Canada visa requirements for Indian passport holders

Check your circumstances

Read these conditions alongside the entry rule. Where official guidance does not state a condition, that is not confirmation that no condition applies.

Passport type Conditions to check

IRCC accepts regular, official and diplomatic passports. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date, so renew it before you apply.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Trip purpose Conditions to check

The visitor visa covers tourism, family visits and business visits. Business visitors must plan to stay under 6 months and not enter the Canadian labour market.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Age Conditions to check

Children under 14 and applicants over 79 do not give biometrics. Minors under 18 meet the same rules as adults and may need a letter authorizing their travel.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Residence Conditions to check

You must apply online unless you cannot, and the visa office for the place you apply from may ask for extra documents.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Other visas or residence permits Confirmed for this scope

India is not on the list of visa-required countries whose citizens may use an eTA. A US visa or an earlier Canadian visa does not replace the visitor visa for Indian citizens.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Carrier and arrival route Confirmed for this scope

You need the visitor visa for every route: flying in, transiting a Canadian airport, or arriving by car, train, bus or boat, including a cruise ship.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Stay and visa validity Conditions to check

The officer decides on single or multiple entry and the validity, up to 10 years or your passport or biometrics expiry. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

How to apply

Apply online through the IRCC Portal and choose "To visit as a tourist" or the family or business option that fits your trip. The portal gives you a personalized document checklist. Pay the visitor visa processing fee and, if you need to give biometrics, the biometrics fee when you submit: IRCC lists CAD 100 per person for processing and CAD 85 for biometrics.

Paper applications are only for people who cannot apply online, for example because of a disability, or who travel on a refugee, stateless or non-citizen document.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Documents to include

IRCC asks every applicant for a clear color copy of the passport you will travel with, including the page with your birth date and any pages with stamps or visas. For a tourist visit it recommends:

- your travel history, such as earlier visas and entry stamps from the last 10 years - an itinerary: flights, accommodation or event registration - at least 6 months of bank statements showing your name and address - a letter from your employer on letterhead, dated within 3 months of applying

Family visits add an invitation letter and proof of your relationship. Your visa office may ask for more.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Biometrics, interviews and processing

After you apply, wait for the biometric instruction letter and book your fingerprint and photo appointment quickly to avoid delays. IRCC cannot issue a visa valid for more than 10 years from the last time you gave biometrics. IRCC may also ask you to attend an interview, send more information, have a medical exam or get a police certificate.

IRCC processes most applications in a few weeks or less, but times depend on the visa office. If approved, you get a letter to send your passport so the visa can be placed in it; you cannot travel before that.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Traveling with children

Children under 18 meet the same entry rules as adults and need their own passport; a parent's passport cannot be used. Bring a copy of the birth certificate. A child traveling alone or with one parent should carry a letter of authorization, in English or French if possible, signed by the parent or parents not traveling, with their contact details and a copy of their passport or ID.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

On arrival and during your stay

A visa does not guarantee entry. At Canada's four major airports your fingerprints are checked at a primary inspection kiosk, and the border officer must be satisfied that you meet the entry rules and will leave at the end of your stay. Bring any invitation letter. If there is no stamp in your passport, you can stay 6 months from entry or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. To stay longer, apply at least 30 days before your stay ends.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Exceptions

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people registered under the Indian Act may be eligible for a super visa instead, which allows visits of up to 5 years at a time and multiple entries for up to 10 years.

Official sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.