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Inviting relatives to visit

If you would like to invite a friend or relative to visit you in Canada, you may need to send them a letter of invitation. Ontario Tech University does not provide these letters; you must write the letter yourself. You can find guidelines on what to include in the letter of invitation on the Government of Canada website. Some things to note:

  • A letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa will be issued to your friend or relative.
  • A letter of invitation is only one part of your friend's or relative's application. The visa officer will assess the applicant to determine if they meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
  • Some visa offices may require that you have your letter notarized by a notary public. 

To find more information please refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website directly. 

Download a sample letter for convocation

Download a sample letter for a general visit

Writing a letter of invitation

Beyond what the Government of Canada suggests including in your letter of invitation, you may want to consider including the following:

  • Verification of enrolment letter from Ontario Tech
  • Verification of program completion or final transcript (if you are graduating).
  • Verification of proof of Convocation dates (if you are graduating) and share the web link.
  • A photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada, such as:    
    • Your temporary resident status (e.g. study permit or work permit).
    • Your Canadian birth certificate, if you were born in Canada.
    • Your Canadian citizenship card, if you are a naturalized citizen.
    • Your permanent resident card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing, if you are a permanent resident.
  • Proof of social and economic ties.

Proof of social and economic ties

Your visitor(s) must provide proof of economic and social ties to their home country as part of their application. These ties demonstrate to the officer that the applicant will return to their home country after a visit to Canada and does not pose the risk of coming to Canada and then not leaving. The stronger the ties to their home country, the more likely the officer will approve their visa application.  

Economic ties include:

  • Bank statements
  • Letters of employment
  • Proof of business ownership
  • Proof of financial investments
  • Proof of property ownership

Social ties include evidence that family members back home depend on them for financial/social support and that they must return home after their visit in order to meet these obligations.