Canada, the second-largest country in the world, welcomes half a million immigrants every year. This leads to the immigrants’ family members and friends coming to the country to visit them. Apart from this, Canada is one of the popular holiday destinations. Tourists flock to the country to explore its diverse geographical locations, vibrant culture, natural landscapes, and unique culture. Whatever might be your reason for visiting Canada, you must get a Canada visitor visa. It’s a temporary resident visa that lets you stay in the country for six months. Anyone applying for this visa has to submit a list of documents, including the invitation letter. Here you will find all the information you must know about a letter of invitation for visitor to Canada.
What is a Letter of Invitation Canada Visa?
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The letter of invitation for Canada visa is a document that supports your visa application. The invitation letter can be sent by your family member, friend, or a business associate residing in Canada, depending on the purpose of your visit. The invitation letter reconfirms certain facts, such as the purpose of your visit, and establishes your relationship with the person who is inviting you to Canada.
Who is Eligible to Write a Letter of Invitation for a Canada Visa?
It’s well-established requirement that anyone staying in Canada must provide an invitation letter. However, there are some rules for the same.
- Only permanent residents or citizens of Canada can write an invitation letter for a family member, friend, or business associate.
- There should be a close or genuine relationship between the inviter and invitee. For instance, it could be a family member – parents, spouse, children, grandparents, etc. or a friend. Business associates can also write this letter to invite someone for conferences, meetings, or any other work-related visit.
- The person sending the letter should have a valid Canadian address (a rented house or owned property).
- The person should be able to provide all the important documents along with the letter, like their proof of Canadian status, financial status, residence, and more.
Who is Not Eligible to Write a Letter of Invitation for a Canada Visa?
It is important to note who cannot write a letter of invitation Canada visa to ensure you get the letter from the eligible person.
- A Canadian citizen not living in Canada cannot write this letter.
- A person residing in Canada with a temporary visa (like a student or someone with a work permit) cannot write this invitation letter.
- If there is no close or clear relationship between the inviter and the invitee, the letter of invitation is likely to be rejected.
What are the Important Elements of an Invitation Letter?
Before drafting the letter for a Canada visit visa application, it is important to know the key elements to mention and include all the details.
Information of the Host or the Inviter
- The information of the host or the writer of the letter should be included in the letter. This includes his/her full name, contact information (email ID and telephone number), date of birth, Canadian address, etc.
- The letter should include the host’s Canadian visa status and proof of the same. If he/she is a Canadian citizen, their Canadian passport, citizenship card, or birth certificate (if they are born there) should be included in the letter.
- If the person is a permanent resident of Canada, the letter should include their permanent resident card.
- Job details of the host like name of the company, address, job title, etc., should also be a part of the letter.
- If the host is already sponsoring another individual, that person’s details should be included.
- The size of the host’s house and the number of people living in it, including their relationship, need to be in the letter.
Information of the Visa Applicant
- Information of the visa applicant like name, address, date of birth, telephone number, email address, etc., should be mentioned in the letter.
- The invitation letter should include the purpose of the visit and the relationship with the host.
- The letter must include details of the visit, such as the purpose of the visit and the duration of the stay.
- The place where the visitor will stay and whether the host will take care of the visitor’s finances during the stay should also be included.

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Sample Invitation Letter for Canada Visa
Even after knowing all the important details that you must include in an invitation letter, you may struggle to write one. Hence, we provide you with a Canada visa invitation letter format and sample, which you can use for your Canada visa application. (The names of the host, applicant, addresses, contact details, dates, companies, etc., mentioned in the letter are not real and are used only for the sake of the sample invitation letter Canada visa).
Name of the Place in Canada, Date (Vancouver, March 30, 2025)
To The Canadian Embassy in (Name of Country – United Arab Emirates),
(Embassy Address)
(Embassy Phone Number)
Subject: Invitation Letter for (name of the applicant – Mr. Ashok Singh)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am (name of the host – Arnav Singh), born on (birthdate – August 16, 1980). I currently reside in (location – Vancouver). I am a permanent resident of Canada and have been living here for the past 10 years. My current address is (4321 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 0A1, Canada). My wife and my daughters reside with me. I work at (name of the company and location – Pacific Nexus Solutions at Emerald Bay) as (job title – Marketing Manager).
I am writing this letter to invite (name of the applicant – Ashok Singh), born on (birthdate of the applicant – January 31, 1982), to Canada for a short visit. Ashok is my (relationship with the applicant – younger brother). He resides in (name of the country – United Arab Emirates.) Ashok will be staying at my residence (address given above) from (date of entry – July 15) to (date of departure – August 5). During his visit, my family would tour different locations in Canada with him.
Ashok is currently working as (job title and company name – Chief Engineer at XMasters Corp in Dubai.) He will be taking care of his own expenses during his stay, although I will be funding the outings we have planned.
Ashok is a genuine visitor who will not overstay his visit. He plans to fly back to the UAE on the above date and has made travel arrangements accordingly. He needs to be back in the UAE due to his work obligations.
I have attached a copy of my passport, Canadian PR card, and bank statements for the last six months to this letter.
I am looking forward for Ashok’s visit to me and my family in Canada, so that we can spend time together as a family.
Kind Regards,
(Arnav Singh)
(321 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 0A1, Canada)
(605-444-7832)
(arnav.singh80@example.com)
Signature
FAQs About Letter of Invitation for a Canada Visa
1. How do I submit the invitation letter for a Canada visa?
You need to take a printout of the letter of invitation for a Canada visa sent by the host in Canada. A physical copy of this document should be sent along with all the other documents you submit with your visa application.
2. What should be the tone and structure of the letter of invitation?
As the letter of invitation is an official document, its tone and structure should be formal. It should have the date and address at the top, followed by the details of the recipient, salutation, the subject, main body, closing, and signature.
3. What should be the length of the letter of invitation for a Canada visa?
The length of the letter should be no more than a page. Make sure that your letter is concise and to the point, while having all the necessary details.
4. Is sending a letter of invitation mandatory?
No, a letter of invitation is not mandatory document for a Canada visa. However, this letter can strengthen your application, increasing the chances of getting your visa application approved.
5. Can a letter of invitation guarantee that I get my Canada visa?
No, the letter of invitation does not guarantee you will receive a Canada visa, although it adds value to your visa application.
6. Is one letter of invitation for multiple visa applications?
Yes, if the applicants are members of the same family, the host can write a single letter mentioning the names of all the members.
7. Is it necessary to notarize the letter of invitation?
Notarizing the letter of invitation for a Canada visa is not mandatory, but it may prove useful when applying for business visas and even long-term stays. Sometimes, the visa office may ask you to get the letter of invitation notarized.
As the letter of invitation for a Canada visa is not a mandatory document, you may ignore it. But submitting it does have its advantages. So, get an invitation letter from your family member, friend, or business associate staying in Canada for your Canada visa application.