Canada Visa Application Service for South Africans
A consultant prepares the application, assembles the documents and books your appointment. You get a written quote first, free and with no obligation.
South Africans need a temporary resident visa, commonly called a visitor visa, to travel to Canada. Applications are made online through IRCC and supported by biometrics given in person.
Canadian applications lean heavily on written explanation. Alongside the standard documents, a clear letter setting out the purpose of the trip, who is funding it and why you are returning does a great deal of the work.
What the application involves
The IRCC online application
The application is submitted through an IRCC account with documents uploaded rather than handed over. The document checklist you are given depends on the answers you provide, so getting those right shapes everything that follows.
Supporting documents and the cover letter
We assemble the financial evidence, employment confirmation and travel plan, and prepare the explanatory letter that ties them together. This is the part applicants most often underestimate.
Biometrics
After submitting, you are asked to give biometrics in person at a visa application centre. We book that appointment. Processing does not begin in earnest until biometrics are captured, so delay here delays everything.
Processing
Canadian processing times fluctuate and can run long. We keep track of your case and tell you what the current picture looks like rather than quoting a figure that may already be out of date.
Why Canada applications get refused
- A purpose of travel that is not clearly explained or evidenced
- Funds that do not credibly cover the trip as described
- Weak evidence of employment, study or family ties to South Africa
- Travel history and application answers that do not line up
- An invitation from a host without supporting evidence of their status or means
Every one of these is fixable before you submit, but only if someone catches it.
When to start
Processing times for Canada move around and have run long in recent years. Treat any figure you read as indicative and build in more time than you think you need.
What we do
- An initial consultation covering your destination, your purpose of travel and your personal circumstances
- A document checklist tailored to your case, not a generic list off the internet
- Collation and review of every document before it goes anywhere
- Completion of the application forms, checked with you
- Your biometrics or appointment slot booked at the relevant visa centre
- Preparation for your appointment, and for the interview where one is required
- Support from a consultant who handles these applications daily, until a decision comes back
What we don't do
- Embassy, consulate and visa-centre fees. These are paid by you, directly to them, and are separate from our service fee.
- Travel insurance, flights and accommodation.
- Attending your appointment. You submit your own application in person and give your own biometrics. No agent may do this for you.
- A guaranteed outcome. The decision belongs to the consulate. What we change is how well prepared your application is when it reaches them.
What it costs
GetVisa is a paid professional service. Fees depend on the destination, the visa type and how many people are travelling, so we quote per application rather than publishing a single price. You get a written quote before any work starts. The quote itself is free and carries no obligation.
Questions about applying for Canada
No. An eTA is for travellers from visa-exempt countries, which South Africa is not. South African passport holders need a temporary resident visa.
Biometrics are generally valid for a period once given, so a subsequent application within that window may not require them again. We check your history before booking anything.
Canadian processing times vary considerably and we would rather not quote a number that ages badly. We will tell you the current picture when we assess your case, and flag it if your dates look tight.
Quoted per application, depending on the number of travellers and what is involved. The quote is free and carries no obligation. IRCC and visa-centre fees are separate.
Just looking for the requirements? Our Canada visa requirements page is free to read and has the entry rules, stay lengths and documents.
Get a quote for your Canada application
Tell us about your trip and we will tell you what is involved, what it costs and whether your timing is realistic.