How Much Bank Balance for a Canada Tourist Visa? Indian Applicants

That leaves Indian applicants with a harder question than a single number: how much is 'enough' for your trip, and how do you prove it? This article covers what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) asks for, how the other documents support your statement, and why student and super visa applicants see fixed figures when tourists do not. Facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full visitor visa process, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

Is there a fixed amount IRCC wants to see?

No. IRCC's visitor visa application page lists bank statements as a recommended document, to show you have enough money to support yourself during your stay. It does not set a rupee or dollar threshold.

'Enough' therefore depends on your own plan: how long you will stay, where you will sleep, who pays for what, and how you will get home. A two-week stay with a relative and a month of hotel travel need different amounts, and the officer reads your balance against the trip you describe.

When you apply online in the IRCC Portal you receive a personalized document checklist. IRCC also tells applicants to check whether the local visa office requires additional documents. Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi.

What should your bank statement show?

The statement's job is to answer one question: can you pay for this trip and still return to your life in India? To do that clearly, it should:

• Be in your own name, or in the name of the person who says they are paying.
• Show a balance that covers the stay, travel inside Canada and your return journey.
• Match the cost of the itinerary and the length of stay you enter in the form.
• Be consistent with your income as shown in your employer letter.

IRCC does not state how many months of statements a visitor should give. For comparison, the study permit page asks for bank statements for the past 6 months showing the source of funds. That rule is for students, but it shows the kind of history IRCC finds useful.

Which documents back up your balance?

A bank balance on its own says little. IRCC lists it alongside other documents that explain where the money comes from and why you will go home.

A business visitor must also show a plan to stay less than 6 months and that their main place of business is outside Canada.

What if a relative in Canada is paying for your trip?

Use the recommended letter of invitation to say so, and make sure your own statement still supports your part of the trip. If your parents or grandparents are visiting a child or grandchild for long periods, the super visa is a different route with stricter money rules:

• The host must be the applicant's child or grandchild, aged 18 or over, living in Canada, and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
• The host's signed invitation letter must come with proof that they meet or exceed the minimum necessary income for their family size. IRCC sets that figure by family size, so check its current table before the host signs.
• The applicant needs private health insurance valid for at least 1 year from entry, with at least CAN$100,000 of emergency coverage.

The super visa uses the same CAN$100 fee as a visitor visa, plus biometrics, and IRCC's posted processing time for applications from India was 77 days (last updated 14 October 2026).

Why do students see a fixed figure when tourists don't?

Because the study permit has a published living-cost minimum and the visitor visa does not. For study permit applications made on or after 1 September 2026, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 for living costs, excluding tuition and travel; before that date it was CAN$22,895. A guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) is one accepted proof for students.

None of this applies to a tourist visa. Showing a student-level balance is not required for a visit, and a GIC is not on the visitor list.

How strictly does IRCC look at finances in practice?

IRCC does not publish an India-only visitor refusal rate. Its committee notes from April 2026 give all-nationality figures: the global visitor visa refusal rate was 51% in 2025, after 54% in 2024 and 39% in 2023. For 2026 up to 28 February, the approval rate for visitor visas was 54%. These figures cover every reason for refusal, not just money, and they describe all applicants, not your file.

Processing time for visitor visa applications from India was 29 days (IRCC data, last updated 14 October 2026). IRCC has told a parliamentary committee that posted times look backward and may not reflect current processing.

Bank-statement mistakes Indian applicants should avoid

• Uploading a statement that does not match the trip in your form, such as a short balance for a long stay.
• Leaving out the employer letter, so the officer cannot see why you will return.
• Relying on a relative's money without an invitation letter explaining it.
• Applying with a passport valid for less than 6 months from your travel date.
• Treating a student funds figure or a GIC as a tourist requirement.

For the itinerary, flight reservation and cover letter that sit beside your bank statement, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram has packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Canada visitor visa cost for a family?

The visitor visa fee is CAN$100 per person, with a maximum of CAN$500 for a family of 5 or more applying at the same time and place. Biometrics cost CAN$85 per person, or CAN$170 at most for a family of 2 or more.

Do Indians with a US green card need a Canada visitor visa?

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

How long can I stay in Canada on a visitor visa?

Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, though the border officer may set a different date. The visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first.

Is the Canada visitor visa an eVisa?

No. You apply online through the IRCC Portal, but if approved you submit your passport to IRCC, which can be sent through a Visa Application Centre, and IRCC places the visa in it.