There's a moment many people in Canada wait a long time for. The arrivals door slides open and someone you love walks through: your mom, your brother, your best friend from school, your partner's parents. Before that moment, though, there's paperwork, and very often it starts with one page written by you. That page is the letter of invitation.
People call it different things: an invitation letter for a Canada visa, a visitor visa invitation letter, a letter of support, or a "sponsorship letter." This guide explains in plain language who you can invite, what the letter usually includes, and how to get it notarized online if you need to. It is general information, not immigration advice.
Who can you invite to Canada?
Almost anyone. People in Canada regularly invite:
- Parents and grandparents, for a summer, a new baby, or a longer stay.
- Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, for a family reunion or a long-awaited visit.
- In-laws, such as your spouse's parents or siblings.
- A boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé or fiancée, to meet the family or spend time together.
- Friends, including old friends from your home country.
- Wedding, graduation or christening guests, when the event is the reason for the trip.
Visitor visa or super visa?
Visitor visa. This is the visa for most guests: friends, siblings, cousins, in-laws, partners, and parents on a shorter trip. Your letter of invitation is a supporting document they include with their application. If your guest comes from a country that doesn't need a visa, a letter is still handy to carry when they land, so the border officer can see where they're staying and why.
Super visa. This is a long-stay visa for parents and grandparents only. Here the letter of invitation is a required document, and it must include a promise of financial support and a list of the people in your household. The full super visa requirements are on the IRCC website.
Brothers, sisters, friends and other relatives apply for a regular visitor visa.
Invitation letter, support letter, "sponsorship letter"
People search for all three, and for a visit they usually mean the same thing.
- Letter of invitation: who's coming, why, for how long, and where they'll stay.
- Letter of support: confirms you'll cover some of the visitor's costs, such as accommodation or food. Often it's simply a paragraph inside the invitation letter.
- "Sponsorship letter": an everyday name for an invitation letter with a promise of support.
What a letter of invitation usually includes
The Government of Canada lists what the letter should cover. In plain terms, about the person you're inviting:
- Full name and date of birth.
- Address and phone number.
- Your relationship (brother, friend, mother-in-law, and so on).
- The purpose of the trip.
- How long they plan to stay, and when they plan to leave.
- Where they'll live in Canada, and who will pay for what.
And about you:
- Full name and date of birth.
- Address and phone number in Canada.
- Job title.
- Whether you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, with a copy of a document proving it.
- Names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants.
A simple example outline
This is only an outline to show the structure. Write your letter in your own words, with your own true details.
[Date]. To: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Re: Letter of invitation for [visitor's full name], born [date of birth].
I, [your full name], born [date of birth], a [Canadian citizen / permanent resident] living at [address in Canada], invite my [brother / friend / mother] [visitor's name], who lives at [visitor's address, phone], to visit me in Canada.
The purpose of the visit is [reason]. [He/She/They] plan to arrive around [date] and leave Canada by [date]. During the visit [he/she/they] will stay at my home at [address], and I will cover [accommodation / food / local travel].
I work as a [job title] at [employer]. My household includes [names and dates of birth of spouse and dependants]. [Signature, your name, phone, email]
A few practical tips
- Be specific. "My sister will arrive around June 10 for my wedding on June 20 and fly home by July 5" reads better than "she will visit for some time."
- Keep everything consistent. Names, dates and addresses should match your guest's application exactly.
- Be honest. Only write what's true and what you really plan to do.
- Don't sign it yet if you're going to have it notarized. You'll sign during the appointment.
Does an invitation letter need to be notarized?
Not always. A clear, signed letter is often enough. But many people choose a notarized or sworn invitation letter, and sometimes it's asked for:
- A visa office, embassy or local authority in your guest's country requests it.
- The letter includes a promise of financial support and you want it formally sworn.
- You simply want the document to look as official and solid as possible.
When a letter is sworn or declared, you confirm in front of a commissioner for taking affidavits or a notary public that its contents are true, and they sign and seal it.
Get your invitation letter notarized online
We commission invitation letters and support letters online by secure video. You can be anywhere, there's no office visit and no email back-and-forth.
- Book online and upload your unsigned letter and your photo ID.
- Join the video call at the time you picked.
- Sign on screen while we watch, then we sign and seal the document.
- Receive the finished document by email, ready to send to your guest.
Need a printed copy with a gold seal mailed to you? You can add it when you book. We don't write or edit invitation letters. You prepare the letter yourself, and we take care of the notarization. See our page on the Letter of Invitation to Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write an invitation letter for a friend? Yes. Friends, siblings, cousins and other relatives can all be invited on a visitor visa.
Can I invite my brother or sister on a super visa? No. The super visa is only for parents and grandparents. Siblings and friends apply for a regular visitor visa.
Can I invite my boyfriend or girlfriend to Canada? Yes, with an invitation letter for a visitor visa.
Can a permanent resident write an invitation letter? Yes. Both Canadian citizens and permanent residents can invite visitors.
Can I get my invitation letter notarized online? Yes. We commission invitation and support letters by video call, wherever you are, and email you the signed, sealed document.
Can two of us sign the same letter? Yes, for example you and your spouse. Just choose two signers when you book. There's no extra fee per signer.
Requirements can change. Always check the current details on the Government of Canada letter of invitation page before your guest applies.