Canada does not issue a dedicated medical visa. To come to Canada for treatment, you apply as a visitor, using either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) depending on your citizenship, and you build the file with medical documentation showing why you need care in Canada and how you will pay for it. The application form and fees are the same as any other visitor’s; what changes is the evidence you attach and the scrutiny you receive.
Visitor Visa or eTA
Which document you need depends on your passport, not your reason for visiting.1Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Who Can Apply
Citizens of visa-exempt countries (most EU members, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and others) need only an eTA when flying to Canada. It is a quick electronic registration linked to your passport, usually approved in minutes, and costs $7 CAD. Arriving by land or sea from a visa-exempt country generally requires neither an eTA nor a visa.
Citizens of visa-required countries, including India, China, Nigeria, and the Philippines, must apply for a full TRV regardless of how they arrive. That is a longer process with higher fees and biometrics.
Documents You Need for a Medical Visit
A standard visitor application asks you to prove a reason to visit, enough money, and a reason to return home. A medical trip needs all of that plus healthcare-specific paperwork. Two letters do most of the work.
The first is from your treating physician at home. It should state your diagnosis, the treatment recommended, and why that treatment is unavailable or inadequate in your country. Be specific about the condition, the procedure, and expected recovery time. The second is from the Canadian hospital or specialist who will treat you. It should name the facility, the treating physician, the scheduled dates, and an estimated cost.
Financial proof carries equal weight. You need to show accessible funds to cover the procedure, travel, accommodation, and living expenses without relying on Canadian social assistance. Bank statements, investment summaries, or a sponsor’s letter all work, provided the amounts realistically match the quoted price of treatment plus several weeks of living costs.2Canada.ca. Eligibility to Apply for a Visitor Visa Lowballing the number is a common error that officers notice.
Your passport must be valid. Canada does not impose a blanket six-month rule, but any visa or permit issued cannot extend past your passport’s expiry date.3Canada.ca. Valid Passports and Other Travel Documents Needed to Come to Canada If your treatment could outlast your passport, renew first.
Proving You Will Return Home
Officers evaluating medical applications look hard for evidence you have reasons to leave once treatment ends. Useful ties include:
- A letter from your employer confirming your position and approved leave dates.
- Proof of home ownership or an active lease.
- Evidence of a spouse, dependents, or close relatives remaining at home.
- Registration documents or financial statements for a business you operate.
A treatment timeline with a firm end date reinforces the same message: this is a defined, temporary trip.
Translating Documents
Every document submitted to IRCC must be in English or French. Anything in another language needs a certified translation with a copy of the original and an affidavit from the translator confirming accuracy.4Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What Language Should My Supporting Documents Be In? Self-translations and machine translations are not accepted. If you cannot find an accredited translator locally, a non-certified translator can do the work, but it must then be sworn before a notary public or commissioner of oaths.
How to Apply and What It Costs
TRV applicants apply through the IRCC online portal using form IMM 5257, the standard visitor visa application.5Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Application for Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) (IMM 5257) When asked your purpose of visit, select “Other” and specify medical treatment. Enter a figure for funds that realistically covers the procedure plus living expenses.
Upload the form and all supporting documents through the portal.6Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. IRCC Portal: Apply Online to Visit Canada Each file can be up to 5 MB.7Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Is There a File Size Limit for Documents I Upload to My Account? Accepted formats include PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, and Microsoft Word.8Government of Canada. Add a Document to Your Application Medical imaging and long hospital records often exceed the limit, so plan to compress or split them.
The fees:
- Visitor visa processing: $100 CAD per person.
- Biometrics: $85 CAD per person.
Both are paid through the IRCC payment page.9Government of Canada. Pay Your Application Fees Online Not everyone owes biometrics. Applicants under 14 or over 79 are exempt, along with U.S. citizens and several other categories.10Government of Canada. Biometrics: Who Needs to Give Their Fingerprints and Photo If you do, IRCC will send an instruction letter directing you to a designated Visa Application Centre.
Processing times vary by country and current backlog. IRCC generally cites 8 to 16 weeks for temporary residence applications.11Government of Canada. Check Current IRCC Processing Times Check the current estimate for your country before you apply. There is no formal expedited track for medical visitors, though genuinely urgent cases may move faster in practice.
