How to Visit Relatives in Canada from India: Visa Guide

This guide is based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and VFS Global India pages, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. India is on IRCC's visa-required list, so every Indian passport holder visiting relatives needs one of these visas. For other Canadian routes, see our Canada visa hub for Indians.

Visitor visa or super visa: which one fits your visit?

A brother, sister, cousin, uncle or friend visits on the visitor visa. Parents and grandparents can choose either. The super visa is the better fit when they want long stays, for example to help after a birth, because it allows up to 5 years per stay instead of the usual 6 months.

What should your relative's invitation letter include?

For a visitor visa, IRCC lists a letter of invitation as a recommended document, alongside bank statements, an employer letter, an itinerary and travel history. A useful letter from your relative in Canada names you, states the relationship, explains the purpose and length of the visit, and says where you will stay and who pays.

For the super visa, the letter is mandatory and has more to carry. It must be signed by the host and include:

• Proof that the host meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income
• The list of people counted in the host's family size
• The host's signature; a spouse or common-law partner may co-sign

IRCC's minimum necessary income table for the super visa is not held in our record, so your host should check the current figure on the IRCC super visa page before writing the letter.

Who qualifies for the super visa?

The host must be your child or grandchild, aged 18 or over, living in Canada, and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. You prove the link with documents such as the host's birth certificate naming you, and you add proof of the host's status in Canada.

You also need an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician. The super visa allows multiple entries and is printed by a visa office outside Canada after approval.

What health insurance does a super visa parent need?

This is the requirement most Indian families plan last and should plan first. IRCC asks for private health insurance that is:

• From a Canadian insurance company, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions)
• Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
• Covering health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• At least CAN$100,000 in emergency coverage
• Paid in full or by instalments; a quote is not accepted

For a regular visitor visa, IRCC's pages do not list travel insurance as a requirement. Buying cover is still a sensible choice for older parents, but it is not a document IRCC demands for that visa.

How much will your family pay?

IRCC charges CAN$100.00 per person for either visa. When 5 or more family members apply at the same time and place, the visa fee is capped at CAN$500.00. Biometrics cost CAN$85.00 per person, capped at CAN$170.00 for a family of 2 or more applying together.

VFS charges in India are optional and paid in INR at the centre: for example, a one-way courier for passport return costs INR 858 and a two-way courier INR 1,716 (charges effective 1 May 2026). VFS has announced new charges from 1 November 2026, with amounts not yet published as of 15 October 2026.

How do the online application and biometrics work?

1. Apply in the IRCC Portal and upload the documents on your personalized checklist.
2. Pay the visa and biometrics fees online.
3. Wait for the Biometric Instruction Letter, then book a free VFS appointment, uploading that letter.
4. Give biometrics at a centre in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune.
5. If approved, submit your passport so IRCC can place the visa in it; you cannot travel before that.

Applications from India are handled by the IRCC visa office in New Delhi. Posted processing times are backward-looking, as IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026, and applications that need more information take longer.

Mistakes families make with Canada visit visas

• Applying for the super visa for a sibling. It is only for parents and grandparents.
• Sending an insurance quote. The super visa needs a paid policy (in full or by instalments).
• Booking non-refundable flights before the passport comes back. Use a verifiable flight reservation in the file until the visa is in the passport.
• Leaving the host's income proof out of the letter. For the super visa, it is part of the invitation itself.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach our team.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parents stay longer than 6 months on a normal visitor visa?

Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, and the border officer may set a different date. Parents and grandparents who want longer stays can apply for the super visa, which allows up to 5 years at a time.

Can grandparents from India apply for the Canada super visa?

Yes. The super visa is for parents and grandparents. The host must be their child or grandchild, aged 18 or over, living in Canada and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.

Do my parents need a visa if they hold a US green card?

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

Can the whole family apply together to save on fees?

Yes, if members apply at the same time and place. Visa fees are capped at CAN$500 for 5 or more people, and biometrics fees at CAN$170 for a family of 2 or more.