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Travelling is not just a professional obligation. It is a food for thought. Flying to distant countries and exploring new lands broadens a person’s horizons and opens up new avenues of growth. Canada is one such country where exploration has no limits. Being the world’s second-largest country after Russia, Canada has abundant everything— landscapes, monuments, modern marvels and the glamour of the entertainment industry.
However, to explore this vast place, you must get a diplomatic permit— the Canada tourist visa. In this article, you will learn how to apply for a Canada visitor visa from India and the process of filing a Canada visitor visa application correctly.
What is a Canada Visitor’s Visa?
The Canada visitor’s visa, which is also known as the 'Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)' or ‘entry visa’, is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to travellers who wish to enter or re-enter a port of entry in Canada.
A Canada visitor’s visa is a valid permit to enter the Canadian territory for tourism, business or transit to another country. The visitor visa is affixed to your passport before you depart for Canada. It substantiates your eligibility to enter Canadian territory.
Who Needs a Canada Tourist Visa?
Mostly, travellers need a valid visitor visa to travel to Canada. However, some visitors require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada instead of the Canada tourist visa. The eTA is also necessary in case of transit through any of the Canadian airports en route to the country of your destination.
Whether or not you require a visitor visa depends on your purpose of travel to Canada.
When you apply for a Canada tourist visa on the IRCC Canada portal, the system will ask a few questions relevant to your purpose of travel to Canada. Based on your answers, the system will tell you whether or not you require a Canada tourist visa.
How Long Can I Stay in Canada with a Visitor Visa?
At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than six months. If so, they’ll put the date you must leave in your passport. They might also give you a visitor record document mentioning the date of your departure.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.
Who can Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa?
Any individual who meets some essential criteria listed below can apply for a Canada Tourist visa:
You must—
- have a valid travel document, such as a passport;
- be in a healthy condition;
- have no criminal or immigration-related conviction records
- Assure a Canada immigration officer of their professional/personal ties, e.g., job, home, financial assets, or family, proving that you are returning to your home country.
- Also, assure the immigration officer of your return to your home country at the end of your visit.
- Have sufficient financial resources (such as international travel insurance) for your stay in Canada.
- The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.
Besides, you may also require a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who already resides in Canada.
Documents Required for Canada Tourist visa
Below is the complete list of documents required to apply for a Canada Tourist visa. Please note that some documents are optional that you need not submit or submit, if applicable while applying for the visa.
1. Identity document such as,
- A Valid Passport
- Alien’s passport for stateless persons
- US Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)
- US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)
- Other refugee travel documents for non-citizens
- Form IMM 5476: Use of a representative (only if applicable)
- Form IMM 5645: Family information
- Two passport size photograph
2. Bank Statement as Proof of Financial Support for Stay in Canada
3. Police Clearance Certificate
4. Medical Certificate
5. Form IMM 5475 (Optional): Fill out this form only if you allow IRCC to disclose your personal information to a person you name.
6. Proof of the resident status of a family member or friend who has invited you to Canada.
7. Letter of invitation from your relative or friend who already resides in Canada
8. Proof of returning to your native country after the expiry of the tourist visa (such as a return flight ticket).
Besides, it's wise to get international travel insurance before you plan to go to Canada. Travel insurance will not only secure your journey financially but can also act as additional proof of financial support and increase your chances of getting a Canadian visa.
How to Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa from India?
The complete procedure to apply for a Canada tourist visa from India:
- First, on the IRCC portal, determine whether you are eligible for a Canada visitor visa and need one.
- If you are eligible for the Canada tourist visa, gather all the required documents for visa application.
- Get an invite code (for first-time applicants). With the invite code, create your account and sign in to the IRCC portal.
- Next, you must duly fill out the online visa application form and upload all your documents.
- The system will redirect you to a page with questions about your Canada visit. Answer all those questions correctly, and you’ll get a list of supportive documents to be uploaded.
- Finally, you must pay the online visa application fee using your debit/credit card. You may also use your prepaid card to pay the Canada tourist visa fees.
Your online visa application for Canada will be complete and ready for further processing. Usually, the Canada visitor visa processing time is 30 days.
Will I get a Canada Visa after filing the Visa Application?
After applying for the Canada Visa, you may be asked to present your documents and perform biometrics at the consulate office. Finally, you must be at the consulate office for the Canada visitor visa application interview.
You may also have to wait before you finally get your visa processed.
Remember, the visa may get rejected if the officer finds a discrepancy in the visa application.
How will I know if my Canada Tourist Visa is approved?
If the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) approves your Canada Tourist Visa, your IRCC account will show you two letters on your dashboard:
- A letter with instructions for submitting your passport to the CIC.
- A decision letter from CIC stating that your Canada Tourist Visa is confirmed.
However, this approval letter doesn’t imply that you can immediately embark on your journey to Canada. You must wait for your visa to get affixed to the passport you submitted to the CIC, Canada.
Here’s what a confirmed Canada Tourist visa looks like—
How to Prepare for Arrival in Canada?
Once the CIC approves your Canada visitor visa from India, you must start preparing your documents for arrival. There are some situations where you must bring certain documents when you fly to Canada.
- If your friend/relative already living in Canada invited you to Canada, you must bring the invitation letter from your relative or friend.
- If you are taking a minor child to Canada, you must show the letter authorising your child to travel to Canada. In such a case, you must take other documents, such as adoption papers/ custody decree, depending on whether the minor child is travelling alone.
Upon successful validation of your documents, you will be allowed to travel to Canada. It’s time for you to fly to Canada to fulfil your dreams!
But wait, you must take another step to make your journey stress-free and financially secure.
Get Your Canada Trip Financially Covered with Travel Insurance
You must never forget to get international travel insurance while planning to travel to Canada. A travel insurance plan will play a dual role in providing coverage and proof of your financial support.
The travel insurance policy will cover your trip against all medical and travel-related risks, such as loss of baggage or travel documents such as your passport. On the other hand, it will serve as auxiliary proof of your financial support during your stay in Canada. Your travel insurance for Canada can ease the process of your Canada visitor visa application and increase the chances of your visa getting approved.
Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.
