# Canada VAC Charges in India (2026): Optional Services and Courier > What VFS Global charges at Canada visa application centres in India: what the CAN$85 biometrics fee covers, optional courier, package transmission, lounge and SMS prices, and the November 2026 change. _Published: 2026-11-05 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1045_ ## TL;DR Giving biometrics at a Canada VAC in India carries no separate VFS fee: IRCC's CAN$85 biometrics fee covers fingerprints, photo and one package transmission. Optional VFS charges in effect since 1 May 2026 include package transmission INR 604, one-way courier INR 858, two-way courier INR 1,716, Premium Lounge INR 4,767 and SMS INR 179. New charges are due on 1 November 2026. ## Key takeaways - No separate VAC fee for biometrics: IRCC's CAN$85 fee covers fingerprints, photo and one package transmission. - Optional VFS charges since 1 May 2026 are paid at the VAC in INR, by cash or UPI, and are non-refundable. - Courier for passport return: INR 858 one-way, INR 1,716 two-way. - Package transmission (INR 604) applies when you use a different VAC for documents than for biometrics. - VFS has announced new charges from 1 November 2026; the amounts were not published as of 15 October 2026. **According to VFS Global's Canada VAC service charges for India, effective 1 May 2026, giving biometrics costs nothing extra beyond IRCC's CAN$85 fee. Optional charges, paid in INR by cash or UPI, include package transmission INR 604, one-way passport courier INR 858, two-way courier INR 1,716, Premium Lounge INR 4,767 and SMS INR 179.** ## Article The figures in this post are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. VFS Global is the Government of Canada's exclusive service provider for the Visa Application Centres (VACs) in India. For other countries' fees, see our visa hub for Indian passport holders; for the full Canada process, our Canada visa page. ### What does the CAN$85 biometrics fee already cover? Canadian visitor visas are applied for online through the IRCC Portal. After you apply, IRCC sends a biometrics instruction letter and you book a VAC appointment. That booking is free. The IRCC biometrics fee, paid online, covers three things: - collecting your fingerprints and digital photo at the VAC; - moving your documents and passport between IRCC and that VAC; - one package transmission. A family applying at the same time pays a maximum biometrics fee of CAN$170. IRCC publishes its fees in Canadian dollars only, with no official rupee amount. ### What do you pay IRCC, and what do you pay VFS? It helps to keep the two bills apart. IRCC's government fees are set in Canadian dollars and paid online. VFS's optional charges are set in rupees and paid at the centre. The IRCC side looks like this: IRCC feeAmountVisitor visa, per person (single or multiple entry, including super visa)CAN$100.00Visitor visa, family of 5 or more (maximum)CAN$500.00Study permit, per personCAN$150.00Work permit, per personCAN$155.00Biometrics, per person / family of 2 or more (maximum)CAN$85.00 / CAN$170.00Nothing in the VFS list replaces or reduces these fees. If an agent quotes you a single rupee figure for a Canada visa, ask how much of it is IRCC's fee, how much is VFS's optional charges and how much is the agent's own service charge. ### How much does each optional VAC service cost? VFS lists the following optional charges for Canada VACs in India, inclusive of taxes: Optional serviceINRCAD equivalentPackage transmission (per package)INR 604CAD 10.13Assisted Service - paper applicationINR 529CAD 8.87One-way courier for passport returnINR 858CAD 14.40Two-way courierINR 1,716CAD 28.80Premium LoungeINR 4,767CAD 79.99SMS updatesINR 179CAD 3.00None of these is compulsory. They are paid at the VAC in INR, by cash or UPI, and VFS says they are non-refundable. ### When do you need to pay for package transmission? Package transmission costs INR 604 per package. The CAN$85 biometrics fee already covers moving your documents and passport between IRCC and the VAC where you gave biometrics. You pay for an extra package when, for example, you give biometrics at one VAC and submit documents at another. If you live in Pune but gave biometrics in Mumbai while visiting family, submitting your passport back in Pune would add this charge. Using the same centre for both steps keeps you within the transmission the biometrics fee already covers. ### How do you get your passport back: collect or courier? The visitor visa is not electronic. If IRCC approves your application, you