How to Book a Canada Visa Appointment at VFS in India

Keep that sequence in mind: the appointment exists to collect your fingerprints and digital photo, not to hand over a paper file. Fees below are as published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), checked on 10 October 2026. For document lists and other visa types, see our Canada visa guide for Indian citizens.

Why the online application comes before the appointment

IRCC requires visitor visa applications to be made online through the IRCC Portal. Paper is allowed only if you cannot apply online, for example for disability reasons, or if you travel on a refugee, stateless or non-citizen travel document. Inside the portal you receive a personalised document checklist for your situation, and you should also check whether the local visa office wants additional documents. Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi.

Documents to have ready before you apply

The online form goes faster if these are scanned in advance. IRCC lists the first two as required where they apply and the rest as recommended:

• 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 a child is applying.
• Your travel history, such as earlier visas and entry stamps.
• A trip itinerary.
• Bank statements showing you have enough money to support yourself during the stay.
• An employer letter confirming a stable job you will return to, such as an HR letter stating your designation and approved leave.
• A letter of invitation, if someone in Canada is hosting you.

After you submit, IRCC sends a biometrics instruction letter. That letter is your cue to book. Trying to reserve a VAC slot before it arrives puts the steps in the wrong order.

The ten Canada visa application centres in India

IRCC's centre finder lists ten VACs in India and links the India VAC website on vfsglobal.ca.

The IRCC list gives cities only, with no state-wise jurisdiction, so the practical choice is the city you can reach most easily on the appointment day. Before you commit, check the India VAC website for any booking conditions at that centre, since we could not load that site when we checked.

Booking the biometrics appointment, step by step

1. Submit your application in the IRCC Portal, with the documents on your personalised checklist and the fees paid.
2. Wait for the biometrics instruction letter. Download it and keep it handy, along with your application number.
3. Open the India VAC website linked from IRCC's find a visa application centre page, rather than a search result.
4. Choose your city from the ten VACs and pick an available date and time.
5. Enter your name and date of birth exactly as on your passport and upload the biometrics instruction letter, which VFS has required for booking since 24 February 2026.
6. Save the confirmation and attend on the day with your letter and passport.

If several family members applied together, book slots for each person who received a letter, ideally on the same visit.

What to carry on appointment day

The basics are the biometrics instruction letter, the passport you used for the application and your appointment confirmation. Your passport should be valid at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel, which is the validity IRCC asks for on the application. Check the VAC website for any additional requirements before you leave home.

Once your fingerprints and photo are taken, the file goes back to the visa office in New Delhi for a decision. The VAC does not decide anything; its role, which the biometrics fee covers, is collecting biometrics and moving documents between you and the visa office.

IRCC fees versus centre charges

These are IRCC's government fees, paid online. There is no separate VAC charge for booking or giving biometrics: the biometrics fee covers collection at the VAC and sending your passport between IRCC and that VAC.

Optional VAC services, such as courier return of your passport, are charged in INR at the centre by cash or UPI. VFS has announced new service charges from 1 November 2026, so check the current table on the VAC website before your visit.

Slips that delay a Canada appointment

• Booking before the letter. Without the biometrics instruction letter, there is nothing for the VAC to match your booking to.
• Family members applying on different days. The CAN$170 biometrics cap applies only to a family applying at the same time, and the CAN$500 visa cap needs the same time and place.
• A passport close to expiry. Keep at least 6 months of validity from your planned travel date.
• Fixed travel plans. IRCC's processing-times tool showed 29 days for visitor visa applications from India (updated 14 October 2026), and applications that need more information take longer. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before the decision; a verifiable flight reservation can support your itinerary instead, though requirements vary, so check the official checklist.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa applications, priced from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set with hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is travel insurance required for a Canadian visitor visa?

IRCC's visitor visa page that we checked does not list travel insurance as a requirement. Your personalised document checklist in the IRCC Portal is the authority for your file, so follow it if it asks for anything extra.

How long does a Canada visitor visa take after biometrics?

IRCC does not state a fixed timeframe on its visitor visa page, and applications that need more information take longer. Eligible spousal applicants automatically receive faster processing. Check IRCC's processing-times tool for a current estimate.

Will I get a single or multiple entry Canadian visa?

You pay the same CAN$100 either way, and IRCC decides which type of visitor visa to issue. You do not choose it at the appointment.

Which documents does IRCC recommend for a visitor visa?

Beyond a passport valid at least 6 months from your travel date, IRCC recommends your travel history, an itinerary, bank statements, an employer letter and a letter of invitation. Your personalised checklist in the IRCC Portal is the final word for your file.