Canada does not have a standalone digital nomad visa. Instead, under the Tech Talent Strategy announced in June 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) formally recognized that foreign nationals who work remotely for employers or clients located outside Canada may enter and reside in the country for up to six months under standard visitor status, without needing a work permit. The policy is based on the existing visitor framework under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which does not require a work permit for activities that do not constitute entering the Canadian labour market. As a policy clarification rather than a new visa category, there is no dedicated application form, no minimum income threshold, and no additional fees beyond standard visitor entry requirements.
On 26 May 2026, IRCC published a dedicated program delivery instruction ("Temporary residents: Digital nomads") that tightened the evidentiary standard: officers must now be satisfied, with supporting documentation, that your income is earned entirely outside Canada and that you work remotely for an employer located outside Canada or, if self-employed, provide services exclusively to clients outside Canada. This was a verification tightening only — it did not create a dedicated visa or work permit, did not introduce a minimum income threshold, and did not change the up-to-six-months visitor stay or the no-work-permit rule.
For eTA (visa-exempt nationals):
For Temporary Resident Visa (visa-required nationals):
For Visitor Record (extension):
Proof of foreign-sourced remote work (since 26 May 2026):
Visitor status is granted for up to 6 months from the date of entry. If no passport stamp is given by the border officer, the default authorized period is six months. To extend your stay, you must apply for a Visitor Record at least 30 days before your current status expires. The extension fee is CAD 100 per person. Extension approval is discretionary. While the extension application is being processed, you maintain "implied status" and may remain in Canada.
Family members (spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children) may accompany the digital nomad under their own visitor status, subject to the same eTA or TRV requirements. Each family member must independently meet visitor admissibility criteria. There is no special family rate, though the standard TRV fee is capped at CAD 500 for families of five or more applying together. Family members who wish to work in Canada need their own work permit, and those who wish to study in programs longer than six months require a study permit.
There is no special tax exemption for digital nomads in Canada. Individuals physically present in Canada for 183 days or more in a calendar year may be deemed tax residents under the Income Tax Act (sojourner rule), which would require filing a Canadian income tax return on worldwide income. Tax treaty provisions between Canada and your home country may apply. The Canada Revenue Agency also assesses residential ties (dwelling, family, social, and economic connections) to determine tax residency, which can apply even below 183 days. Professional tax advice is strongly recommended.
eTA-eligible nationals:
TRV-required nationals:
Since the 26 May 2026 program delivery instruction, you should carry documentation proving your income is earned entirely outside Canada and that you work for a foreign employer or foreign clients only — a passport alone may no longer suffice. At the border, officers may ask about the purpose of your visit, length of stay, ties to your home country, and financial resources, and may request this foreign-income evidence before granting the work-permit exemption.
Visitors are not covered by Canada's publicly funded health care system. IRCC strongly recommends obtaining private health insurance before travelling to Canada. All medical costs during your stay are your responsibility.
Digital nomads may only perform remote work for employers or clients located outside Canada. Any work for a Canadian employer requires a separate work permit. The policy does not provide a direct path to permanent residence, though digital nomads who find a Canadian employer may apply for a work permit and subsequently pursue permanent residence through programs such as Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs.