Canada Visa for Indians 2026: Types, Fees and How to Apply

The details below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Global Affairs Canada and VFS Global India. For Canada news and checklists in one place, see our Canada visa hub for Indian travellers.

Which Canadian visa do Indians need?

India is on IRCC's list of visa-required countries. There is no visa on arrival and no eTA for Indian passports, so you need a visitor visa even to transit through Canada. The one exception is Indians who are US lawful permanent residents: they can fly to Canada with a valid passport and green card.

The visa is not electronic. If approved, you submit your passport and cannot travel until IRCC places the visa in it.

How much are Canada visa fees in 2026?

IRCC charges in Canadian dollars only and publishes no INR amounts. VFS Global charges its optional services in rupees.

The biometrics fee already covers fingerprints and photo at the centre and one package transfer between IRCC and that centre, so there is no separate VFS charge just for biometrics. The VFS rupee charges took effect on 1 May 2026, and VFS has announced new charges from 1 November 2026 without publishing the amounts yet.

How do you apply from India, step by step?

1. Apply online in the IRCC Portal. Paper applications are only for people who cannot apply online, for example for disability reasons.
2. Upload the personalised checklist. The portal generates it from your answers.
3. Pay the visa and biometrics fees online.
4. Wait for the Biometric Instruction Letter. Since 24 February 2026, VFS India requires you to upload it when booking.
5. Book a free biometrics appointment at one of the ten centres: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune.
6. Give fingerprints and a photo. The visa office in New Delhi handles applications from India.
7. Submit your passport if approved. Passport submission at a centre needs a prior appointment.
8. Collect the decision envelope at the centre (walk-in, Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00) or pay for courier return.

The Consulates General in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai handle general enquiries only; their in-person operations are temporarily suspended, according to Global Affairs Canada.

What documents support a visitor visa application?

IRCC's visitor visa page lists two required items: a digital copy of a passport valid at least 6 months from your planned travel date, and a letter authorising a minor to travel where relevant. Check your personalised checklist for anything the visa office adds. IRCC then recommends:

• Your travel history, including previous visas.
• An itinerary for the 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 from your host, if you are visiting someone.

IRCC's visitor visa pages do not list travel insurance as a requirement. The super visa is different: parents and grandparents need private health insurance from a Canadian or OSFI-authorised insurer, valid at least 1 year, with at least CAN$100,000 of emergency coverage.

How long does a Canada visa take from India?

Treat these as a guide. In April 2026 IRCC told a parliamentary committee that posted times are backward-looking and do not reflect actual processing times, and applications that need more information take longer.

What do students and workers need to know?

A study permit needs a letter of acceptance from a DLI and, in most cases, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). Since 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral programs at a public DLI no longer need one. Outside Quebec, the living-cost minimum for applications from 1 September 2026 is CAN$23,448 for one person, excluding tuition and travel (it was CAN$22,895). A GIC from a Canadian financial institution, an education loan, 6 months of bank statements showing the source of funds, or paid tuition receipts are all accepted proof.

Most work permits are employer-specific and need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); the employer gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A unless the job is exempt. The employer must not be on IRCC's non-compliant list.

What do IRCC's refusal figures show?

IRCC has not published an India-only refusal rate on the pages checked. Its notes for the SECU parliamentary committee, dated 30 April 2026, give all-nationality figures: a 51% refusal rate for visitor visas in 2025 (54% in 2024, 39% in 2023) and a 59% refusal rate for new study permit applications in 2025. These numbers measure global outcomes, not your own chances. The recommended documents exist to show what IRCC names: enough money for your stay and a stable job you will return to.

For the itinerary and travel bookings in a visitor file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters. Packages start at INR 1,000 for a flight reservation and go up to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my parents to Canada for more than 6 months?

Yes, through the super visa. It allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or registered Indians to stay up to 5 years at a time. It costs the same CAN$100 as a visitor visa plus CAN$85 biometrics, and needs a medical exam and qualifying health insurance.

Does an Indian with a US green card need a Canada visa?

No. IRCC says Indians who are US lawful permanent residents can fly to Canada with their valid passport and valid US green card, and they have been exempt from the eTA since April 26, 2022.

Can I give biometrics in one city and submit my passport in another?

Yes, but VFS charges a package transmission fee of INR 604 per package when your documents move between centres. Passport submission at any centre needs a prior appointment.

Is there a VFS fee for the biometrics appointment in India?

No. Booking the biometrics appointment is free, and the CAN$85 IRCC biometrics fee paid online covers fingerprints, the photo and one package transfer between IRCC and that centre.