Yes, you do. A visa is given by the country you are going to, your passport is a Canadian document. Often a visa is put right into your passport, so that it becomes part of the same document. Then you can just show the one document when you enter a country and it makes things a bit simpler. You must have your passport to apply for a visa, so make sure you apply for your passport first. Even if you already have a passport, be careful! Some countries will not give you a visa if your Canadian passport is due to expire within 6 months. Last Reviewed: August 2012