Canada Trip Cost from India: Visa, Flights and Daily Budget

The official figures below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For documents, centres and visa routes, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

What are the fixed visa costs per person?

India is on IRCC's visa-required list, so every Indian visitor pays for a temporary resident visa, even to transit through Canada. IRCC charges in Canadian dollars only and publishes no rupee amount; your card is charged in INR at your bank's rate.

There is no separate VAC fee for giving biometrics, and booking the biometrics appointment is free. The visa can be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, so one fee can cover several trips.

Which VFS charges might you pay in rupees?

VFS Global is the Government of Canada's exclusive service provider for the ten Visa Application Centres in India. Its optional charges, effective 1 May 2026, include taxes, are paid at the VAC in rupees by cash or UPI, and are non-refundable:

• Package transmission: INR 604 per package, needed for example if you give biometrics at one VAC and submit documents at another.
• Assisted service for a paper application: INR 529.
• One-way courier for passport return: INR 858.
• Two-way courier: INR 1,716.
• Premium Lounge: INR 4,767.
• SMS updates: INR 179.

VFS has announced new service charges from 1 November 2026. The new amounts were not published as of 15 October 2026, so recheck the VFS page before you pay.

How should you budget for flights?

No official source publishes airfares from India to Canada; fares depend on your city, route and season, so take quotes for your own dates. What the official sources do tell you is when to buy.

IRCC's processing-times data shows 29 days for visitor visas applied for from India, last updated 14 October 2026. IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026 that posted times look backwards and do not reflect actual processing times, and files needing more information take longer. The visa is also not electronic: if approved, you send your passport to IRCC, usually through a VAC, and you cannot travel until the visa is placed in it.

That is why embassies generally advise against non-refundable tickets before a decision. IRCC lists a travel itinerary among recommended documents, so a verifiable flight reservation in your name serves the application, and you buy the ticket once the passport is back.

How much daily money should your bank statement show?

IRCC sets no fixed daily amount for visitors. Its recommended documents include bank statements to show enough money to support yourself during your stay, an employer letter confirming a stable job you will return to, and a letter of invitation if someone is hosting you.

So the daily budget is yours to build: accommodation, food, local transport and activities for the number of days you plan, plus a margin. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, though the border officer may set a different date, so keep the plan realistic for your trip length.

Do not borrow the study permit figure. The CAN$23,448 living-cost minimum applies to study permit applicants for a year, not to tourists.

A Canada trip budget worksheet

Costs that catch Indian travellers out

• Buying tickets early. A refusal or a long wait can strand a non-refundable fare. IRCC's committee notes give a global visitor visa refusal rate of 51% for 2025, across all nationalities.
• Splitting centres. Giving biometrics at one VAC and submitting documents at another triggers the INR 604 package transmission charge.
• Parents on a super visa. They need private health insurance for at least 1 year with at least CAN$100,000 of emergency coverage, from a Canadian or OSFI-authorised insurer, plus a medical exam.
• Courier both ways by default. Decision envelopes can be collected at the VAC, walk-in, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). A flight reservation lets you show an itinerary without buying a ticket first. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Canada visa fee charged in rupees?

IRCC charges its fees in Canadian dollars and publishes no INR amount, so your card is charged at your bank's exchange rate. Only the optional VFS charges are published in rupees.

Where can I give biometrics for a Canada visa in India?

At ten Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Booking the appointment is free.

Do I need a Canadian visa just to transit through Canada?

Yes. India is on IRCC's visa-required list, so Indian citizens need a valid visitor visa even to transit, unless they are US lawful permanent residents travelling with a valid green card.

Can one Canada visa fee cover several trips?

Yes, potentially. IRCC decides validity, generally up to a maximum of 10 years or until your passport or biometrics expire, and the CAN$100 fee is the same for single and multiple entry.