Canada has no visa on arrival for Indian passport holders, and a Canadian visitor visa does not come from a travel agent’s promise — it comes from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after an online application, biometrics and a document check. The route for most holidays and family visits is the visitor visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa. The government fee is CAD 100 per person, plus a biometrics fee of CAD 85 per person where biometrics are required, and the processing clock for applicants in India starts only after biometrics are received, so the biometrics appointment is part of the timeline, not an afterthought.
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Which Canadian Visa Covers a Holiday or Family Visit
The visitor visa covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business activities such as meetings and conferences. It does not allow paid work in Canada. Most visitor visas issued to Indians are multiple-entry visas, valid for up to ten years or up to passport validity, whichever comes first. That validity is not the same as the stay: at the border, an officer usually allows up to six months per visit. A separate United States visa is still needed for the US, because a Canadian visa does not grant entry to the US, and vice versa.
The Real Cost: CAD 100 Plus Biometrics, and What Is Not Included
The IRCC visitor visa fee is CAD 100 per person, and the biometrics fee is CAD 85 per person. For a family applying together, biometrics are capped at CAD 170, while the CAD 100 visa fee is still charged per person. Both fees are paid online and are non-refundable, even on refusal. Government fees do not include centre service charges, courier charges, medical examinations, translations, insurance or agent fees, so budget for those separately. Exchange rates change the rupee amount charged. Always confirm the live fee in IRCC’s fee list before paying.
Documents That Decide a Canadian Visitor Visa
IRCC decides mainly on whether you are a genuine visitor who will leave Canada on time, so ties to India matter as much as the trip itself. Prepare a passport valid for the whole trip, recent photographs meeting IRCC specifications, and a travel plan with tentative flights and accommodation or a host’s address. Financial evidence is essential: bank statements, salary slips and tax returns, plus business proof for business owners. Ties to India — an employment letter with approved leave, property papers, family commitments or ongoing study — help show you will return. For family visits, add an invitation letter and the host’s status proof. Declare every previous refusal from any country. Non-English documents must be translated.
Canada Visitor Visa at a Glance
| Item | Rule for Indian Passport Holders |
|---|---|
| Visa required | Yes — visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) before travel; no visa on arrival |
| Application route | Online through IRCC; paper applications only in limited circumstances |
| Main form | IMM 5257, plus the Family Information Form IMM 5645 where required |
| Government visa fee | CAD 100 per person, non-refundable |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 per person, capped at CAD 170 for a family applying together; non-refundable |
| Biometrics step | After lodging, you receive a Biometric Instruction Letter; book a Visa Application Centre appointment and give biometrics within 30 days of that letter |
| Validity | Usually multiple-entry, up to 10 years or up to passport validity, whichever is first |
| Stay per visit | Usually up to 6 months, as decided at the border; the officer records the date you must leave by |
| Work rights | No paid work in Canada on a visitor visa |
| Processing clock | Starts after biometrics are received; IRCC’s published time for India changes weekly, so check the official tool before you plan |
| After approval | Passport submission for visa stamping when IRCC asks for it; carry the visa and travel documents for the border check |
Step-by-Step: Apply for the Canada Visitor Visa From India
- Create an IRCC account, select the visitor visa, and complete form IMM 5257 and the Family Information Form IMM 5645 where required, declaring all previous refusals.
- Upload clear scans of your passport, photographs, financial evidence, employment or business proof, travel plan and ties to India, with translations for non-English documents.
- Pay the CAD 100 visa fee per person and the CAD 85 biometrics fee per person online, noting the CAD 170 family cap for biometrics, and keep the receipts.
- When you receive the Biometric Instruction Letter, book a Visa Application Centre appointment promptly and give your fingerprints and photograph within 30 days of the letter.
- Track the application in your IRCC account and respond quickly to further-document or medical requests.
- Check IRCC’s official processing-times tool for the current India figure and apply well in advance — recent reporting of the tool in October 2026 put it at around 29 to 30 days after biometrics, but that figure changes weekly and is an estimate, not a promised date. If approved, submit your passport when IRCC asks for it, and never book non-refundable travel that depends on a visa arriving on a particular day.
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Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Should Avoid
First, do not assume a Canadian visa gives US entry, or that a US visa gives Canadian entry — they are separate applications. Second, do not budget only CAD 100: most first-time applicants also pay CAD 85 for biometrics, plus centre service charges. Third, do not delay the biometrics appointment, because the processing clock starts only after biometrics are received. Fourth, do not submit a thin file with no bank statements, no employment proof and no reason to return. Fifth, do not hide a previous refusal or give inconsistent travel dates. Sixth, do not plan to work in Canada on a visitor visa. For a comparable document-heavy visa, see https://sunlightholidays.in/australia-visa-indians-visitor-600-new-fee-application-guide/ and for safe-application habits, see https://sunlightholidays.in/visa-guarantee-scam-alert-fake-agent-warning-signs/ — and for another visitor visa with an electronic grant, compare with https://sunlightholidays.in/south-korea-visa-indians-c-3-9-fees-e-arrival-card-guide/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do Indians need a visa for Canada?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a visitor visa granted before travel. There is no visa on arrival, and a Canadian visa does not grant entry to the United States.
Q2: How much is the Canada visitor visa fee for Indians?
CAD 100 per person for the visa, plus CAD 85 per person for biometrics where required, capped at CAD 170 for biometrics for a family applying together. Both fees are non-refundable, and centre service charges are extra.
Q3: How long does a Canada visitor visa take from India?
IRCC publishes a weekly figure that changes with demand, and the clock starts only after biometrics are received. Recent reporting of the official tool in October 2026 put the India figure at around 29 to 30 days, but check the live tool and apply well in advance.
Q4: How long can I stay in Canada on a visitor visa?
Usually up to six months per visit, as decided by the border officer. The visa’s validity, often up to ten years multiple-entry, is not the same as the stay allowed on one visit.
Q5: Is travel insurance mandatory for a Canada visitor visa?
No, it is not a mandatory application document, but it is strongly recommended, because visitors have no access to Canada’s public healthcare and medical treatment can be very expensive.
Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — visitor visa fee list (CAD 100 per person; biometrics CAD 85 per person, CAD 170 family maximum; fees non-refundable) and visitor visa application guidance (online application, form IMM 5257 and Family Information Form IMM 5645, Biometric Instruction Letter with biometrics within 30 days, multiple-entry validity up to 10 years or passport validity, usual stay up to 6 months per visit); IRCC processing-times tool reporting for India in October 2026 (around 29 to 30 days for visitor visas from India, updated weekly, clock starting after biometrics).
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