Canada visa requirements for Ethiopians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Ethiopians visiting Canada

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Canadian Visa.

  • An original Ethiopian passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from your departure date from Canada.
  • 1 completed and signed visa application form.
  • 1 passport-size photograph meeting the Canadian specifications for a passport photo.
  • Proof of financial means for the entire duration of stay in Canada.
  • Proof of accommodation in Canada.
  • Proof of ties to your home country.
  • Copy of your return ticket to country of origin.
  • Medical report.
  • Police record.

Canada Visa for Ethiopians

Facts about Canada

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. It also covers  9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square mile area making it the second-largest country by total area. Ottawa is Canada's capital city while its largest metropolitan cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Canada is a parliamentary and constitutional democracy, the Elizabeth ll serves as its queen while a prime minister is the chair of the Cabinet and head of government.  


The Canadian economy is the tenth-largest in the world. It has a mixed economy system.  Canada is a net exporter of energy having  13th percent of the global oil reserve which makes it the third-largest share after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. 

Types of Canada Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Visitor Visa 20 days 6 months
Student visa 20 days More than 6 months
Work visa 20 days More than 6 months
Transit visa 20 days 48 hours

General Requirements for Canada Visa

  • An original Ethiopian passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from your departure date from Canada.
  • 1 completed and signed visa application form.
  • 1 passport-size photograph meeting the Canadian specifications for a passport photo.
  • Proof of financial means for the entire duration of stay in Canada.
  • Proof of accommodation in Canada.
  • Proof of ties to your home country.
  • Copy of your return ticket to country of origin.
  • Medical report.
  • Police record.
Canada Visitor Visa Canada Student visa Canada Work visa Canada Transit visa

Canada Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to travel to Canada for tourism, family visit, vacation or other recreational purposes or business are required to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
  • The Canadian visitor visa is a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) that allows its holder to stay in Canada for up to 6 months.
  • Applicants may apply online or on paper for the visitor visa although applying online is recommended. This ensures that applicants submit all required documents which will allow their visa request to be processed quickly.
  • Ethiopians transiting through Canada to another destination that will stay in Canada for more than 48 hours also require a visitor visa.
  • To show that you are in good health, you are to submit a medical examination.
  • A police report showing criminal record is also required. If you have a pending criminal case, you may be denied entry into Canada.
  • You are required to provide documents to prove your financial sufficiency. This document should show that you are able to spend at least $136 per day in Canada. This could be your bank account statement of the last 3 months, your payslips for the last 3 months, or other financial documents that can prove solvency.
  • The visitor visa fee is CAD 100.
  • First-time applicants are required to submit their biometrics (fingerprints and photographs) at the point of submission of their visa application. The biometrics fee for an individual is CAD 85 and up to CAD 170 for family applying at the same time.
  • You are required to present a copy of your hotel reservation in Canada as proof of accommodation.
  • You must be able to show, as an incentive to return to your home country, that you have ties in Ethiopia. Such ties could be a family, house, job or financial assets.
  • You are required to provide a copy of your confirmed travel itinerary.
  • If a minor (under 18 years) is travelling alone, they are required to present their passport (or that of a parent if it contains the minor’s details), birth certificate, letter of authorisation (in English or French) signed by both parents. The letter of authorisation must contain the contact details of both the parents and the minor’s guardian in Canada.
  • If a minor is travelling with one parent, the parent is required to provide the minor’s passport, birth certificate, letter of authorisation signed by the other parent and a photocopy of that parent’s signed passport. The letter must contain the contact details of the other parent.
    • If the parents are separated or divorced and one parent as sole custody of the child, the letter of authorisation must be signed by only the parent with sole custody.
    • If a parent is deceased, the death certificate of the deceased parent must be presented.

Canada Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians travelling to Canada for leisure purposes require a Canadian visitor visa
  • If the applicant is visiting friends or relatives in Canada a letter of invitation from the host is required. This letter must state the applicant’s full name, date of birth, the purpose of travel to Canada and the intended duration of stay, source of financing for the trip, contact details of the host and intended departure date.
  • The invitation letter must also contain personal data of your host and copies of documents proving their status in Canada.
  • You are required to present a copy of your hotel reservation in Canada. If you will be staying with family or friend, this should be indicated in the invitation letter along with their contact details (telephone number and address).

Canada Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians travelling to Canada for business purposes such as business meetings, conferences, business summits, trade fairs or related events must apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
  • A letter of invitation from the inviting Canadian organisation is required for business travellers.
  • The invitation letter must contain 24-hour contact details for your host in Canada.
  • You may also need to present your identification card or show proof of your employment status.
  • As a business visitor, you must show that:
    • You plan to stay in Canada for less than 6 months,
    • You don’t plan to take up paid employment while in Canada,
    • Your main place of business and source of income and profits are outside Canada, and
    • You have documents to prove this.

