Do Indians need a visa for Canada?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to Canada (up to 6 months, decided at the border).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa required |
| Allowed stay | up to 6 months, decided at the border |
| Verified | 2026-10-30 |
| Processing | 29–50 days |
| Government fee | ₹6,775 |
Visitor visa (TRV) applied online with biometrics at a VAC; the eTA is only for visa-exempt passports.
What "Visa required" means for Indians
Visa required means Indians must hold a visa issued by Canada before travelling. The application is filed online, the government fee of ₹6,775 is paid and fingerprints and a photo are taken at a visa application centre, after which the passport is returned with the visa (Sticker). Published decision windows for Canada are 29–50 days; the visa allows a stay of up to 6 months, decided at the border.
Before you apply
Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Appointment slots at visa application centres fill up before holidays, so book biometrics first and gather documents around that date. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.
At the Canada border and during the stay
Canada sets a stay of up to 6 months, decided at the border, multiple, on a visa valid for up to 10 years. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for Canada and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the Canada destination page. Note for this rule: Visitor visa (TRV) applied online with biometrics at a VAC; the eTA is only for visa-exempt passports. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from Canada's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-30. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
Canada for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
Indian citizens apply for a visitor visa (TRV, temporary resident visa) before travelling. The application is filed online; biometrics are given at a VAC in India. Vistolane files the application and books the biometrics appointment.
Indian citizens apply for a visitor visa (TRV, temporary resident visa) before travelling. The application is filed online; biometrics are given at a VAC in India. Vistolane files the application and books the biometrics appointment.
How much does a Canada visa cost? From ₹16,514 per traveller all-in: ₹6,775 government fee, ₹0 mandatory charges (Biometrics fee (IRCC), Visa application centre fee) plus ₹2,380 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.
How long does a Canada visa take? 29–50 days (about 50 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); ircc.canada.ca publishes 29–45 days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a Canada visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The Canada checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a Canada visa? About ₹2.37 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹1.39 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: Canada publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the Canada visa online, or is it visa on arrival? Online. Canada issues the Visitor visa (TRV) before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in Canada on this visa? Up to 6 months per visit; entry: multiple; validity up to 10 years. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Is an interview or biometrics required for Canada? No interview, but Canada takes fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.
Applying for the Canada visa
Why are Canada visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the Canada list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.
Can I apply for the Canada visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for Canada?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to Canada (up to 6 months, decided at the border).
How long can Indians stay in Canada?
up to 6 months, decided at the border under the visa required rule.
What does a Canada visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹6,775 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹2,380; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does a Canada visa cost?
From ₹16,514 per traveller all-in: ₹6,775 government fee, ₹0 mandatory charges (Biometrics fee (IRCC), Visa application centre fee) plus ₹2,380 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.
How long does a Canada visa take?
29–50 days (about 50 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); ircc.canada.ca publishes 29–45 days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a Canada visa?
A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The Canada checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a Canada visa?
About ₹2.37 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹1.39 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: Canada publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the Canada visa online, or is it visa on arrival?
Online. Canada issues the Visitor visa (TRV) before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.