A canada visa for indians is required before you travel, because Indian passport holders are not visa-exempt for Canada. Most tourists, family visitors and business travellers need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), which is applied for online through the official IRCC portal and paired with biometrics collected at a VFS Global centre in India. Canada typically issues the TRV as a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, though each visit is usually limited to six months.
Who needs a Canada visitor visa?
If you are an Indian citizen visiting Canada for tourism, to see family or friends, or for short business meetings, you generally need a TRV. There is no visa-on-arrival option. The visa authorises entry, but a border officer decides the length of each stay when you arrive.
TRV vs Super Visa
Two main routes suit Indian families. The standard Visitor Visa (TRV) covers tourism and general visits, with each stay normally up to six months. The Super Visa is designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It can allow stays of up to five years per entry and remains valid for up to ten years, but it carries extra conditions: a host who meets a minimum income threshold, an upfront immigration medical exam, and valid Canadian medical insurance (commonly a minimum coverage requirement). Choose the Super Visa if you are a parent or grandparent planning longer or repeated stays; choose the TRV for shorter tourist or business trips.
Documents Indian applicants usually need
- Valid passport with at least six months’ validity and blank pages.
- Recent passport-size photograph meeting Canadian specifications.
- Completed IMM 5257 and IMM 5645 forms via IRCC.
- Proof of funds: personal bank statements, salary slips, income tax returns.
- Employment or business proof (leave letter, business registration, GST).
- Proof of ties to India: property, family, ongoing commitments.
- Travel itinerary, invitation letter (if visiting family), and accommodation details.
- For the Super Visa: host’s income proof, medical exam and insurance.
Fees, biometrics and processing
The visitor visa fee is CAD 100 and biometrics cost CAD 85, so a single adult typically pays around INR 11,000-12,000 in total, before service or courier charges. Family and Super Visa fees differ. Biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) are mandatory for applicants aged 14-79 and are given in person at a VFS Global Canada Visa Application Centre in India. Processing times fluctuate significantly with demand: a TRV can take several weeks to a couple of months, and the Super Visa often longer. Because these estimates change frequently, always verify the current, India-specific time on IRCC’s live processing-time tool.
Top refusal reasons and tips
The most common reasons Indian applicants are refused are weak ties to India, insufficient or unstable funds, incomplete documentation, and doubts about the genuineness of the visit. To strengthen your case, show consistent bank balances rather than sudden large deposits, provide clear evidence you will return (job, business, family, property), keep your travel purpose specific and well-documented, and ensure every form and upload is complete and consistent. A well-organised, honest application is far more persuasive than a rushed one.
How VisaForTrip helps Indian applicants
Getting the details right is what separates an approval from a refusal. Our team reviews your profile before you apply, helps you assemble a complete and consistent document set, checks your proof-of-funds and ties evidence, and guides you through the IRCC portal and VFS biometrics booking. If you are a parent or grandparent, we help you compare the TRV and Super Visa routes so you pick the option that matches your travel plans. We also flag common mistakes, such as inconsistent dates, missing invitation letters or unexplained bank deposits, before they reach a visa officer. From the first form to passport stamping, the aim is a clean, well-evidenced application that gives you the best possible chance the first time.
VisaForTrip is a private visa-assistance service and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Rules, fees and processing times change frequently, so always verify the latest requirements on the official IRCC website before applying.