Canadian visitor visa 2026 for Thai citizens: applying online with IRCC, documents, Bangkok biometrics and the passport request

Yes, Thai citizens need a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa, TRV) unless they qualify for an eTA. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes applications online through the IRCC Portal or an IRCC secure account. You then give biometrics at the Bangkok visa application centre, wait for a decision and send your passport so the visa can be placed in it.

Do Thai citizens need a visa for Canada?

Yes, in most cases. IRCC's entry requirements by country page lists Thailand as visa-required, with the note that some citizens of Thailand may be eligible for an eTA. The eTA route covers only Thai passport holders who fly in and either held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa. Everyone else, and anyone arriving by land or sea, applies for a visitor visa.

How do you apply for a Canadian visitor visa online?

IRCC accepts visitor visa applications online only; paper applications are allowed only in limited cases, such as for applicants with a disability. You choose one of two online tools depending on your situation.

1. 1Pick the right accountThe IRCC Portal is for applicants aged 18 or older who apply alone, are new to IRCC and do not use a representative. Families applying together, or anyone using a representative, use the IRCC secure account.
2. 2Answer the questionsThe system asks about your trip, job and travel history, then builds a personalised document checklist for you.
3. 3Upload documents and payScan every page clearly and pay the visa and biometrics fees online. Fees change, so check the current fee on IRCC's official site.
4. 4Book biometricsIRCC sends a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). Book the Bangkok VAC and give your fingerprints and photo within 30 days of receiving the letter.
5. 5Wait and watch your accountIRCC posts updates and document requests to your online account and email, including the passport request if you are approved.

What documents do you need for a Canadian visitor visa?

There is no fixed universal list: IRCC's system produces a personalised checklist for each applicant. IRCC suggests documents such as travel history, an itinerary, bank statements, an employer letter and an invitation letter where relevant.

Where do Thai applicants give biometrics?

IRCC's where to give biometrics page lists only one site in Thailand: the Canada visa application centre (VAC) in Bangkok. No Chiang Mai Canada VAC is listed, so applicants from other provinces travel to Bangkok.

• Give biometrics within 30 days of receiving your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).
• IRCC says appointments are free: "Don't pay anyone for an appointment."
• Your visa cannot be valid past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics.
• If you live outside Bangkok, plan the trip in and keep your phone on for appointment emails.

How long does a Canadian visa take, and how long can you stay?

IRCC does not give one fixed processing time. Its processing-time tool is selected by the country you apply from, is updated weekly and includes time for biometrics, and IRCC says the estimate is not a maximum or a guarantee. Check the figure for Thailand on the day you apply and leave a generous buffer before your flight.

What happens after your visa is approved?

If you are approved, IRCC sends a passport request letter through your online account. IRCC says: "You can't travel to Canada until we put the visa in the passport you submit."

• Submit the same passport you used in the application.
• Follow the letter's instructions for sending the passport through the VAC.
• When it comes back, check the name, date of birth, passport number and expiry on the visa at once.
• If anything is wrong, contact IRCC through its online web form before you fly.

The Embassy of Canada to Thailand is on the 15th Floor of Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, but immigration questions go through IRCC's web form, not walk-in visits.

Why do you need a working phone and email while applying?

Almost every step of a Canadian visa application happens online, so a reachable email address and a phone that receives verification codes matter as much as your documents.

• Banks often send a one-time code (OTP) by SMS when you pay fees by card, so keep your Thai number active.
• The BIL, IRCC messages and the passport request arrive by email and in your account, so check both often.
• Keep scans of every document on your phone in case you need to upload again.
• After landing you need data for maps, rides and contacting your stay; setting up a Canada eSIM before you fly keeps your Thai SIM free for bank OTPs.

What mistakes cause problems with a Canadian visa application?

• Applying through an unofficial site, or paying someone for a biometrics slot.
• Using a passport with less than 6 months' validity from your travel date.
• Missing the 30-day biometrics deadline.
• Booking non-refundable flights before the visa is in your passport.
• Dates that do not match between the itinerary, employer letter and form.
• Assuming an eTA will work when you plan to enter Canada by land from the US.

Get Canada data ready before you fly