on inviting a guest minister from outside Canada for your church event, then you would need to send out an Invitation letter for Canadian Visa. The letter should present the details of the guest minister and the program he or she will be participating in. The invitation letter should be written on the official letter-headed paper and signed by one of the designated signatories for the Church.
The requirements are a little different from those for a friend or family member, so a look at the list of information required will be helpful. You can find the list here –Invitation letter guide from Immigration Canada.
Below is a sample invitation letter. The names on it are fictitious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format. There are other formats that can be used. The most important thing is for the information required to be on it.
January 24, 2018.
Canadian Deputy High Commissioner
Immigration Section
4 Anifowoshe Street
Victoria Island
Lagos
Your Excellency,
LETTER OF INVITATION / DECLARATION
We, the leaders of the Church Name, a duly registered charitable organization with Charitable Business number 1111111111R0001, situate in the district of Lava, Province of Ontario, Canada, do hereby invite from Nigeria:
Rev James Lorde passport no XXXXXXX
Evangelical Catholic Church
7045 Babasola st, Muson, off College Road.
Ketu, Oyo State. Nigeria.
For a Canadian visit of 14 days duration.
This minister of the Gospel will be ministering in our Church on Sunday, March 28th, 2018.
We solemnly affirm that we will provide living accommodation, medical care, and full sundry support to him during his stay in Canada.
This affirmation is without prejudice to the fact that our invitee has sufficient funds for the trip. We make this solemn declaration together as a Church, and as a duly incorporated Canadian Charitable organization, conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and by virtue of the “Canada Evidence Act.”
Rev Ford Heliout (Pastor in Charge)
For and on behalf of Church Name
Now check out our Ultimate Visa Interview or Application Kit.
Hi,
I am on PR in Canada, living here for last two years. I want to invite my parents in laws to visit me and my husband this summer in between July – Sep. My question is:\
1. Can I send the invitation letter individually or I need to include my husband’s information too?
2. I have a permanent job with decent package over 70k per annum?
Please advise.
Hi Revs,
You can send the letter alone! However, since they are his parents, why won’t you want to invite them together?
hello, i have been looking into making an invitation letter for my good friend in russia. she already has dates for when she is entering and leaving the country. she is planning on staying for 3 weeks. would this be temporary residence visa or visitors visa. is their someone i could pay to make one for me as well? i am too busy with work.
Hi Cole,
This would be a visitor visa for your friend. At this time we do not provide the service of writing an invitation letter. We may provide that service in the future!
hello guys can you help me to write a letter i want to invite my mother inlaw as a baby sitting or take care of her grandchild
Hello.
I recently moved to canada and I am right now a permanent resident in canada and have a steady job and income here. i want to invite my boyfriend to visit me temporarily who right now lives in netherlands also with a steady job and income. we have been together for more than three years.
my question is, will inviting him as my boyfriend cause a bad effect on his application? (because it may imply that he won’t leave canada? obviously that is not his intention, but I dont want to risk his chances of getting a visa)
thank you for your help
Hi Maryam,
In your case, it might not affect him because he has ties in the Netherlands and maybe you were together even before you came to Canada. As you know, I no one can tell you what the visa officer will do. I only speak from experience, not as a professional.
Hello Dems,
I have query regarding dependent spouse visa and documents required for filling that visa. Need some advice from you.
I came to Canada last month from India on closed WorkPermit and would like to file dependent visa for my wife. I checked the sample invitation letter at this website and started filling it. Below are few questions I came across –
1) Do I need to attached proof of my accommodation in Canada ? (I am currently living in shared accommodation and do not have lease agreement with me. So how can I prepare accommodation proof that I am staying in Canada and provide details on where my wife will be staying post her arrival ?)
2) Do I need to provide financial documents attached to Invite letter or separately ? ( I opened an account in local bank here in Canada but just got 1 month’s salary in it) So will is be sufficient enough to provide financial proof or Can I attach bank statements from Indian bank which has funds ?
Thanks,
Jenil
Hello Dems,
Could you please help me solving above doubts ?
Thanks in advance !
Jenil
Hello Dems,
I am trying apply visitor visa for my mother in law. Currently I am having closed work permit till MAY 2019.She is a widow and my wife is the only daughter so I want to get her soon to Canada to stay with us and take care of her Grand child.
Can you please help me with sample invitation letter for her. Also, please suggest whether I need to invite or my wife who is with me in Canada with Open work permit(but not working) should invite.
Your help is highly appreciated .
Thanks in Advnace
-Phani
Hi Phani,
Both of you can invite her. Just do not write that she is coming to take care of her granddaughter. She is coming to see and visit her grand daughter.
Hello sir,
I am reading here so many questions from people and answers from you is so direct and to the point! You made my many doubts clear. I would like to thank you very much for that for helping so many people and making their life easier. However, still i have questions and i hope you will give my all answers in detail please. For more clarification I will explain the whole situation and after that i will ask my questions .
