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Indian Visa for Canadian Citizens: Must-have Documents and Processing Time

Updated on Oct 27, 2024 | Online Indian Visa

As a citizen of Canada, it is a compulsion for the travelers to apply for the Indian Visa Online to enter India. The government of India no longer offers visa on-arrival services to the Canadians, the travelers are requested to apply for the eVisa for faster application process.

Despite its distance, Canadian travelers visit India both for leisure and business, every year there is a huge number of tourists visiting India. Fortunately, the government of India has taken steps to make the application process smooth, and in 2014, the eTourist visa was introduced. Initially, this service was available to 40 countries, but to encourage tourism, it was offered to around 166 countries.

Citizens of British Columbia, Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan can apply for the eVisa India related to tourism and business.

Residents from cities of Canada like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Winnipeg are the frequent users to avail the facility of the eVisa India. Canadians can apply for the eVisa India only with an ordinary or regular passport, use of service, official, or diplomatic passport is not allowed.

So, Canadian citizens wishing to visit India to discover the places, then it is a must to apply for the India e-Tourist Visa (or eVisa India). However, if you are visiting India with the India e-Business Visa for some business work, and want to add some sightseeing places to your itinerary, then you should apply for the Indian Visa Online (or India e-Visa). The Indian government encourages tourism and wants the travelers to apply for the same.

Visa Requirements or Necessities for Canadian Nationals Traveling to India

Canadian passport holders need to obtain the eVisa to enter India. The Indian government no longer offers on-arrival visas to Canadian citizens. In order to enter India, Canadians need to apply for the eVisa which is a hassle-free process, the applicant needs to fill the application form online, at no point he has to visit the Indian Consulate.

The eVisa is designed for Canadian travelers who are planning short trips to India for purposes related to business, tourism or medical. The traveler needs to apply for the eVisa at least 4 days in advance before flying to India and the validity of the visa will depend on the type you have applied for.

The maximum days permitted on eVisa is 180 days stay, you cannot extend it. Once the traveler has received the eVisa, the visa is valid for 120 days, within the time period offered he has to enter India.

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Applying for the Indian Visa? Must-have Documents for Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens wanting to visit India, and planning to apply for the eVisa, should know about the list of documents to complete the application process. All the documents should be uploaded online, missing to provide any of the documents could lead to rejection.

Before filling the application, applicants must gather the following documents:

  • Completed eVisa application form, the applicant needs to fill in information like full name, date of birth, passport number, passport issuing and expiry date, qualification, occupation, and travel history.
  • Canadian passport scanned copy of the first page (biography with the passport photo).
  • Passport photo, strictly following the photo requirements to upload the photo.
  • Payment mode either debit/ credit card.

The applicant must ensure that all the details are filled correctly, even a spelling mistake of your name could lead to delay in the application process and sometimes rejection of your visa. It is therefore suggested to review your form before submitting and do read the guidelines carefully provided by the Indian embassy.

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Time-required to process the eVisa and Restrictions for Indian Visa for Canadian Citizens

Canadian passport holders applying for the eVisa should know the timeframe required for processing the Indian eVisa.

For the Indian tourist visa, the processing time is estimated to be around 2 working days, but varies from application to application. To ensure that the traveler receives his application on time, he should apply 4 days before his departure to India. The approved Indian eVisa will be mailed by the email address provided during the form fill up.

Note:

Canadian citizens can apply for the eVisa twice in a calendar year. The travelers with the eVisa are permitted to enter India through designated airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, etc.

Applicants are advised to carefully read the eVisa instructions and requirements before filling the form.

How can citizens of Canada obtain an Indian visa?

Canadian citizens can now apply for the Indian visa easily online, it is a very fast and straightforward process. However, if any assistance is required during the application our staff members are available to ensure all the documents are met in accordance with the embassy specifications and to minimize rejections.

Why is it good advice to Register with the Canadian Embassy or High Commission in India? How to Do It?

Canadian Travelers are recommended to register with the Canadian Embassy in India, by doing so, the registered travelers will receive important updates in regards to their travel. Here is a list of some of the benefits that the travelers might receive after registering with the Canadian Embassy or Indian Embassy:

  • Get latest and important travel advisory updates
  • Get advice and assistance in case an emergency situation arises.
  • Receive updates about the ongoing international events, and plan your travel according to the scenarios.
  • The immigration officials can contact you, assist in emergency, your friends and family in Canada can reach you.

Registering with the High Commission Canada in India can be applied while applying for the eVisa. Canada has many diplomatic missions in India, that includes New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

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Prior to traveling to India, do Canadian citizens need a visa?

Canadian citizens should obtain the eVisa prior to flying to India. The on-arrival visas are no longer available at the airports. To make the visa application process convenient, the Indian government allows travelers to apply online, without having to visit the Indian Consulate office in Canada. If the application is approved the eVisa will be mailed by the email address you have provided in the application. This eVisa will be required to present in the border security checkpoints along with the passport.

The eVisa type you will receive will depend on the type the applicant has applied for his visit to India. The eVisa options that the travelers can apply for include Medical visa, Medical attendant visa, Business visa and Tourist visa.

What is the length of Stay in India for Canadian Citizens?

The duration of eVisa will be determined by the type the Canadian citizen has applied. For example the e-business visa and the e-tourist visa allows the Canadian passport holders to stay for 180 days in India. The e-tourist visa and the e-business visa remain valid for 365 days, this means that the traveler has to enter within 365 days from the date of issuing, and offers multiple entries during the provided time frame.

But, the Medical treatment visa and the Medical attendant visa is valid for 120 days. This visa allows triple entry, but the second and third entry has to be made after 60 days of the first entry.

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Visa on Arrival for Canadian Citizens in India: Is it Possible?

Those with Canadian passports need to apply for a visa in advance before his departure to India. The on-arrival visa facility is not available for Canadian passport holders. To avoid last minute unnecessary rush, travelers are advised to apply for the Indian Visa 4 days in advance, as the time required is 3-4 days to process it. Applicants have to complete the entire application process online, there’s no need to visit the immigration office to submit the documents. The application form including the documents has to be submitted online.

The Canadian citizen must make sure to have a valid passport (scanned copy of the first page of the biography page of the passport), and passport photo (strictly following the photo upload instructions). Once the application meets the standard, you will receive the approved eVisa by email.

2024 updates for Canadian citizens

According to the latest updates for visa extension for Canadian passport holders with eVisa, they must apply FRRO (abbreviation of Foreigners Regional Registration Office) within 14 days of your first arrival.

Also, the Canadian citizens can exit to a neighboring country and can again apply for eVisa. At this point you will not be able to extend your stay in India.

With the eVisa Business and eVisa Tourist, Canadian citizens can stay for 180 days, and the eVisa Medical is for 60 days.

If a Canadian traveler has a connecting flight, then he should either get a transit visa or a 30 day tourist visa, depending on the duration of the connecting flight or whether he needs to exit the International Transit Area.

The traveler can be traveling on a single or multiple PNR (Passenger Name Record).

In case the connecting flight is missed, whether you need to collect the luggage yourself or the airline asks you to stay in a hotel, the traveler will require eVisa. However, we cannot fully provide the exact details on this matter, we can request you to apply for a relevant Visa, before your departure to be on the safe side.

Residents of the following cities of Canada like Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Hamilton, Mississauga, Brampton, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton can apply for eVisa to visit India. With this privilege provided to them, they can enjoy a smooth application and entry into India. Rather than visiting the immigration office of India to get the visa stamp on the passport, this electronic visa simply makes the process convenient.

As of 2024, Canadian citizens are not eligible for 5 year Indian Tourist Visa and must instead apply for either a 30-day Tourist Visa or One Year Tourist Visa.

United States, France, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy are also eligible similar to Canadian citizens for India e-Visa(Indian Visa Online). You can apply for the Indian e-Visa Online Application right here.

Should you have any doubts or require assistance for your trip to India or India e-Visa, contact Indian Visa Help Desk for support and guidance.