Canada Visa from India – Complete Guide To Canada Visitor Visa Application And Requirements

Canada seems to have it all! Stunning mountain ranges in Banff, perfect for hiking, exciting cities like Montreal great for exploring and offshore islands like Cape Breton full of culture and history! What are you waiting for? In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Canada Visitor Visa from India – online and in person, processing time at the Canadian visa application center, and Canada visitor visa application process.

Source: www.cpacanada.ca

Applying for a Canada Visitor Visa from India

If you are planning on visiting Canada, you must obtain a temporary resident visa. This will allow you to stay in Canada for up to 6 months. There are 2 ways you can do this from India:

1. Apply online at www.canada.ca
2. Apply through www.vfsglobal.ca. VFS Global has offices in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Kolkata

Types of visas for Canada

There are 5 types of temporary resident visas, however, if you are going to Canada for tourism purposes, then you would apply for number 1 – a visitor visa:

1. Visitor
2. Students
3. Temporary foreign workers (TFWs)
4. Temporary resident permit workers (TRP)
5. Transit visa – only required if you are traveling through Canada for less than 48 hours on your way to another country

Visitor visas are issued as:

1. Single entry – you will be permitted to enter Canada once during the visa dates
2. Multiple entry – you will be permitted to enter Canada as many times as you wish before the visa expires

The Canada Visitor Visa Application Process

Processing times vary depending on where you are applying from. If you are applying from India, the processing time is 94 days. However, this timescale is not absolute. It may take longer due to the type of application submitted and whether it is complete. Also, if the visa office cannot verify your information easily, they may ask you for further documentation which may also affect the time it takes to process your application.

Please note, the processing time doesn’t include the time it takes for your application to be sent to the government of Canada from VFS in India or the time you need to provide bio-metric data.

You should bear these points in mind when applying for your Canadian visitor visa to ensure there is enough time for your application to be processed before your travel date.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa

Before you decide whether to apply online or in person, you should consider the benefits of applying online:

Whether you apply online or in person, there are 4 steps which you must follow:

1. Gather documents
2. Complete the application
3. Pay the fees
4. Submit the application

The only difference will be step 4. If you are applying online, you may submit your application electronically. If you are applying in person through the visa application center, you will hand over your application to the visa office.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa online

Go to the official website – www.canada.ca and click on “Apply online”:

You will be directed to a new page which gives information about the process. Read the information and once you are happy to proceed, click on “Apply”:

Scroll down to “How do you want to apply” and choose “Online” and click on “Get Instructions”:

Please note, in order to apply online, you will need a scanner or camera so you can submit the requested documents and a credit or debit card to pay the fees. Once you have read the instructions, which can be accessed from this page, click on “Apply for a Visitor Visa”:

In order to apply online, you’ll need to register as a new user:

Once you have registered, you can sign in and get started:

The instruction guide will give you information about what you need to key into the application if you get stuck. Once you have completed the application, you will pay the visa and biometric fees. You will also need to upload your documents before submitting the application electronically.

How to apply for a Canada visitor visa in person

Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “How to apply”:

If you scroll down that page, you will see that there are 6 steps to make a paper application:

1. Read complete information on the visa/permit requirements on the government of Canada’s website and download the application form and checklist for the visa you are applying for
2. Fill out the application form to be completed electronically and printed along with the barcode
3. Get your documents ready. You can find the checklist here
4. Pay the fees (see below)
5. If you are NOT REQUIRED to submit biometrics, visit VFS during their business hours with your passport, photographs, completed forms, the visa fee and all the supporting documents required. If you are REQUIRED to submit biometrics, prior appointment is mandatory for biometric enrollment.
6. On your appointment date (if applicable), please arrive at VFS with the appointment letter 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Please bring your completed and printed application forms, supporting documents, fee payment receipt, original passport and two copies of the passport bio data page. Your application and biometrics will be collected. You will pay the fees and be given a receipt which contains your unique tracking number. You can use this to track your application.

Making appointments with the visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure where to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, visa office you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

1. Go to VFS Global’s website
2. Click on “Schedule an appointment”. If you have provided biometrics in the past, you may not need to provide them again if they are still valid. Further information regarding this can be found here.

There are several ways to make an appointment:

1. Online – click on the link for scheduling an appointment
2. By telephone – 18002668858
3. By email – info.canada@vfshelpline.com
4. Webchat – Use the “Chat now” function
5. In-person – at your local VFS office during business hours

Required documents

Whether you are applying online or in person, there is a list of required documents that you will need to submit with your visa application. There is a document checklist you can refer to, but documents include:

1. Visa application form
2. Family information form
3. Valid passport with 1 blank page
4. 2 photos with your name and date of birth written on the back. Please refer to the checklist for full specifications
5. Proof of financial support
6. Travel Itinerary
7. Marriage certificate
8. Reason for traveling to Canada
9. Proof of legal residency status in India
10. Hotel Reservation
11. Travel authorization letter (if the applicant is a minor) including parent (s) passport
    
12. Visa fee

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

It is important to note that further documents may be required depending on your nationality and where you are applying from. You can find the specific documents for your country here.