I have a friend in India who has already applied for his visitor visa for the first time and he never travel aboard or apply for abroad before. and he got rejected on this month on 9th July 2018. Even though he knew that not everybody gets approval but He was really surprised by getting rejection because he made really good preparation to apply with full of documents and without any mistakes because he was gathering the information since so many months and He is earning good in India he works in Multinational IT company and he also show sufficient funds in the bank as well. After that only he applied with the help of one of the consultancy in India. he hired a agent who can help him to make sure everything is perfect. still he got rejection and he is really upset now!!!
Now my situation is, My husband has PR he leaves in Canada since 8 years and he applied for my spouse visa. After getting my PR i moved to Canada. I am permanent resident of Canada. I am leaving in Canada since last Two and half years.
The problem is My friend didn’t tell me that he is coming to Canada because he wanted to give us big surprise. But he got rejection so now he told me that he need my help to send him a invitation letter which i am really excited to do so and meet him as well. But, we both do not want to inform my husband as we want him to give a big surprise. So Now my questions are,
1) How soon he can again apply for visitor visa as he recently got rejection in this month of July 9th 2018 only?
2) Does he has any chance to get visa as his profile will include little different information this time as compare to last time as my invitation letter will be there now?
3)Does he get asked by government or officer that why he didn’t include invitation letter in his first time visa apply when he already have a friends leaving in Canada?
4) Is there anything i would receive at my home address? any mail or any inquiry letter or anything else regarding his visa process as i would have to use my home address in his invitation letter? Because I do not want to receive anything like that as we want to surprise my husband and want to keep secret.
5) And if its yes for above question then how do i get rid of that? what are my chances ? Can i give my Job address? or It has to be home address only in invitation letter?
6)Can he apply for travel visa? What is the difference between visitor visa and travel visa?
Desperately waiting for your suggestions!!! Thank you. And God bless you……
Hi Velda,
Thanks for the nice words. Yes you can write your friend a letter.
1) He can apply again as soon as he wants. Usually, the visa officer wants to make sure there is a change in his situation. However, in this case, he can apply.
2) Yes he has a chance. Usually they give a form to explain why his application was denied. I have seen people apply just a few weeks after being rejected and they are given the second time.
3)Well they may wonder this but there is no need to worry about this. Was there an interview?
4) You will not receive anything at home. The Visa officers hardly ever contact the person who writes the invitation letter.
6) He needs a visitors visa. I don’t know about a travel visa.
He should use my visa application kit – http://www.visainterview.info
God bless you.
Hi
No he didn’t get any interview but we were just wondering about that. And sure we will check on your visa application kit.
Thank you so much for taking time for us and reply all my questions. Lots of love from us ❤️ God bless you always!!
One last question. Can i get your email address in case if we need your help in urgent case? That would be so kind of you. Thanks!!
Hi. Both me and my husband are on an open work permit and have applied for PR through express entry. My permit will expire in january (i do not work) and his will expire in august 2019 (he has a permanent job). We want to invite my mother to visit us, so
1) should me and my husband both write the invitation letter or just him since he is the one working?
2) does the fact that my permit expires in january 2019 (though we expect to get the PR before that) affect our ability to invite my mother?
Thank you.
Hi Sara,
Both of you writing the letter is good. It doesn’t matter that you are not working. What matters is that you are legal in Canada. If the time of visitation by your mom is before 2019, your document is still valid and it should not be a problem.
I hope this helps.
Hi Dems,
I want to visit a friend of mine who is on a student visa in Canada. Can she write me an invitation letter?
What should she mention in ‘Status in Canada’?
Thanks!!
Yes she can invite you. she can write student as her status in Canada.
Hi Dems,
I want to invite my boyfriend to visit canada and his from abu dhabi,i am a single her in canada and he was separated for 8yrs.is there a chance he will be approved?he was been denied 3x for applying as a visitors visa from his brother,and i will try to invite him again.please i need your advice what should i do so that his application will not be denied?thank you and god bless you!
HI Dems
Greetings!!!
I have seen you are providing a great help to many people. I am also seeking for your best advise for me. I am 29 years age(single yet) and working in private company with annual salary of 2.5 Lac. I also have one tourist visa refusal from USA in Oct 2015. I am from India Please answer my few queries as below:
1. I have my best friend and she is living in Calgary,Canada and she is married there and now PR. she blessed with a baby girl also. She want to invite me on this Christmas(Dec 2018) on the basis of best friend basis as we are having last 10 years sisters like relationships.
2. My real brother is also in Calgary. he is on work visa now after completion of his studies. Can my brother invite me on the coming Christmas?
3. please suggest me which sponsorship i need to use, one from my best friend or from my real younger brother?
