Invitation letter for a Canada visitor visa or Super Visa: what IRCC says to include

By Deepika Minhas, Class L3 RCIC-IRB (CICC licence R706527) · Published November 5, 2026 · Last reviewed November 5, 2026

Quick answer: IRCC says a letter of invitation should give details about the person you invite (name, date of birth, address, purpose and length of the trip, where they will stay and how they will pay) and about you (name, date of birth, address, job, status in Canada, family details). For a Super Visa, the letter must also include a promise of financial support and the list and number of people in your family size. A letter does not guarantee a visa.

Do I need a letter of invitation for a visitor visa?

IRCC’s letter of invitation page explains what a letter from someone in Canada should include when they invite a visitor. For a Super Visa, the letter is a requirement: IRCC’s Super Visa eligibility rules say the child or grandchild must write and sign one. IRCC also says a letter of invitation doesn’t guarantee that it will issue a visa. The officer still checks that the visitor meets all requirements.

What must the letter say about the person being invited?

• complete name;
• date of birth;
• address and telephone number;
• your relationship to the person;
• the purpose of the trip;
• how long the person plans to stay in Canada;
• where the person will stay, and how they will pay for things;
• when the person plans to leave Canada.

What must the letter say about the person writing it?

• complete name;
• date of birth;
• address and telephone number in Canada;
• job title;
• whether you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident;
• a photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada;
• details of your family, such as names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants.

What extra items does a Super Visa letter need?

For a Super Visa, IRCC’s forms and documents page, its letter of invitation page and the 2026 Ministerial Instructions add these items:

• a promise of financial support for the length of the visit;
• proof that the host meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income;
• the list and number of people included in the family size calculation, with the name and date of birth of each person;
• the signature of the host, and of the co-signer if the host’s spouse or common-law partner is co-signing.

The income side is explained in our Super Visa income requirement guide.

Is there a template I can use?

IRCC does not publish a set form for the letter. The template below only arranges the items IRCC lists. Replace everything in [square brackets], delete lines that don’t apply, and keep it true and complete.

Template (fill in every item):
[Date]
To the visa officer, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

I, [your complete name], born [date of birth], invite my [relationship, e.g. mother] to visit me in Canada.

About the person I am inviting: [complete name], born [date of birth], living at [address], telephone [number]. The purpose of the visit is [purpose]. They plan to arrive on [date], stay for [length of stay] and leave Canada on [date]. They will stay at [address in Canada]. Their expenses will be paid by [who pays and how].

About me: I live at [address in Canada], telephone [number]. I work as [job title]. I am a [Canadian citizen / permanent resident / registered Indian]. A copy of my [status document] is attached. My family: [names and dates of birth of spouse or partner and dependants].

Super Visa only: I promise to give financial support to [names] for the length of their visit. My family size is [number]. The people included are: [name, date of birth, for each person]. Proof that I meet the minimum necessary income is attached: [documents].

Signed: [host signature] [Co-signer, if any: name and signature]

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Leaving out the family size list on a Super Visa letter, or listing a different number than your income proof supports.
• Dates in the letter that don’t match the rest of the application.
• No signature from the co-signer when their income is counted.
• Promising things that aren’t true. The letter must be accurate.

For the full application, see our visitor visa and Super Visa page. The Super Visa applicant also needs medical insurance; see Super Visa insurance requirements.

How UW can help

In a paid consultation we check your letter against IRCC’s list, make sure it matches your income proof and family size, and review the rest of the application before you submit. IRCC decides all applications and no outcome is guaranteed.

Deepika Minhas is a Class L3 RCIC-IRB, CICC licence R706527. You can check her licence on the College’s public register before you book. Paid consultations are available in English, Punjabi and Hindi, in person in Greater Vancouver or online. Request a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Does a letter of invitation guarantee a visitor visa?

No. IRCC says a letter of invitation doesn’t guarantee that it will issue a visa.

Does the invitation letter need to be notarized?

IRCC’s letter of invitation page does not ask for notarization. Follow the instructions of the visa office that handles the application.

What extra items does a Super Visa letter need?

A promise of financial support for the length of the visit, proof of minimum necessary income, and the list and number of people in the family size, with each person’s name and date of birth.

Can my spouse sign the Super Visa letter too?

Yes. The host’s spouse or common-law partner can co-sign if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.

Sources (checked November 5, 2026)

• IRCC, Letter of invitation for visitors to Canada (date modified 2025-01-14)
• IRCC, Super visa: Forms and documents (date modified 2026-07-30)
• IRCC, Super visa: Who can apply (date modified 2026-07-06)
• IRCC, Ministerial Instructions regarding the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa (2026) (March 31, 2026)

General information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules change; check IRCC’s website or speak with a licensed professional about your situation. IRCC decides all applications. United World Immigration Services Inc. does not guarantee any application outcome.