Inviting your parents from Iran: what goes in the visitor visa file.

What the officer has to be convinced of

IRCC's requirements for a visitor visa are short. The applicant must have a valid passport, be in good health, have no criminal or immigration-related convictions, have enough money for the stay, and, in IRCC's own words, convince an officer that they have ties such as a job, home, financial assets or family that will take them back to their home country, and that they will leave Canada at the end of the visit.

For a retired parent, "ties" rarely means a job. It means the home they own or rent, the pension or rental income that arrives every month, the family who stay in Iran, and a history of trips that ended with a return. The file should show those ties in documents, not only in a letter.

IRCC says a letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa; the officer assesses the applicant, not the host.

The Ankara visa office checklist for Iran

Applications from Iran are processed by IRCC's visa office in Ankara. Choosing Iran on IRCC's "How to apply" page adds that office's checklist, form IMM 5855 (version 08-2026), to the general requirements. Go through it item by item.

1. Proof of fundsSix months of bank statements or a bank book, plus proof of other assets or income. If someone outside Canada is paying for the trip, a letter explaining the arrangement and that person's financial documents. If the host in Canada is paying, the host's employment letter, bank statements, most recent notice of assessment or T4, and proof of their status in Canada.
2. Work or retirementAn employment letter giving the period of employment, position, salary, duties and approved leave. Retired applicants provide proof of retirement income and savings. Self-employed applicants provide proof of income, of the business, the trade licence, activities and contracts.
3. The host in CanadaA detailed invitation letter describing the relationship, and documents proving the host's status: citizenship, permanent residence or a valid permit.
4. ShenasnamehA copy of the shenasnameh (Iranian civil status booklet) with an official translation. This applies to everyone residing in Iran.
5. Military service, men over 18Either the military service completion card with the Details of Military Service form (IMM 5546), or proof of exemption or deferral with the grounds and the legal reference. A father in his sixties still covers this item.
6. Schedule 1Form IMM 5257 Schedule 1, if any background question was answered "yes".

Two general rules from the same checklist: documents not in English or French need a certified translation, and false statements or fraudulent documents lead to refusal and a possible five-year ban from Canada.

The invitation letter and proof of relationship

IRCC's guide to the letter of invitation lists what it should contain. About the visitor: full name, date of birth, address and telephone number, your relationship, the purpose of the trip, how long they plan to stay, where they will stay and how expenses will be paid, and when they plan to leave Canada. About you: full name, date of birth, address and telephone number in Canada, job title, whether you are a citizen or a permanent resident, a copy of the document that proves it (IRCC's examples are a Canadian birth certificate, a citizenship card, or a PR card or IMM 1000), and the names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants.

Writing the letter does not make you legally responsible for the visitor, IRCC says, but you must write it yourself, tell the truth and intend to keep its promises. "My mother will stay three months and I will cover her costs" should match the dates, flights and bank statements elsewhere in the file.

For a family visit, IRCC also requires proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate or an official document naming the applicant as your parent. The Family Information form (IMM 5645) lists you as their child; a Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) is added if a representative handles the file.

What IRCC recommends adding

Fees, biometrics, medical exam and processing

Fees. The visitor visa processing fee is $100 per person, or $500 for a family of five or more applying together. The biometrics fee is $85 per person, up to $170 for a family. Fees are paid at the end of the online application with a credit or debit card.

Biometrics. IRCC lists no visa application centre in Iran, so parents give their fingerprints and photo in another country, within 30 days of the biometric instruction letter. Our article on biometrics lists the nearby centres and the 10-year rule. Plan that trip before you submit; the 30-day clock starts when the letter arrives.

Medical exam. A visitor staying more than six months needs an immigration medical exam only if they lived in or travelled to a listed country for six months or more in the year before coming to Canada. On IRCC's country list, Iran is marked "No", so a parent coming from Iran does not need the exam on that ground, whatever the length of the visit. Every super visa applicant does need it, and IRCC can ask for one in an individual case.

Processing. IRCC's processing-times page shows 76 days for visitor visa applications from Iran, updated November 4, 2026. The figure changes weekly and excludes the time to give biometrics or answer a request. Do not buy non-refundable tickets until the visa is in the passport.

After approval. A letter in the IRCC account explains how to submit the passport. Send the same passport used in the application; a newer one can delay the file and does not lead to a longer visa.

Visits longer than six months

IRCC's application page asks parents and grandparents one question before anything else: do you plan to visit your children or grandchildren for more than six months? If the answer is yes, IRCC points to the super visa, which allows stays of up to five years at a time with multiple entries for up to ten years, and comes with its own income test for the host, insurance requirement and medical exam. Our comparison of the super visa and the Parents and Grandparents Program explains when each one fits.

A regular visitor visa remains the right tool for a stay of a few weeks or months. Whichever route you choose, the officer should be able to see from the documents alone why the trip makes sense and why the parent will go home.

Official sources

• IRCC: Visitor visa, who can apply
• IRCC: Visitor visa, how to apply (documents, visa office requirements by country, fees)
• IRCC, Ankara visa office: Additional document checklist, temporary resident visa (IMM 5855, 08-2026)
• IRCC: Letter of invitation for visitors to Canada
• IRCC: Find out if you need a medical exam for your temporary resident application
• IRCC: Visitor visa, after you apply
• IRCC: Check processing times