Canada Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians planning to travel to Canada to study must have a valid study permit.
  • Before you can apply for a Canadian study permit, you must have received an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DLI)—a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.
  • You are required to send the original copy of your acceptance letter from the school with your study permit application.
  • You must also have a valid Ethiopian passport or travel documents.
  • You are required to submit 2 recent passport-size photos. Your name and date of birth should be written on the back of each photo.
  • You are required to prove that you can support yourself and any family members who travel with you financially while in Canada. You could prove this with any of the following:
    • Proof of Canadian bank account with your name,
    • Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a participating Canadian financial institution,
    • Proof of student/education loan from a bank,
    • A bank draft that can be converted into Canadian dollars,
    • Your bank statements for the last 4 months,
    • Proof you paid the tuition and housing fees,
    • A letter from a sponsor,
    • Proof of funding from within Canada, if you have a scholarship.
  • If you are travelling to Canada alone as a student, you need at least CAD 10,000 in addition to the school’s tuition fee.
  • You are advised to apply for your Canadian study permit online so that your application can be processed more quickly and ensure you submit a complete application.
  • First-time applicants are required to submit their biometrics (fingerprints and photographs) at the point of submission of their visa application. The biometrics fee for an individual is CAD 85 and up to CAD 170 for family applying at the same time.
  • You need to submit a letter of explanation stating why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student. This letter will help the visa officer understand you and your goals.
  • A custodian declaration is needed for minors who require a custodian in Canada. A custodian declaration form must be completed an signed by the Canadian custodian and the minor’s parents or guardians.
  • The study permit costs CAD 150 for processing.

Canada Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who want to travel to Canada to work as employees require a Canadian work permit to legally work in the country.
  • There are 2 types of work permit—employer-specific work permit and open work permit. The work permit you need to work in Canada depends on the kind of job you will do in Canada.
  • You can only get an open work permit in specific situations. You should contact your Canadian employer if you will need this work permit.
  • Before you can apply for an employer-specific work permit, you must have received an employment offer from a Canadian employer. You will have to present the employment contract as proof of employment in Canada.
  • If you plan to travel to Canada to work for more than 6 months, you need to have a medical exam.
  • You may also have to submit your application in person for your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) to be collected.
  • Your Ethiopian passport or travel documents used for your work permit application must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Canada.
  • You need to make a photocopy of the bio-data page of your passport.
  • You need to present evidence that you meet the requirements of the job you have been offered.
  • You are required to submit 2 passport-size photos of yourself and any family member accompanying you.
  • If you will be travelling with your spouse and/or children you may need to provide a marriage certificate and/or your children’s birth certificates.
  • You are required to accurately complete all the required forms for a Canadian work permit.
  • You are required to pay the application processing fee of CAD 155 and a biometric fee of CAD 85 for an individual and CAD 170 for a family applying at the same time.
  • To pay the fees for your application via the Canadian online payment platform, you need a valid email address, access to a printer (to print the receipt) and a credit card or Canadian debit card.

Canada Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians planning to transit through Canada to another destination require a Canadian transit visa only if they are not staying in the country for more than 48 hours and will not visit Canada.
  • You are required to have a valid entry permit to your destination.
  • The transit visa does not allow you to visit Canada. This means you must stay at the airport transit zone.
  • To apply for a transit visa, you may need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) at the point of submission.
  • Your passport or travel document must be valid for entry into Canada.
  • If you plan to stay more than 48 hours in Canada or visit Canada, you should apply for a visitor visa.
  • The Canadian transit visa is free.

Canada Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Visitor Visa

Tourist visa

Business visa

100.00 (CAD)

100.00 (CAD)

100.00 (CAD)

Student visa

150.00 (CAD)

Work visa

155.00 (CAD)

Transit visa

0.00 (CAD)

Canada Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Ethiopia

Location

Address

Addis Ababa

Old Airport Area, Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City, Kebele 04, House No. 122, P.O. Box 1130, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ethiopia-ethiopie/

addis@international.gc.ca

(+251) 11 317 00 00

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go back home while studying in Canada?

Yes, you are permitted to leave Canada while studying. You may, however, need to show proof that you are enrolled in a Canadian school before you are allowed back into the country.

When should I apply for my Canadian work permit??

You can apply for your Canadian work permit as soon as you have a written job offer or employment contract and your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) decision letter that your employer received from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). If you do not need an LMIA, you may apply when you get your Offer of employment number from the employer.

If I am visiting my child who is Canadian citizen, what visa do I need?
If you’re a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may apply for a super visa to stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time. The super visa costs CAD$100. The super visa application is the same as the visitor visa application. Make sure you choose "super visa" from the list of options on the form.
What if my study permit expires before I finish studying?

If your Canadian study permit expires before you finish studying, you must apply to extend your stay as a student. If you don’t, you will have to stop studying and leave Canada.

Do I need to apply separately for my family members travelling to Canada with me?

Family members travelling to Canada together must each complete their application form. However, the whole family may submit their applications together online or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and use one payment receipt for the total amount.

Can I submit the required documents if they are in my local language?

All required documents should be submitted in English or French. If not in English or French, you must submit the English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who completed the translation and a certified copy of the original document.

Can I get now Canadian work visa permit?