submit your passport, and you cannot travel until IRCC has placed the visa in it. You can send the passport through a VAC, but passport submission there needs a prior appointment. When the decision envelope returns, you have two options: - Collect it at the VAC on a walk-in basis, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, with no courier charge. - Have it couriered: INR 858 for one-way courier of the passport, or INR 1,716 for two-way courier. If you live far from your nearest VAC, compare the courier charge with the cost of a second trip to the centre. ### What changes on 1 November 2026? VFS has announced that new service charges take effect on 1 November 2026. As of 15 October 2026 the new amounts had not been published, so the table above applies until then. Check the VFS Canada service-charges page before you visit a VAC on or after that date. One booking rule changed earlier in the year. VFS India moved biometrics booking to its Appointment Management System from 21 February 2026, and appointments from 24 February 2026 require you to upload the IRCC Biometric Instruction Letter when you book. ### Where are the Canada VACs in India? IRCC lists ten VACs in India, all run by VFS Global: North and WestSouth and EastNew DelhiBengaluruChandigarhChennaiJalandharHyderabadMumbaiKolkataAhmedabad, Pune-VFS lists Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 for most centres and 08:00 to 16:00 for Pune. Applications from India are handled by the IRCC visa office in New Delhi. ### Ways to keep VAC costs down - Book the free biometrics appointment yourself on the VFS site, with your Biometric Instruction Letter ready to upload. - Use the same VAC for biometrics and passport submission to avoid package transmission. - Collect the decision envelope in person if the VAC is close, instead of paying for courier. - Remember that the CAN$85 biometrics fee is paid online to IRCC; the VAC collects only its own optional charges. For the paperwork IRCC recommends, such as an itinerary and travel plans, Yatra For Fun's Gurugram office prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I pay Canada VAC charges by card? VFS lists payment of the optional Canada VAC charges in India in INR by cash or UPI. Check the VFS service-charges page before your visit, as new charges take effect on 1 November 2026. #### Are Canada VAC service charges refundable? No. VFS says the optional VAC charges in India are non-refundable, including courier, package transmission, Premium Lounge and SMS. #### What is the Assisted Service charge at a Canada VAC? It is an optional INR 529 (CAD 8.87) charge for help with a paper application. IRCC accepts paper visitor visa applications only from people who cannot apply online, for example for disability reasons. #### How long does a Canada visitor visa take from India? IRCC's processing-times data for applications from India showed 29 days, last updated 14 October 2026. IRCC has said posted times are backward-looking, and applications that need more information take longer. ## FAQ ### Can I pay Canada VAC charges by card? VFS lists payment of the optional Canada VAC charges in India in INR by cash or UPI. Check the VFS service-charges page before your visit, as new charges take effect on 1 November 2026. ### Are Canada VAC service charges refundable? No. VFS says the optional VAC charges in India are non-refundable, including courier, package transmission, Premium Lounge and SMS. ### What is the Assisted Service charge at a Canada VAC? It is an optional INR 529 (CAD 8.87) charge for help with a paper application. IRCC accepts paper visitor visa applications only from people who cannot apply online, for example for disability reasons. ### How long does a Canada visitor visa take from India? IRCC's processing-times data for applications from India showed 29 days, last updated 14 October 2026. IRCC has said posted times are backward-looking, and applications that need more information take longer. ## Sources 1. [VFS Global - Canada VAC service charges India (effective 1 May 2026)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can/service-charges) — VFS Global 2. [IRCC - Fee list](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 3. [VFS Global - Canada India important information](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can/important-information-detail) — VFS Global 4. [IRCC - Find a visa application centre](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/offices/find-visa-application-centre) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada