🇨🇦 Canada Visa Guide for Indian Passport Holders

At a glance

Indian passport holders need a Visitor visa, officially called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), to travel to Canada for tourism, visiting family, or short business activities. Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) — a lighter-weight option — does not apply to Indian passport holders; it is reserved for specific visa-exempt nationalities. The TRV is a document IRCC places in your passport (physically or electronically) confirming you've met the requirements to travel to Canada.

Choose your purpose of travel

The same Visitor Visa (TRV) category covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business activities like meetings or conferences — there isn't a separate "business visa" form for short visits; you describe your purpose within the same application. A related but distinct "Super Visa" exists specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens/permanent residents and is out of scope for this guide.

Visa requirement for an Indian passport holder

A TRV is required for every visit unless you already hold a valid, unexpired Canadian visitor visa from a previous trip, in which case you may be able to travel on that until it expires.

Where and how to apply

• Apply online through your IRCC secure account — this is the standard route for almost all applicants.
• Paper application is only available in specific circumstances (for example, disability, or travelling on a refugee/stateless-person travel document) — see IRCC's Guide 5256 for the paper process.
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are required for most applicants aged 14–79, valid for reuse across repeat applications for 10 years.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with IRCC, the Government of Canada, or any Canadian visa application centre. All application, payment, and biometrics steps happen on official Canadian government platforms — never here.

Eligibility and passport conditions

You need to show that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, that you have enough funds to support yourself (and any accompanying family) during the visit, that you don't intend to work or study without authorization, that you have no serious criminal or security concerns, and that you meet health requirements (a medical exam is sometimes required depending on your circumstances).

Application steps

1. Create or sign in to your IRCC secure account and start a Visitor Visa (TRV) application.
2. Complete the application form (IMM 5257), covering personal details, travel plans, education, and employment history.
3. Gather your supporting documents using the checklist in IRCC's Guide 5256, or the document checklist IRCC issues within your online application.
4. Pay the visitor visa fee (and biometrics fee, if applicable) online.
5. Give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre if you're required to (most first-time applicants aged 14–79).
6. Wait for processing — IRCC will contact you if they need more information, and will notify you of the outcome once a decision is made.
7. Travel with your visa/eTA-equivalent documents — border services officers check your identity and documents on arrival, and the final decision to admit you is made at the border, not before.

Forms required

IMM 5257 (Application for a Visitor Visa / Temporary Resident Visa) is the core form. IRCC's Guide 5256 lists the accompanying forms needed for a paper application, and the online application walks you through the equivalent fields digitally.

Document checklist

IRCC's guidance points to: a valid passport, the completed application form, a recent digital photograph meeting IRCC's specifications, evidence of sufficient funds (bank statements), evidence of your ties to India (employment, family, property), a travel itinerary, and — if someone in Canada is hosting or funding you — an invitation letter and that person's supporting documents. Previous international travel history (old passports, prior visas) can also help support your application.

Photo and biometric requirements

Photos must meet IRCC's Temporary Resident Visa application photograph specifications (published alongside Guide 5256). Biometrics — fingerprints and a photo — are collected in person at a Visa Application Centre for most applicants aged 14–79, and remain valid for repeat use for 10 years.

Fees

Per IRCC's official fee schedule:

• Visitor visa (TRV), per person: CAD $100
• Visitor visa, per family of 5 or more (maximum family fee): CAD $500
• Biometrics, per individual: CAD $85
• Biometrics, per family of 2 or more (maximum family fee): CAD $170

Fees are payable online and are not refundable, even if your application is refused.

Appointment process

If biometrics are required, you'll be instructed to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre after submitting your online application — this is separate from any visa interview, which is not typically required for straightforward visitor visa applications.

Processing information

Processing times vary meaningfully by visa office and application volume — IRCC publishes a live processing-time tool rather than a single fixed number, and demand for Canadian visas has meant longer waits are common in some periods. Check IRCC's official processing-time page for a current estimate rather than relying on a fixed figure from any guide, including this one.

Common mistakes

• Assuming Canada's eTA applies to you as an Indian passport holder — it doesn't; you need the full TRV.
• Underestimating processing time and booking non-refundable travel too close to your intended departure.
• Skipping biometrics when required — your application cannot be finalized without them if you're in the 14–79 age range and haven't given biometrics in the last 10 years.
• Providing inconsistent employment, education, or travel-history details between the form and supporting documents.

Official links

• Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) — canada.ca
• Guide 5256 — Applying for a Visitor Visa
• IRCC — Citizenship and immigration application fees
• High Commission of Canada in India