Visa Requirements

ISPRS 2026
Visa Application Information

4 Important Steps for Visa Applications

01

Register as soon as you can for the Congress and request a Letter of Invitation during the registration process. The registration payment confirmation and the invitation letter including the Special Event Code are required as part of the visa application.

02

Start your visa application as soon as possible. Make sure to include the Special Events code, which is included in your invitation letter

03

Make your biometrics appointment as soon as possible. Your file will not be processed until the biometrics have been provided!

04

Declare criminality issues. Some actions might not be considered a crime in Canada, but are criminal in select countries. If the Government of Canada finds out you have a criminal record in your country but have indicated in the form you do not have a record, the visa application is automatically rejected. For example, driving under the influence is a criminal charge in many countries and has to be declared in the application.

Visa Application
Important Information

Please visit the Government of Canada website for the most up-to-date information on visa exemptions, application requirements and processing times. Click here to find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada.

Visitors from visa-exempt countries require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Applicants can apply for temporary resident visa (visitor visa) through one of the two options listed below.

To obtain the Special Events Code needed for the visa application, please request a Letter of Invitation as part of your Congress registration.

IRCC Portal (TReApp) IRCC website

To ensure applications are tagged with the Special Event Code provided in your registration confirmation above, applicants are asked to enter the Special Event Code under “Special Event Information” section of the TReApp; OR

IRCC secure network Sign in to your IRCC secure account – Canada.ca

To ensure applications are tagged with the Special Event Code provided in your registration confirmation, applicants are asked to select “Other” under “Purpose of Trip” and insert the Special Event Code in the free text box.

Please note that visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the information presented by the applicant. The onus is on the applicant to show that they meet the requirements for a temporary resident visa. While a special event code has been assigned to this event, it does not offer any advantage to the applicant, in terms of a positive visa outcome. The applicant must meet all the eligibility criteria in order to receive a visa.

Processing times for visa applications vary depending on the visa office and the time of the year. Participants are encouraged to check processing times to find out how long it takes us to process most applications. Each application is different and takes a different amount of time to process. If you’ve already applied, learn how to check your application status.

Participants are encouraged to begin their application process today to ensure they receive the visa in time for the start of the event.

Biometrics Expansion

Since the summer of 2018, when you apply for a visitor visa, (except U.S. nationals you need to give your fingerprints and a photo. To facilitate repeat travel to Canada, applicants for a visitor visa will only need to give their biometrics once every 10 years.

For additional information on whether or not you require a biometric, please refer to our fast facts about Biometrics.