Canadian citizens traveling to India for either business or tourist purposes must first obtain an appropriate visa, which may range anywhere from one month up to an extended stay period of up to 12 months or longer depending on their purpose of visit.
Canadian residents can apply online for Indian eVisas from their own homes in Canada; these digital travel permits are valid for six months.
1. Passport
First thing's first when applying for an India visa: your passport. Make sure it's valid throughout your trip and has at least six months left before expiring; in addition, ensure at least two blank pages so stamping upon entry into India won't cause delays. Even without these essential components in place, however, an Indian visa may still be obtained provided additional documentation such as employment proof or accommodation confirmation is submitted along with your application form.
All passport holders must also present proof of return or onward travel, sufficient funds and yellow fever vaccination, otherwise risk quarantine on arrival. You can do this by providing a certificate from a doctor or hospital.
Dependent upon your purpose for travel to India, Canadian citizens have various types of visas available to them. Tourist and business visas allow traveler's leisure or professional purposes respectively to enter India. You can even acquire these visas online making the process even simpler than ever!
Canadians looking to visit India for medical treatment have several options when applying for visas to visit this country, including an Indian Medical e-Visa which can be obtained by patients and up to two traveling companions who will support them during their stay in India. You may also apply for an emergency visa which is issued solely at the discretion of consulate - these types of visas typically cater towards family or business emergencies in India.
2. Letter of Invitation
An invitation letter can significantly improve your chances of e-Visa approval. Written by either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who attests to knowing both you and the purpose for visiting, an invitation letter can significantly accelerate and simplify the application process for getting visas faster and with less hassle. Although not mandatory for visitors to Canada, an invitation letter will help expedite getting an e-Visa more quickly and more conveniently.
Before writing your letter, it is important that you have an in-depth knowledge of what is expected from you. Your letter must be clear and concise - including a comprehensive list of people you plan on staying with as well as when and why they will arrive and depart Canada, with dates. Furthermore, providing exact dates makes verification much simpler; additionally stating you and the individual have a close relationship can serve as proof for authorities - however a job contract or leave letter are acceptable alternatives if proof cannot be provided.
Signing your invitation letter makes it more official. If the person does not own a scanner, ask them to email it without signature; alternatively mail it.
As well as your visa invitation letter, you must submit financial documents that demonstrate you will have enough money for expenses in Canada, such as bank statements or pay stubs. In addition to these financial documents, valid passport and citizenship or residency proof will also be needed; for traveling with children this includes providing their birth certificates and consent letters from non-travelling parents as well as paying the visa fee.
3. Biometrics
Once your application form is submitted, the next step in the application process is submitting your biometrics. This can be done online or in person at one of Canada's Visa Application Centres or Application Support Centers - you can find a complete list here on their website.
Your reason for travelling to India will determine the type of visa that best fits you. For instance, vacationers require a tourist visa with various validity periods from one month up to five years; business travellers who plan on meeting clients or attending conferences require business visas instead.
Take a printout of your visa sent via email as proof of identity, in case your phone becomes damaged or your battery dies out. It could also come in handy should a problem arise that makes communication impossible - for instance if it breaks or goes dead!
Before providing biometrics, make sure any temporary injuries or decorations such as henna have fully healed. Also bring any documents relevant to you - medical records or proof of coverage may help make things simpler!
Canadian passport holders should find the application process for Indian visas relatively straightforward, taking only minutes to complete. After filling in a few basic details and providing photo and fingerprint scans, payment of fees and completion should take no more than 30 days - once approved you can travel freely around India with confidence knowing your e-visa won't apply when visiting Protected/Restricted or Cantonment Areas.
4. Fees
India offers many sights to see, from snowcapped mountains and serene beaches to vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. Each year, thousands of Canadians travel to this captivating nation - whether for tourism, business or even permanent residency purposes - and there is always a visa that fits their needs. Understanding the application process and requirements before beginning is the key; applying online offers the fastest and easiest solution and can have your visa waiting in your email inbox in no time at all!
At Canada Visa Centre, the process for applying for an Indian visa from Canada is quick and simple, taking just three steps to complete. First step is scanning and uploading your passport photo. Next step involves uploading an identical photo that meets all requirements, such as being taken against a white background with matching dimensions of passport photo. You must also pay the non-refundable visa application fee at this stage - be sure to pay exactly this amount!
The second step is filling out an e-visa form. This form will require information about your trip and personal details as well as proof of financial capacity to demonstrate that you can support yourself while in the country. Finally, payment of both visa processing and biometric fees must also be made.
Step three is attending your interview. The Indian Embassy will notify you when this takes place; either in-person at the Embassy or via an Authorization and Certification Centre (VAC).
5. Documents
An active passport is one of the key documents needed for applying for an India visa from Canada. Your passport should be valid at least six months past its travel date, with at least two blank pages so that immigration officials can stamp your visa upon arrival in India.
Dependent upon the purpose of your trip, various Indian visas are available. These include tourist, business and medical visas with various validity periods ranging from one month up to a year or longer. Some visas also require additional documentation like business cards, hotel reservation booking confirmations or invitation letters from Indian companies or individuals.
If traveling with children, proof of their birth must be presented. This may take the form of their birth certificate or adoption document as well as letters from schools stating their enrollment at that particular institution. Furthermore, vaccination certificates should always be kept with you to show proof of vaccination against disease.
Canadian citizens traveling to India are required to complete a mandatory self-declaration in order to assist authorities with controlling COVID-19 cases and tracking new ones. This self-declaration can be completed online in a few clicks and sent straight to your email inbox as proof. While not a replacement for visa, this self-declaration should still form part of your travel plans and should also be aware that importing, using or possessing illegal drugs is illegal - those found guilty could face serious criminal charges and heavy fines as well as taking extra precaution with personal belongings while not touching anything considered sacred in India.