4. Moreover, if you preferred to use brother’s invitation, does he need to provide attested affidavits.
5. my friend’s status is PR and brother’s status is temporary work permit. so what way i should chose to visit on Christmas?
Kindly share your expert advise, I would be grateful to you. Kindly reply soon
Hi Sukhbir,
Your brother can invite you. When visa officers evaluate an application for visa, they are more concerned about the applicant (that is you) not really the one inviting you. Since you have a brother in Canada, it is advisable that he writes the invitation letter.
No, he does not need to provide any affidavits. A simple invitation letter for Christmas holiday will do.
You on the other hand would need to prepare a good application. As a single man with refusal from USA, the chances are slim but there is no harm in trying. Just try to show that you will return to India after your visit.
Hi,
I am planning to apply for my parents visitor visa and I am currently on my post graduation work permit. What should I include in my invitation letter and do I need to provide proof of my status in canada?
I see it is easier to get visa for parents if we are calling them for convocation, But what reason can be given for parents visit while I am on work permit?
Hi Kushal,
You are very qualified to invite your parents to visit. A simple visit is good enough as a reason. I hope this helps.
Hi Dems,
I’m planning to apply for my parents visitor visa, but would like to know if they have to show money to get approved. They depend on me for financial support so I don’t know if they still are required to show money for visitor visa application. I planned on inviting them for a month visit.
Thanks in advance
Jeanette
I have gotten accepted to study and I want to apply for my student visa. I will be staying with my uncle in Toronto. Can you give an idea of letter he needs to write to immigration to assist my application. Does he need to provide proof of citizenship
Hi Jerry,
For study you do not need an invitation letter. You need to use your admission letter to apply for a student Visa.
Hi
Can I write the invitation letter myself without notarizing, and scan and email it to the person that I am inviting ?
Thank you
Yes
Hello my sister is coming to visit me to Canada. Does she needs a invitation letter? She already applied for visa in Mexico So she got it but do my question is Does she still needs a invitation letter when she arrives to Canada?
Hi Dems,
My name is kartik and i am a Canadian permanent resident .I am here since 2.5 yrs and having a good job here. I just got married on 13th March in india , due to my work commitments i had to returned back to Canada on 18th march and my wife is in India now. She is about to complete her studies in may, 2019 and i would like to invite her on the engagement party of my cousin which is on Sep 1st . My cousin and uncle both are Dr and they can help me in providing a supportive letter for her visitor visa. .
Do you think i should apply her visitor visa before the spouse visa ? and is by any chance her visitor visa got rejected , will it put effect on her Spouse visa File ??
Please advise as soon as you can .. Your help will be appreciated .
Hi Kartik,
From my experience, many of such spousal visas don’t get approved. Many people that apply for PR for their spouses get the PR in less than 6 months these days. I am not sure of the duration for India though. If you apply for her now. She may get her immigrant visa before September.
Good day Dems,
My PR was approved last June 8,2018 sadly one my eldest daughter was left in the Philippines that’s why I wanted to invite her for a visit this coming June 2019 for my birthday and to experience Calgary Stampede this coming July. My daughter is 22 years old and currently working in the Philippines. She was removed by CIC last 2017 when she turned 19 years old from my application because of her age. What is the chance that her visitor visa will be approved? What other documents do I need to provide so that she won’t be refuse. Thank you very much,
Richard
Hi Richard,
Congrats on your PR. Sorry about your daughter though. For her visa not to be denied, she has to provide documents that show that she would return to the Philipines. No one can tell you what chances your daughter has that her visa would not be denied.
My suggestion is this. Let her apply, include a letter from her employer and other documents that show that she would return to the Philippines. I think she has a chance! Go for it!!! Let me know how it goes.
good day Dems
pls i want to ask for ur assistance, am a Nigerian seeking to come visit my girlfriend and her daughter in Canada, i tried 2015 and i was refused to visit visa, now my company is willing to sponsor me all paid trip to visit them. pls what do u see about my case and also how do i explain i was refused visit visa cus the VO was not clear about my purpose of visit….
Hi Josh,
When visiting a girlfriend, the visa officer assumes you would get to Canada and never return to Nigeria. They assume you may get married to your girlfriend and stay there. Or worse still, you will get married to her and dump her after you get your immigration papers. So it is quite difficult to convince the Visa Officer of your intentions.
If it is still the same girlfriend after 4 years, it is a good signal. My advice is this. Make an attempt but have a backup plan. She can come to Nigeria, get married to you and file papers for you.
Hope this helps.
Hello dems,
as i can see you are clearing doubts of all the comments you recieved. however, my question is that i want to invite my mother on canada day and i need your help regarding proper words used for this invitation.
regards
ashutosh
Hi Ashutosh,
Use any of the Invitation Letter Samples on our site and just edit it to say you want your mother to be with you on Canada Day.