If an out-of-country family member wishes to attend convocation, your family member will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for Visiting Family Members. Please find out if your country of origin requires a visa to enter Canada.
If the family member needs to apply for a TRV to enter Canada, they must apply through the IRCC Portal, please visit How to apply for a visitor visa – Canada.ca
If the family member needs to apply for an eTA to enter Canada, please visit Electronic travel authorization (eTA): How to apply – Canada.ca
Your family member will need the following supporting documents for their application:
- A letter of invitation. This is a letter written by you inviting your family member to come and visit/attend convocation. Details about the information required in the letter of invitation are available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
- A letter from McMaster’s Student Services department confirming you are a registered student and the anticipated completion date of your studies (for both undergraduate and graduate requests).
- In some countries, a second variable may be required to prove the identity for the Visitor Visa to Canada. These variables may be a passport number, date of birth or identity number.
- Please confirm with the appropriate agency issuing the Visa as to what they wish to use and provide that information to the Student Services department at McMaster, so that they may include it in the official letter. A complete name match with passport information and relationship to the student must be confirmed as well.
