Canada Visitor Visa

Canada is one of the most popular countries in the world. With a wide variety of landscapes and breathtaking views, the country is a favourite amongst travel enthusiasts as well as tourists. Right from snow-capped mountains to pristine beaches, you can find it all in Canada. A lot of people also visit Canada to witness the midnight sun and the breathtaking aurora borealis or the northern lights. If travelling to Canada is on the cards for the upcoming holidays or a business commitment, then you will have to get yourself a Canada Visitor visa to travel to this gorgeous country.

Individuals
Sr. Citizens
Students

Plans for an individual of 30 years age travelling to USA for 15 days

What is Canada Visitor Visa?

Canada Visitor visa is an official permit that allows a foreign national to enter and stay in Canada for a specific period of time. Entry through Canada Visitor visa can only be granted if the foreign citizen is travelling to Canada for holidays, to fulfil business commitments or to visit friends and families. Foreign transit passengers whose passage through Canada will take more than 48 hours will have to apply for a Canada Visitor visa. Moreover, people transiting through Canada via car, bus, train, boat or cruise ship will also have to obtain the Visitor visa for Canada.

A Canada Visitor visa for Indians is granted for a period of 6 months. Therefore, it is also known as a Temporary Resident Visa. The Canadian Embassy issues this visa for single trips as well as multiple trips.

In case the Canada Visitor visa holder wants to study or work in Canada, he will have to obtain a Study Permit or Work Permit. As per the current guidelines, Indian students can obtain a Canada Student visa faster than other countries if they apply through Student Direct Stream (SDS) of the Canadian government.

Every applicant of Canada Visitor visa for Indians is advised to get travel insurance for his trip. A travel insurance Canada plan will protect the insured traveller from any unforeseen adversities that may interrupt your trip and cause financial loss.

Types of Canada Visitor Visa for Indians

There are two types of Visitor visas offered by the Government of Canada. They include:

Tourist Visa

A Tourist visa is a type of visitor visa that allows foreigners to visit Canada as tourists. This type of visa can be applied by people whose purpose of visit to this North American country is to spend their vacations or visit their family and friends in Canada.

Business Visa

A Business visa is a type of visitor visa that allows a foreign national to visit Canada for the purpose of conducting business. People who need to travel to Canada to attend a meeting or conference in Canada can also apply for this type of Canada Visitor visa for Indians.

Visa Guide

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How to Apply for Canada Visitor Visa for Indians?

In order to get your Canada visa, you need to apply to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate in India covering your city under its jurisdiction. While some people applying for the visa offline by visiting Canada’s Visa Application Centre (VAC), you can also apply for a Canada Visitor visa for Indians online. To help you apply for the Visitor visa for your trip to Canada, you can follow the steps mentioned below:

Apply for Canada Visitor Visa for Indians Online:

Visit the Government of Canada’s official website
Go to the ‘Menu’ and select ‘Immigration and Citizenship’
Select the ‘Visit’ category to apply for the Visitor visa
Go to ‘Apply for a Visitor visa’ and click on ‘How to apply’
Choose whether you are applying from within Canada or outside
Select ‘online’ mode of application in the drop-down menu
Go to ‘Apply for a Visitor visa’
Register to create an account
Fill up your Visitor visa application form
Pay the visa fees online, which includes the biometric fees
Arrange all the required documents and upload them
Submit your visa application
Schedule an appointment with the Visa Application Centre (VAC) for Canada
Give your biometric information at the VAC
Attend your visa interview if you have been called for it
Visitor visa will be granted upon successful interview

Apply for Canada Visitor Visa for Indians Offline:

Visit the official website of the Government of Canada
Scroll down the page and select ‘Immigration and Citizenship’
Go to the ‘Visit’ category to apply for the Visitor visa for Indians
Click on ‘Apply for a Visitor visa’ and go to ‘How to apply’ tab
Select whether you are applying from within or outside Canada
Choose ‘on paper ’ mode of application in the drop-down menu
Check the document checklist and arrange all the required documents to support your visa application
Download and fill up your visa application form
Take a printout of the form and add your signature on it
Find out your nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Submit your Visitor visa application and pay your visa fees
Give your biometric details at the VAC
Go for the visa interview if you are invited for it
If you clear the interview, you will get the Canada Visitor visa for Indians

Documents Required for Canada Visitor Visa for Indians

Each applicant of Canada Visitor visa has to submit a few documents in support of his visa application. Following is the list of all the documents that an applicant will have to submit to obtain a Canada Visitor visa for Indians:

A valid passport with a minimum of two blank pages
Canada visa application form
Two recent pictures of the applicant with his name and date of birth (DOB) written on the backside
Proof of financial ability to afford a trip to Canada, which includes

Copy of Income Tax Returns for the last two years
Bank passbook or bank statement for the last 6 months
Pay slips or a letter from the employer stating the applicant’s designation, job description and salary
A letter from the accountant mentioning the applicant’s annual income (in case the applicant is self-employed)
Proof of income from other sources such as investment, pension statement, etc.
Medical report of the health examination undertaken at a medical provider approved by the Canadian Embassy

The following table lists out all the additional documents that the applicant will have to submit as per his purpose of travel to Canada:

Type of Canada Visitor Visa	Documents Required
Tourist Visa	A letter by the applicant stating his relationship with his sponsor Copy of travel itinerary or booking confirmation for round trip flight tickets Booking confirmation of hotel/ accommodation in Canada Previous passports as proof of previous travels (if any) Family information form if a family is travelling together A letter by the person sponsoring the applicant’s trip along with his passport, bank statement/ bank passbook Letter by the applicant stating his relationship with his sponsor Retirement certificate stating the pension amount (in case the applicant is retired) A letter from the applicant’s school confirming his leave from the school (in case the applicant studies in a school in India)
Business Visa	A letter of invitation from the applicant’s business partner based in Canada, mentioning the company’s name, contact details and applicant’s trip summary A letter from the applicant’s employer in India mentioning his designation, trip purpose and the company’s contact details A letter from the conference organizer confirming the applicant’s registration (if the applicant is travelling to attend a conference in Canada)

Canada Visitor Visa Fee

Every Canada Visitor visa application attracts a visa fee. The applicant needs to pay the visa fees in order to successfully complete his Visitor visa application process. The visa fees can be paid online through credit card as well as offline in the local currency of the applicant’s home country.

Refer to the table given below to know the visa fees that you need to pay to obtain your Canada Visitor visa for Indians:

Type of Visa Application	Visa Fees (In Canadian Dollar)
Type of Visa Application	Application Fees	Biometrics Fees
Individual application	$100	$85
Family application (with at least 5 or more family members)	$500	$170 (for a family of 2 or more people)

How to Track the Status of Canada Visitor Visa for Indians?

A Canada Visitor visa application takes about 12 days to get processed. However, the Canadian Embassy does allow the applicant to check his visa application status online. In order to check the application status of your Canada Visitor visa for Indians, follow the steps given below:

Visit the official website of the Government of Canada
Select ‘Immigration and Citizenship’ from the menu
Go to ‘My Application’ and click on ‘Check your application status’
Select ‘Visitor visa’ in the drop-down menu
Identify your mode of visa application and either sign in to your account. If you had applied via ‘on paper visa application’, you will have to link your paper application to your online account
Check your application status for Canada Visitor visa for Indians

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