A long weekend in Toronto, a wedding in Vancouver, or a drive to Niagara Falls. For people living in the US, Canada feels next door, but whether you need a visa depends on your US status.
As of November 3, 2026, here's what Canada's regulations say, and what to check before coming back.
- US green card holders are exempt from Canada's temporary resident visa.
- US green card holders are also exempt from Canada's eTA requirement.
- Indian citizens on US work or student visas need a Canadian temporary resident visa.
- Canada's visitor visa processing fee is C$100, and the biometrics fee is C$85.
- Temporary resident visa applications require biometrics.
- Travel with a pending I-485 can abandon it unless you have advance parole or qualify for the H or L exception.
Do green card holders need a Canadian visa?
No. Canada's immigration regulations exempt from the temporary resident visa anyone who is "a national of the United States or a person who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence" (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 190(1)(c), Justice Laws).
They're exempt from the eTA too. The eTA rules list the same group among people who are "exempt from the requirement to obtain an electronic travel authorization" (IRPR s. 7.1(3)(b)).
The passport rule also has a carve-out for "persons seeking to enter Canada from the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon who have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence" (IRPR s. 52(2)(b)). Carry your passport anyway: airlines check documents, and you'll need your green card to come back. Europe is different: Indian citizens need a Schengen visa even with a green card, as our guide to Schengen visas from the US explains.
Do Indian citizens on H-1B need a Canadian visa?
Yes. The basic rule is that "a foreign national may not enter Canada to remain on a temporary basis without first obtaining a temporary resident visa" (IRPR s. 7(1)). The US-based exemption covers US nationals and permanent residents, not H-1B, H-4, L-1 or F-1 holders.
| Your US status | Canadian visa | eTA |
|---|---|---|
| Green card holder | Not needed | Not needed |
| US citizen | Not needed | Not needed |
| Indian citizen on H-1B, H-4, L-1 or F-1 | Temporary resident visa needed | Not applicable once you hold the visa |
The eTA rules say they don't apply "to a foreign national who holds a temporary resident visa."
What does the visa cost, and what's involved?
"A fee of $100 is payable for processing an application for a temporary resident visa to enter Canada one or more times" (IRPR s. 296). That's in Canadian dollars.
Biometrics are part of it. The regulations list "an application for a temporary resident visa" among applications where fingerprints and a photo are collected (IRPR s. 12.1), and "a fee of $85 is payable for the provision of services in relation to the collection of biometric information" (IRPR s. 315.1). You also need a passport valid for the period of your stay (IRPR s. 52(1)). Apply well before your trip.
Can you get back into the US?
That depends on US rules, not Canada's.
If your H-1B stamp has expired, you may still be able to return from a short trip to Canada under automatic visa revalidation. Our guide to automatic visa revalidation explains who qualifies; if you don't, our guide to H-1B visa stamping covers getting a new stamp.
Green card holders return on their card. Short trips don't raise abandonment questions the way long absences do; our guide to maintaining permanent residence explains the difference.
What if your I-485 is pending?
This is the trip that causes the most trouble. The regulation says leaving the US with a pending adjustment application "shall be deemed an abandonment of the application" unless the applicant "was previously granted advance parole" (8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii), eCFR).
There's an exception for people in H-1 or L-1 status. Travel isn't abandonment if, on return, you remain eligible for H or L status, are "coming to resume employment with the same employer," and are "in possession of a valid H or L visa (if required)." H-4 and L-2 dependents have a matching rule tied to the principal's status.
If you don't fit the exception, get advance parole first. Our guide to advance parole travel explains how.
What this means for you
- Green card holders need neither a Canadian visa nor an eTA.
- Indian citizens on H-1B, H-4, L-1 or F-1 need a Canadian visitor visa.
- The visa costs C$100, plus C$85 for biometrics.
- Check your US visa stamp, or automatic revalidation, before leaving.
- With a pending I-485, travel only with advance parole or under the H and L exception.
Where to start
Travel gets simpler with a green card. Our free evaluation at /evaluate/ checks whether EB-1A or the NIW fits your profile, and Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, helps you build the evidence. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked November 3, 2026.
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 190. Visa exemption for US permanent residents.
- IRPR s. 7.1. eTA exemptions.
- IRPR s. 7. Temporary resident visa requirement.
- IRPR s. 52. Passport requirement and exemptions.
- IRPR s. 296. Visa fee.
- IRPR s. 315.1. Biometrics fee.
- IRPR s. 12.1. Biometrics.
- 8 CFR 245.2 (eCFR, current text). Travel with a pending I-485.
Frequently asked questions
Do US green card holders need a visa or eTA for Canada?
No. Canada's regulations exempt a person lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence from the temporary resident visa, and the eTA rules exempt the same group. Carry your green card and a valid passport, since your green card is also what gets you back into the United States.
Can an Indian citizen on H-1B visit Canada without a visa?
No. The visa exemption covers US nationals and US permanent residents, not people in temporary US status. An Indian citizen on H-1B, H-4, L-1 or F-1 needs a Canadian temporary resident visa, which requires a C$100 processing fee and a C$85 biometrics fee.
Can I return to the US from Canada with an expired H-1B visa stamp?
Possibly, under automatic visa revalidation, which can apply to short trips to Canada or Mexico when you meet its conditions. If you don't qualify, you need a new visa stamp before returning. Our guide to automatic visa revalidation explains the conditions.
Can I go to Canada while my I-485 is pending?
Be careful. Leaving the US with a pending I-485 is treated as abandoning it unless you have advance parole, or you're in lawful H-1 or L-1 status returning to the same employer with a valid H or L visa if required. H-4 and L-2 dependents have a matching exception. Check before you book.
How much does a Canadian visitor visa cost?
Canada's regulations set a C$100 processing fee for a temporary resident visa, whether for one entry or several. Biometrics are collected for these applications, with a separate C$85 biometrics fee. Check IRCC's fee page for the current total when you apply.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
