Canada Visa for Indians: Requirements, Fees & Application Process

Visa validity is different from permitted stay. A visa valid for several years does not allow you to remain in Canada continuously for that period. Follow the stay authorised when you enter.

Choose the application that matches what you intend to do in Canada.

Tourism and Personal Visits

A visitor visa is commonly used for holidays and visiting family or friends. Supporting evidence should explain the purpose, intended duration, funding and accommodation arrangements.

For detailed holiday and personal-visit preparation, read our Canada tourist visa guide.

Business Visits

Eligible business visitors may attend meetings, conferences and trade events without entering the Canadian labour market. Their main place of business and source of income and profits should remain outside Canada.

Check the planned activities carefully: a business visit and employment requiring a work permit are different.

For invitations, company letters and business-specific documents, read our Canada business visa guide.

Super Visa

Eligible parents and grandparents can use the Super Visa for extended visits to qualifying children or grandchildren in Canada, with stays of up to five years.

The applicant and host must meet the relevant conditions, including the host’s minimum necessary income, an invitation, an immigration medical examination and qualifying health insurance.

Study and Work Permits

Study and work permits authorise the relevant activity under their conditions. They are not visas.

Applicants must also meet Canada’s entry-document requirements. For an initial approved study or work permit application, IRCC issues the required visa or eTA where applicable.

Transit Visa

A transit visa may be required when connecting between international flights through Canada for 48 hours or less. If your itinerary includes visiting Canada or transiting for longer than 48 hours, you generally need a visitor visa instead.

Check the complete itinerary before applying.

Permanent residence, including Express Entry, follows a separate immigration process and is different from permission for a temporary visit.

You must satisfy IRCC that you meet the entry requirements and will leave Canada at the end of your authorised visit.

The assessment includes whether you have:

• A valid passport or accepted travel document.
• A genuine temporary purpose.
• Enough money for the proposed stay.
• Ties outside Canada, such as employment, business, family or other commitments.
• Compliance with the relevant health, criminal and immigration requirements.

An invitation can help explain your visit, but it does not guarantee approval. Your travel plans, finances and personal circumstances should support a consistent application.

Study permits, work permits and Super Visas have additional eligibility conditions specific to those categories.

Your cost depends on the application category, whether biometrics are required and which additional services you use.

Government Application Fees

For an individual visitor who must pay both application and biometrics fees, the government total is CAD 185, approximately ₹12,560.

Qualifying families of five or more may be eligible for the CAD 500 visitor application-fee maximum, approximately ₹33,950. Eligibility conditions apply, including applying together at the same time and place.

Currency note: INR estimates are rounded to the nearest ₹10 using CAD 1 ≈ ₹67.89, based on the Bank of Canada reference rate dated 2 November 2026. Actual payment amounts may vary with exchange rates and payment-provider charges.

VFS Global Charges in India

VFS charges depend on the services used and should be separated from government application fees.

The schedule effective 1 November 2026 also lists temporary courier discounts, including ₹858 for standard one-way courier and ₹1,560 for two-way courier, under the offer available until 30 April 2027.

The government biometrics fee includes one package transmission through the VAC where you gave biometrics, subject to exceptions. A separate transmission fee should therefore not be added automatically to every application.

Check the official VFS service-charge schedule for the applicable service and current payable amount.

Professional assistance charges are separate. Request a breakdown of government fees, applicable VAC services and assistance charges before proceeding.

Documents depend on your travel purpose, application category and personal circumstances. Follow the personalised online checklist and any additional visa-office instructions.

Common Visitor Application Evidence

IRCC’s current visitor guidance recommends passport validity of at least six months from the planned travel date. Provide photographs, forms and uploads according to the selected application system’s instructions.

Additional Requirements by Category

Medical examinations and police certificates are required in specified circumstances or when requested. They are not automatically required for every visitor.

First select the category matching your purpose. Study permits, work permits and Super Visas have separate instructions.

Visitor Visa Application Process

1. Identify the correct application route. Use the official IRCC visitor application page and follow the instructions for your circumstances.
2. Complete the application. Provide the requested information and supporting evidence. Follow the system’s format, upload and signature instructions.
3. Pay and submit. Pay the applicable government fees and retain your receipt and application details.
4. Complete biometrics if required. Follow the biometric instruction letter and appointment requirements.
5. Monitor requests. Check the application account and associated email. Respond within the deadlines stated by IRCC.
6. Follow the passport request. If approved online, submit your passport as instructed and wait for the visa to be placed inside it before travelling.

Check the issued visa’s personal details, validity and entry conditions when your passport is returned.

Biometrics consist of fingerprints and a photograph. Temporary resident applicants aged 14 to 79 generally need to provide them unless exempt.

Previous biometrics may remain valid for ten years and may be reusable for another temporary resident application. Check their status before assuming you need to enrol again. Biometrics validity can also limit a new visa or permit’s validity.

VFS Global Canada Visa Application Centres provide services such as biometrics collection and passport transmission. IRCC makes visa decisions.

Use the official VFS Canada website for India to confirm locations, appointments and submission instructions. A biometrics appointment booking is free; government biometrics fees and selected additional services are separate.

Processing times vary by application category, country of application, workload and checks required.

Use the official IRCC processing-times tool and select your application category and country. Visitor applicants in India should select the visitor-visa-from-outside-Canada option and India.

The displayed estimate is not a guaranteed decision date.

When planning, allow for document preparation, biometrics appointments where required, application review and passport return. A fixed wedding or conference date does not guarantee that a decision will arrive beforehand.

Avoid making non-refundable travel commitments based solely on an estimated processing time

There is no universal bank balance that guarantees a Canadian visitor visa. IRCC considers the proposed stay’s length and whether you will stay in paid accommodation or with friends or relatives.

Self-Funded and Sponsored Visits

Your evidence should explain:

• The expected cost of the trip.
• The funds available and their source.
• Who will pay for travel, accommodation and living expenses.
• Any sponsorship arrangement and supporting evidence.

IRCC’s visitor guidance recommends at least six months of account details to help establish your financial situation. Explain significant transactions where they are relevant to understanding the funds available.

Other Application Categories

Study permits, Super Visas and permanent residence have their own financial rules. Work-permit requirements depend on the route.

Do not use a student living-cost requirement or Super Visa host-income threshold as a minimum bank balance for an ordinary visitor application.

Before submission:

• Confirm that the application category matches your actual purpose.
• Check names, dates and other details across forms and evidence.
• Explain funding arrangements clearly.
• Follow the personalised checklist rather than an unrelated generic list.
• Disclose relevant refusal and immigration history accurately.
• Monitor the account and email used for the application.

Submit evidence that supports your circumstances. Adding unrelated documents simply to make the application longer can make the explanation harder to follow.

For Indian travellers, a Canada visitor visa generally covers holidays, family visits and eligible short business visits. Choosing the appropriate application depends on your planned activities: permission to visit is different from authorisation to study or work. Parents and grandparents planning an extended family visit should also check whether the Super Visa is suitable. Once you have identified the correct route, follow its application requirements and prepare evidence that explains your purpose, funding and intended stay. Check current processing guidance before committing to travel dates.