Click on “Read the instruction guide”:

On the next page, scroll down to “Gather your documents” and click on the link for “Application for a visitor visa”:

On the next page,

1. Scroll down to “Apply on paper”
2. Select the country you are applying from. In this case, India
3. Click on “Get documents”

Please note, you MUST select the country/territory from which you will be applying to get your local visa office instructions. If you do not, you might submit an incomplete application which will result in a rejected or delayed application.

On the next page, click on “Visa office instructions – Visit (IMM 5881)”:

You will then be directed to the visa office instruction document:

Please remember, this document must be used in conjunction with the document checklist IMM 5484 (see above):

As you get your documents together, use the visa office instructions as a checklist to ensure you have everything you need for your application. Applicants from India must also provide the following documents depending on the purpose of their trip:

Visiting family or friends

1. Proof of financial support
2. Income Tax Returns for the past two years
3. Copies of bank statements or bank book covering the past 6 months
4. Any additional relevant documentation (employment letter, pay slips, proof of pension, business registration, investments, etc.)
5. If you are employed – letter to prove leave of absence along with your name, position, salary, start date, employer’s name, address and telephone number
6. If you are retired – retirement certificate showing the amount of your pension
7. If you are a student – letter confirming that you are enrolled and in good standing and that the school has approved your absence
8. Information on the inviter in Canada – Letter of invitation stating the purpose and duration of the visit, confirmation of the number of people in the inviter’s household, inviter’s immigration status/citizenship documents, proof of inviter’s income/financial situation, and letter of acceptance or good standing from the school (if inviter is a student)
9. Proof of relationship with the inviter in Canada – birth certificate, copy of marriage certificate, etc

If you are not paying for your own trip

1. Letter signed by the person paying and a photocopy of their passport or bank certificate proving that they have sufficient funds (documents must not be older than 3 months)
2. Describe how this person is related to you

Tourists

1. Detailed itinerary including proof of air ticket and hotel booking
2. Proof of financial support
3. Income Tax Returns for the past two years
4. Copies of bank statements for past six months
5. Any additional relevant documentation – employment letter, pay slips, proof of pension, business registration, investments, etc
6. If you are employed – letter to prove leave of absence along with your name, position, salary, start date, employer’s name, address and telephone number
7. If you are retired – retirement certificate showing the amount of your pension
8. If you are a student – letter confirming that you are enrolled and in good standing and that the school has approved your absence
9. Proof of previous travel – provide previous passports

If you are not paying for your own trip

1. Letter signed by the person paying and a photocopy of their passport or bank certificate proving that they have sufficient funds
2. Describe how this person is related to you

Super Visa (if you are visiting children or grandchildren who are citizens/permanent residents of Canada for an extended stay of up to 2 years)

1. Evidence of private medical insurance – this must be from a Canadian insurance company; Valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry with a minimum cover of $100,000
2. Proof of having undergone a medical examination from one of the panel physicians for India, Nepal or Bhutan

Business including international business activities, trade shows, attending conferences etc

1. Invitation letter (from Canada) to include company name, inviter details, business address, email, website address, telephone and fax numbers, a brief summary of the invitation to include details of activities, duration of trip and confirmation of who will be responsible for expenses
2. Letter from your employer – it must confirm your employment and title, purpose of your trip, name of the company, company contact, address, telephone and fax number.
3. If you are attending a trade show or other business conference – letter from the conference organizer confirming your registration. Also a letter from your employer, confirming your employment and title, the purpose of your trip and who is covering the expenses, the full name of the company, company contact, address, telephone and email
4. Bank documents showing financial history
5. Evidence of employment such as income tax returns and pay stubs

Returning student holding a valid study permit

1. Proof of good standing at the school where you are studying
2. Tuition receipts
3. Letter of good standing and date of return

Returning worker holding a valid work permit

1. Signed letter from your employer in Canada confirming employment
2. Supporting evidence of this employment such as pay stubs and bank statements

Seamen

1. Seamen’s book
2. Employment contract
3. Invitation letter from the Canadian shipping agent
4. Reference letter from the local Indian shipping agent

Religious workers

1. Invitation letter from host organization in Canada
2. Letters of reference from organizations in India
3. Supporting evidence of religious worker training
4. Income tax returns for the past two years
5. Bank documents for the past 6months.

Short-term studies (6 months or less)

1. Letter of Acceptance from the Admissions or Registrar’s Office of a Canadian school showing exact fees, start and end dates and the latest date you may register
2. Tuition receipts (if paid)
3. Evidence of the highest diploma you have obtained
4. For organized study groups – an invitation letter with details of the program, list of participants and who will be paying the expenses
5. Signed original parental employment letters confirming position, salary and date of hire
6. Bank documents showing financial history, for example, bank books, etc

Transiting through Canada

1. Air ticket and travel itinerary to confirm the number of times you will be entering Canada, and the dates and times for each entry and exit
2. A valid visa for country of final destination, if applicable
3. A letter of invitation from the inviter in Canada or a letter of intent stating the purpose of your trip
4. If you are employed, a letter from your employer on company letterhead granting your leave of absence and including your name, position, current salary and start date

Not all of the above scenarios will apply to you, so you should read these requirements carefully. Make sure you include all the necessary documents before you submit your application.

All documents should be in English or French. If not, you should provide the English or French translation and an affidavit from the person who completed the translation and a certified copy of the original document.

Make sure you have all the required documents for your visa to prevent your application from being delayed or rejected.

Paying the fee

There are 2 types of fee: