# Can Indians with a US Visa Enter Canada More Easily? > A US visa does not let Indian citizens skip the Canadian visitor visa, even for transit. Only US green card holders are exempt. Here is what IRCC actually says. _Published: 2026-10-17 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1176_ ## TL;DR No. IRCC keeps India on its visa-required list, so Indians with a US B1/B2 or other US visa still need a Canadian visitor visa, even to transit. The only exemption is for Indians who are US lawful permanent residents, who travel with their passport and green card. ## Key takeaways - India is on IRCC's visa-required list; a US visa does not replace a Canadian visitor visa. - IRCC notes no eTA option for Indian citizens, and a visitor visa is needed even for transit. - Indian US green card holders have been exempt since April 26, 2022: valid passport plus valid green card. - Visitor visa fee CAN$100 plus CAN$85 biometrics; IRCC's posted time for India is 29 days. - Your US visa still counts as travel history, which IRCC lists as a recommended document. **No. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), India is on Canada's visa-required list, so Indian citizens need a visitor visa even if they hold a valid US visa, including for transit. The only exemption is for Indians who are US lawful permanent residents (green card holders), who can fly to Canada with their passport and green card.** ## Article The question comes up often because several countries do give US visa holders a shortcut. Canada, on the IRCC sources we track, does not. This page sets out exactly what IRCC says for Indian passport holders, where the one real exception lies, and how a US visa can still help your file. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full Canada visa picture from India, see our Canada visa guide for Indians. ### Does a US B1/B2 visa exempt you from a Canadian visitor visa? No. IRCC's list of visa-required countries includes India. Indian citizens therefore need a valid visitor visa and passport before they travel to Canada. Holding a US B1/B2, H-1B, F-1 or any other US visa does not change that. IRCC also notes no electronic travel authorization (eTA) option for Indian citizens. The eTA is the online authorisation that visa-exempt travellers use to fly to Canada. Because Indians are not visa-exempt, the eTA route is not open to them on the strength of a US visa. Your US statusCanadian visitor visa needed?What you show to fly to CanadaUS visitor, work or student visa (e.g. B1/B2, H-1B, F-1)YesIndian passport with a Canadian visitor visa placed in itUS lawful permanent resident (green card)NoValid Indian passport and valid US green cardNo US statusYesIndian passport with a Canadian visitor visa placed in it ### What if you hold a US green card instead of a US visa? This is the exception. IRCC says Indians who are US lawful permanent residents can fly to Canada with their valid passport and valid US green card. They have been exempt from the eTA since April 26, 2022, so they need neither a visitor visa nor an eTA. Two practical points: - Both documents must be valid. Carry the Indian passport and the green card itself, not a copy. - A pending green card is not a green card. If you are still on a US visa while your permanent residence is processed, the visa-required rule applies to you. ### Can you transit through a Canadian airport on the way to or from the US? Not without a visa. IRCC states that Indian citizens need a visitor visa even to transit through Canada. If your India–US itinerary connects in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, you need a Canadian visitor visa for that connection, whatever US visa you hold. Check the routing before you book; a connection via a non-Canadian hub avoids the issue entirely. ### Does a US visa make your Canadian application stronger? It can help as evidence, but IRCC publishes no rule that gives US visa holders faster or easier processing. IRCC's document list for visitor visas includes travel history as a recommended document. A US visa you have used and respected is part of that history, so include a clear copy of the visa and your US entry and exit stamps. The other recommended documents carry equal weight: - An itinerary for the Canada trip. - Bank statements showing enough money to support yourself during the stay. - An employer letter confirming a stable job you will return to. - A letter of invitation, if someone in Canada is hosting you. Also follow the personalised document checklist the IRCC Portal generates, and check whether the local visa office asks for anything more. Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi. For context on outcomes: IRCC told a parliamentary committee that its global visitor visa refusal rate, across all nationalities, was 51% in 2025 (54% in 2024). IRCC does not publish an India-only figure on that page, and a US visa does not move you out of that assessment. ### How do Indians with a US visa apply for a Canadian visitor visa? The process is the same as for any Indian applicant: - Apply online through the IRCC Portal and upload the documents on your personalised checklist. - Pay the CAN$100 visitor visa fee and the CAN$85 biometrics fee online. For families of five or more applying together, the visa fee is capped at CAN$500 and biometrics at CAN$170. - Wait for IRCC's Biometric Instruction Letter, then book a free biometrics appointment with VFS Global, which runs the ten Visa Application Centres in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Since February 2026, VFS asks you to upload the instruction letter when booking. - If approved, submit your passport so IRCC can place the visa in it. The Canadian visitor visa is not electronic, so you cannot travel until the visa is in your passport. IRCC's posted processing time for visitor visas from India is 29 days (data last updated October 14, 2026). IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026 that posted times look backward and do not reflect actual processing times, and files needing more information take longer. ### Mistakes US visa holders make with Canada - Planning a quick drive across the border. The visa-required rule covers any trip to Canada, not only flights. - Booking a connection through Canada without a visa. Transit needs a visitor visa too. - Buying non-refundable tickets early. Use a verifiable flight reservation for the application and buy tickets once the visa is in your passport. See how a flight reservation for visa applications works. - Leaving out US travel history. It is a recommended document; a well-used US visa is worth showing. If you want help with that paperwork, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages range from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### How long is a Canadian visitor visa valid for Indians? IRCC decides the validity. It is generally up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, though the border officer may set a different date. #### Does Canada issue an eVisa to Indian citizens? No. Indians apply online through the IRCC Portal, but the visitor visa itself is not electronic. If approved, you submit your passport, which can be sent through a VFS Visa Application Centre, and IRCC places the visa in it. #### Do I pay a VFS fee for biometrics at a Canada Visa Application Centre? No separate fee is charged for giving biometrics. The CAN$85 IRCC biometrics fee, paid online, covers fingerprints and photo at the centre and moving your documents between IRCC and that centre. Optional services such as courier or the Premium Lounge cost extra. #### Can my parents with US visas visit me in Canada without a Canadian visa? No. If they are Indian citizens without US green cards, they need a Canadian visitor visa. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents can instead apply for a super visa, which uses the same CAN$100 fee and allows stays of up to 5 years at a time. ## FAQ ### How long is a Canadian visitor visa valid for Indians? IRCC decides the validity. It is generally up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, though the border officer may set a different date. ### Does Canada issue an eVisa to Indian citizens? No. Indians apply online through the IRCC Portal, but the visitor visa itself is not electronic. If approved, you submit your passport, which can be sent through a VFS Visa Application Centre, and IRCC places the visa in it. ### Do I pay a VFS fee for biometrics at a Canada Visa Application Centre? No separate fee is charged for giving biometrics. The CAN$85 IRCC biometrics fee, paid online, covers fingerprints and photo at the centre and moving your documents between IRCC and that centre. Optional services such as courier or the Premium Lounge cost extra. ### Can my parents with US visas visit me in Canada without a Canadian visa? No. If they are Indian citizens without US green cards, they need a Canadian visitor visa. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents can instead apply for a super visa, which uses the same CAN$100 fee and allows stays of up to 5 years at a time. ## Sources 1. [What you need to enter Canada (visa-required countries)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 2. [eTA: How to apply (US lawful permanent residents exempt)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 3. [Apply for a visitor visa](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/apply-visitor-visa.html) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada