PICES 2026 Annual Meeting - Visa

Visa and Official Invitation Letters

General Information

Most foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to travel to Canada. To find out if you need an eTA or a visa to travel to Canada, see: What you need to enter Canada. You can also answer a few questions to find out what you need to enter Canada: Check if you need a visa or eTA to travel to Canada. For information about the application process for an eTA or a visa, see: Visit Canada.

Visa Processing Times

If you require a visa to travel to Canada, you must verify visa processing times for your region and apply for your visa accordingly. Participants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible ahead of their departure date (preferably, at least 12 weeks in advance) in order to allow sufficient time for their application to be processed.

eTA Application

If you need an eTA, apply on the official Government of Canada website.

How to Apply:

Use the online form to apply for your eTA.
Pay the appropriate fee.
Receive an email from IRCC about your eTA application.
If there are any issues with your application, you will receive an email from IRCC requesting additional information.

Refer to the guides in the ‘Help with the form or other eTA questions’ drop down for information on how to complete your eTA application. For further assistance, use the eTA Help Guide, or see the Help Centre.

Visa Application and Official Letter of Invitation

A letter of invitation from the host country is required for a visitor visa. Those in need of official letters of invitation from the Government of Canada should send the following information* to DFO.PICES2026AnnualMeeting-ReunionAnnuellePICES2026.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca (please include the Subject: PICES 2026 Annual Meeting: Invitation letter request). This needs to be done as soon as possible, and before you begin the visa application process.

Full name, as it appears on passport
Date of birth (YYYY/MM/DD)
Affiliation (Institute/Company/University)
Job title/position
Work address and telephone number
Home address and telephone number
Date of arrival in Canada (YYYY/MM/DD)
Date of departure from Canada (YYYY/MM/DD)
Copy of passport photo page (PDF or jpeg format)

* Please note that the information provided may be shared with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Information collected is used to identify and coordinate the processing of visa applications and, upon request, provide organizers updates of aggregate data on the status of visa applications of event participants, within the confines of the Privacy Act and at the discretion of the Special Events Unit.

Once you submit the information listed above, you will be sent a letter of invitation to support your visa application as well as an “Info Letter” that includes step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a visa.

Use the IRCC Secure Network to apply for a visitor visa with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Note: Participants may be automatically directed to apply via the IRCC Portal. However, all participants applying for a visa to attend an event which is registered with IRCC, should apply for their visitor visa via the IRCC Secure Network by clicking on this link: IRCC Secure Network.

Host Country Information:

Ms. Yvonne Muirhead-Vert
Pacific Biological Station
3190 Hammond Bay Rd.
Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7
E-mail: DFO.PICES2026AnnualMeeting-ReunionAnnuellePICES2026.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
(please include the Subject: PICES 2026 Annual Meeting: Invitation letter request)

Important Dates

June 30, 2026

Extended Deadline

August 7, 2026

Abstract Notification Deadlines

August 21, 2026

Confirmation Deadlines

TBA, 2026

PICES-2027 Proposals Submit PICES-2027 Theme Sessions/Workshops Proposals by TBA

PAST: March 15, 2026

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