Canada Visa Online vs Paper Application: Rules for Indians

The rules below come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and VFS Global India, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, super visas and study permits, see our Canada visa guide for Indian applicants.

Can Indians still apply for a Canada visitor visa on paper?

Only in narrow cases. IRCC says temporary resident (visitor) visas must be applied for online through the IRCC Portal. Paper is accepted only if you cannot apply online, for example for disability reasons, or if you travel on a refugee, stateless or non-citizen travel document. An Indian citizen with a regular Indian passport and no such barrier applies online.

Applications from India are handled by the IRCC visa office in New Delhi.

How does the online IRCC Portal application work?

You create an IRCC Portal account and answer questions about yourself and your trip. The Portal then generates a personalised document checklist. Check whether the local visa office requires anything extra.

IRCC's visitor visa list includes:

• A digital copy of your passport, valid at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel.
• A letter authorising a minor child to travel, if applicable.
• Recommended: travel history, itinerary, bank statements, an employer letter confirming a stable job you will return to, and a letter of invitation.

IRCC marks several documents as recommended, but they do real work: bank statements show you have enough money for your stay, and an employer letter confirms a stable job you will return to. For Indian applicants, that usually means recent bank statements, salary slips, an employer leave letter and copies of past visas for your travel history.

You pay the CAN$100 visa fee and the CAN$85 biometrics fee online, then wait for IRCC's Biometric Instruction Letter.

What happens at the VFS centre after you apply online?

VFS Global is the Government of Canada's exclusive service provider for Visa Application Centres in India. There are ten: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

• VFS moved biometrics booking to its Appointment Management System from 21 February 2026. Appointments from 24 February 2026 require you to upload the Biometric Instruction Letter.
• Booking a biometrics appointment is free. The CAN$85 IRCC fee covers fingerprints, the photo and one package transmission between IRCC and that centre.
• Passport submission at a centre needs a prior appointment. Decision envelopes can be collected at the centre (walk-in, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00) or returned by courier for a fee.

What does VFS charge in rupees?

VFS's optional charges took effect on 1 May 2026. They are paid at the centre in INR by cash or UPI and are non-refundable.

VFS says new service charges take effect on 1 November 2026. The new amounts were not published as of 15 October 2026, so check the VFS Canada service charges page before your visit.

Is the Canadian visa electronic once approved?

No. Applying online does not make it an eVisa. If IRCC approves you, you submit your passport (it can go through a VAC), and you cannot travel until IRCC places the visa in it.

IRCC decides whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and how long it is valid: 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. Indians who are US lawful permanent residents are the exception: they can fly to Canada with a valid passport and green card, without a visa.

How long does an online application take from India?

IRCC's posted processing time for visitor visas applied for from India is 29 days (data last updated 14 October 2026). In April 2026, IRCC told a parliamentary committee that posted times are backward-looking and do not reflect actual processing times. Applications that need more information take longer.

IRCC's global visitor visa refusal rate was 51% in 2025, across all nationalities; no India-only figure is published on that page.

Online application mistakes to avoid

• Trying to book VFS before the Biometric Instruction Letter arrives. The upload is mandatory.
• Uploading a passport with less than 6 months' validity from your travel date.
• Splitting family applications. The CAN$500 family maximum applies only when family members apply at the same time and place.
• Forgetting the INR 604 package transmission charge if you give biometrics at one centre and submit documents at another.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters that you can upload with an IRCC Portal application. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). Message us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to visit VFS before applying for a Canada visa?

No. You apply and pay online first, then wait for IRCC's Biometric Instruction Letter. VFS appointments from 24 February 2026 require you to upload that letter when booking.

How much does a Canada visa cost for a family applying online?

IRCC charges CAN$100 per person, with a CAN$500 maximum for a family of 5 or more applying at the same time and place. Biometrics are CAN$85 per person, with a CAN$170 maximum for a family of 2 or more applying together.

Does an online application mean I get an eVisa?

No. The Canadian visitor visa is not electronic. If approved, you submit your passport and cannot travel until IRCC places the visa in it.