Canada Visitor Visa Chances for Russian Passport Holders 2026
TRV fees, where to give biometrics now that visas are no longer issued inside Russia, processing times and what refusal data shows
Russian passport holders need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada. The application is filed online with IRCC, but two things complicate it in 2026: Canada stopped issuing visas inside Russia on 28 January 2026, and passports must be collected outside the country. This page covers the visa chances for Russian applicants in 2026, the full cost including biometrics, where to give fingerprints, and the published refusal picture.
The Short Answer
The dataset entry is straightforward: a visa is required and no visa-free days apply. What makes Canada unusual for Russian applicants is logistics rather than eligibility. Biometrics can still be given at six Russian visa application centres, but with issuance inside Russia suspended since 28 January 2026, passports and issued visas must be handled through a third country such as Armenia, Georgia or Kazakhstan. Plan the whole route before committing to travel dates.
Who Must Apply and Where
Every Russian citizen visiting Canada temporarily applies for a TRV online through the IRCC portal:
- Create an IRCC account and complete the visitor visa and family information forms.
- Pay the fees — CAD 100 for the visa plus CAD 85 for biometrics per person.
- Give biometrics at one of six Russian centres: Moscow, St Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don.
- Submit and return the passport through a partner country, since visas are no longer issued in Russia.
- Receive the decision — the visa counterfoil is placed in your passport.
Biometrics collection continues inside Russia even though issuance does not; check IRCC's current list of partner-country submission points before you apply.
Required Documents
IRCC assesses two questions: can you support yourself, and will you leave? The evidence that answers them:
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for the trip and long enough for the counterfoil |
| Online application forms | Visitor and family information forms |
| Photograph | To IRCC specification, or taken at biometrics |
| Bank statements | Three to six months showing funds for the visit |
| Employment letter | Position, salary, leave and return date |
| Travel history | Previous passports, Canadian and other visas |
| Invitation | A Canadian host's letter with their status and address |
| Itinerary | Return flights, accommodation and a simple plan |
| Family ties | Marriage, dependants and property |
Because passports travel separately, keep scanned copies of everything before you post anything.
Fees and Costs
IRCC's fee schedule was current as at 30 April 2026. Rates are mid-market reference values for early October 2026 (1 USD = 1.4102 CAD).
| Item | Fee (CAD) | Approx. USD | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (TRV), per person | CAD 100 | $71 | £54 |
| Biometrics, per person | CAD 85 | $60 | £46 |
| Total, one applicant | CAD 185 | $131 | £99 |
| Family of two or more, capped | CAD 500 + CAD 170 biometrics | $475 | £359 |
Fees are paid online in Canadian dollars and are not refunded if the visa is refused.
Processing Time
IRCC's published estimates for applications filed outside Canada sat at roughly 30 days for visitor visas in mid-2026, with country-level figures varying widely — published ranges span about 11 to 48 days as of estimates dated 29 April 2026. No Russia-specific figure is published in verifiable form, so check the official tool.
| Benchmark | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa, outside Canada | About 30 days, mid-2026 |
| Range by country | Roughly 11 to 48 days, 29 April 2026 estimates |
| Russia-specific target | Not published; use the IRCC tool |
Approval Odds and Refusal Context
Canada publishes national refusal figures, and they moved sharply in 2024. IRCC reported a 54% refusal rate for visitor visas in 2024, up from 38% in 2023, with the rate at 49% in April 2025. A parallel statement to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Migration recorded TRV approval of 49% in both 2024 and 2025.
| Figure | Value | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa refusal, 2023 | 38% | IRCC departmental questions, 9 June 2025 |
| Visitor visa refusal, 2024 | 54% | IRCC departmental questions, 9 June 2025 |
| Visitor visa refusal, April 2025 | 49% | IRCC departmental questions, 9 June 2025 |
| TRV approval, 2024 and 2025 | 49% | IRCC statement, 4 December 2025 |
| Russia-specific approval rate | Not published | Checked October 2026 |
These are all-Canada figures, and no Russia-specific approval rate is published. Refusals cluster around insufficient funds, weak ties and travel-history inconsistencies. Misrepresentation brings a five-year ban, so accuracy matters more than optimism.
Application Tips
- Map the passport route first — confirm where you will submit and collect the passport before you pay the fee.
- Show steady income: six months of statements with a visible salary cycle beats a large balance that appeared last week.
- Quantify your ties in numbers rather than adjectives: employment letter, property, dependants, study commitments.
- Disclose everything and keep the IRCC account in your own name rather than handing it to an agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Verification
This page is compiled from official government publications. Verify any requirement that affects your travel plans at the source before you apply:
- IRCC — Visit Canada as a visitor
- IRCC — Visitor visa and biometrics fees (30 April 2026)
- IRCC — Check application processing times
Last verified: October 5, 2026. See our editorial standards and full source list.