Medical Exams for Stays Over Six Months
If treatment and recovery will keep you in Canada longer than six months, you may need an immigration medical exam by an IRCC-designated panel physician. The trigger is where you have lived: the exam is required if you spent six or more consecutive months in one of several designated countries in the year before you enter Canada.12Government of Canada. Find Out if You Need a Medical Exam for Your Temporary Resident Application If it applies to you, the visa office will send instructions after reviewing your application.13Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Medical Exams for Visitors, Students and Workers If you have lived only in non-designated countries, no exam is needed no matter how long you stay.
Paying for Care and What Insurance Won’t Cover
Canada’s provincial health insurance plans cover citizens and permanent residents. As a visitor you have no public coverage. Every consultation, lab, scan, surgical fee, and hospital bed comes out of your pocket or your private policy.
Private visitor travel insurance is widely sold, but most standard policies exclude pre-existing conditions and will not cover the procedure that was the stated purpose of your trip. If you are traveling specifically for surgery, expect that surgery and its direct complications to be excluded. Private insurance is more useful for unrelated emergencies during your stay: a car accident, a sudden unconnected illness, or similar events. Read the exclusions before you buy.
Budget conservatively. Canadian hospital charges for uninsured patients can reach thousands of dollars per day. Ask your treating facility for a detailed written estimate before travel, and add a buffer for complications, extended recovery, and follow-up.
Extending Your Stay if Treatment Runs Long
If treatment or recovery takes longer than planned, you can apply to extend your authorized stay by requesting a visitor record through the IRCC online portal.14Government of Canada. Extend Your Stay in Canada (Visitor Record) Apply before your current status expires. If IRCC receives your extension request before that date, you keep what is informally called implied status and can remain in Canada while the application is processed.
Miss the deadline and you have 90 days to apply for restoration of status. Restoration costs $246.25 CAD on top of any other fees.15Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Citizenship and Immigration Application Fees Approval is not guaranteed, and even a brief lapse can complicate future Canadian applications. Set a calendar reminder well ahead of your expiry date.
Your extension package should include a fresh letter from your Canadian physician explaining why more time is needed, a revised treatment timeline, and updated proof of funds covering the longer stay.
If You’re Found Medically Inadmissible
Canada can refuse entry to anyone whose health condition might place an excessive demand on public health or social services.16Department of Justice Canada. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act – Section 38 For most visitors paying privately at a specific facility, this is less commonly a problem than it is for permanent residence applicants. It can still come up if an officer believes your condition may lead to emergency use of publicly funded services during your stay. A clear treatment plan at a private facility, prepaid deposits, and documented private insurance for emergencies help address that concern.
If you are found inadmissible on health grounds but still need to enter for treatment, a Temporary Resident Permit is the fallback. An officer may issue a TRP when they believe entry is justified despite the inadmissibility.17Justice Laws Website. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act – Section 24 It is discretionary, issued for a limited time, and can be cancelled at any point.18Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Temporary Resident Permit A strong TRP request typically includes evidence that the treatment is only available in Canada, a prepaid treatment plan from the Canadian facility, proof of funds sufficient to avoid reliance on public services, and a clear departure plan.
Bringing a Family Member or Caregiver
A relative accompanying you for support applies as a regular visitor through the same TRV or eTA process. Their application should reference your medical trip and explain their role. Filing at the same time as you, with cross-referenced application numbers, helps officers process both files together.
A professional caregiver is different. Someone performing paid caregiving work in Canada generally needs a work permit backed by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from the employer.19Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Work Temporarily as a Caregiver Unpaid family providing informal help fits the visitor route; a hired nurse or health aide does not. The work permit route adds weeks to the timeline, so plan accordingly.
What Happens at the Border
A valid visitor visa gets you to Canada; a Canada Border Services Agency officer at the port of entry makes the final decision. That officer can ask about your treatment, finances, and return plans, and can refuse admission if not satisfied.20Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Reasons You May Be Inadmissible to Canada
Carry printed copies of everything you submitted: the hospital appointment letter, physician referral, proof of funds, and evidence of ties to your home country. If the officer does not stamp your passport, you are authorized to stay for six months from the day you entered, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.21Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Visitor Visa: About the Document