Is There a Canada eVisa for Indians? How the Online Visa Process Works

The confusion is understandable. The form, the documents, the fees and IRCC's messages all live in your online account. What is not electronic is the visa itself. This page walks through each step and shows where appointments and your physical passport come in, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For the wider picture, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

Does Canada have an eVisa or eTA for Indian passport holders?

India is on IRCC's list of visa-required countries. That has three consequences for an Indian citizen:

• No visa on arrival. You need a valid visitor visa and passport before travelling to Canada.
• No eTA. IRCC notes no eTA option for Indian citizens, so a visitor visa is needed even to transit through a Canadian airport.
• No eVisa. You apply online, but if approved you submit your passport to IRCC and cannot travel until the visa has been placed in it.

There is one exception. Indians who are US lawful permanent residents can fly to Canada with their valid passport and valid US green card; they have been exempt from the eTA since April 26, 2022. Because there is no Canadian eVisa for Indians, any website selling one is not selling an IRCC product. Apply only through the official IRCC visitor visa page.

Which parts of the visitor visa process are online?

Most of it. Paper applications are 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.

Since 21 February 2026, VFS India books biometrics through its Appointment Management System, and appointments from 24 February 2026 require uploading the IRCC Biometric Instruction Letter. Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi.

Where does your passport go after approval?

This is the step that makes the Canadian visa non-electronic. If IRCC approves you, it asks for your passport. You can send it through a VAC, where passport submission needs a prior appointment. The IRCC biometrics fee already covers moving your documents and passport between IRCC and the VAC where you gave biometrics (one package transmission).

Getting the passport back has two options. You can collect the decision envelope at the VAC as a walk-in, Monday to Friday, 9:00-17:00, or pay VFS to courier it. If you gave biometrics at one VAC and submit documents at another, VFS charges a package transmission fee.

How much does applying online cost?

IRCC charges in Canadian dollars and publishes no INR amounts. VFS charges for optional services in INR at the VAC, payable by cash or UPI and non-refundable.

The family maximums apply only when family members apply at the same time and place. The VFS amounts took effect on 1 May 2026; VFS says new service charges take effect on 1 November 2026, and the new amounts had not been published as of 15 October 2026.

How long does the online visitor visa take from India?

IRCC's processing-times data for visitor visas from India showed 29 days, last updated October 14, 2026. Treat that as a rough guide. IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026 that posted times are backward-looking and do not reflect actual processing times, and applications needing more information take longer. Add time after approval for the passport request and its return.

For outcome context, IRCC's committee notes give a global visitor visa refusal rate of 51% for 2025 (54% in 2024 and 39% in 2023), across all nationalities. IRCC does not publish an India-only figure on that page, and none of these numbers predicts your result.

What does the visa in your passport allow?

The fee is the same for a single- or multiple-entry visa; IRCC decides which one to issue. A visitor visa is generally valid for up to a maximum of 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry, although the border officer may set a different date.

Mistakes to avoid with the online application

• Uploading a short-validity passport. The digital copy must show at least 6 months of validity from your planned travel date.
• Booking biometrics too early. VFS appointments now require the IRCC Biometric Instruction Letter.
• Skipping recommended documents. Bank statements, an employer letter and an itinerary are listed as recommended because they show you can support yourself and will return to a stable job.
• Buying non-refundable tickets. You cannot travel until the visa is in your passport; use a verifiable flight reservation until then.

For the itinerary and travel-plan documents IRCC recommends, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). See our flight reservation service, WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to visit a VFS centre if I apply for a Canada visa online?

Yes, for biometrics. Once IRCC sends your biometric instruction letter, you book a free appointment at a Visa Application Centre and give fingerprints and a photo. VFS runs 10 VACs in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

Can my family apply together online and pay less?

A family of 5 or more pays a maximum visa fee of CAN$500, and a family of 2 or more pays a maximum biometrics fee of CAN$170. The family members must apply at the same time and place for these maximums to apply.

Is travel insurance mandatory for a Canada visitor visa?

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

Which Canadian office decides visitor visa applications from India?

Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi. The Consulates General in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai handle general enquiries only, with in-person operations temporarily suspended.