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Visa Guide for Canadians Traveling to India

  • Posted on February 10, 2020
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Visa Guide for Canadians Traveling to India

Millions of passengers visit India each day. A lot of them travel from Canada for leisure, business, and other pursuits. It is not possible without a key document called a visa.

Granted by territory, it dictates the entry, stays, and exit of a foreigner. Citizens of nearly all nations need a visa to visit India.

Therefore, if you are to board flights to India, read below.

This article will serve as a guide for everything that you must know about Indian Visa. It will make the cumbersome task easier and convenient for you.

Let’s start with a common question:

Do you need a Visa to Go to India while traveling from Canada?

Yes, Canadian citizens and people traveling from Canada require a visa to enter India. Also, note that India travel visa is valid from the date of issue and not from the day you enter the country.

So, it is wise to plan your travel in advance and accordingly.

Further, there are two broad categories for Indian visas for Canadians. These are E visa and sticker visa. 

Indian E visa

This type of visa is applied online and has a validity of up to 180 days. Hence, it is a short-term visa.

Also, this visa type is non-extendable. A person must travel to India within 120 days from the time the visa is granted.

Moreover, E-Visas have replaced the Indian visa on arrival

Currently, it is the fastest and most convenient way for Canadian passport holders to get Visa for India.

  • Suitability for E-visa

E visa is an ideal choice for those looking to take a short business, medical, or a leisure trip to India.

Further, it is helpful for those passengers that want to visit the country on an urgent basis.  You can apply for the visa minimum of 4 days before leaving Canada.

  • Cost for E-visa

The Indian E-visa fees is about USD 50 apart from the admin fee. Also, the charge is non-refundable.

  • Sub-types of E-visa

E-visa for India has three subcategories. These are e-Medical Visa, e-Tourist visas, and e-Business Visa. Also, triple entry is allowed to e-medical visa holders.

  • Processing time for E-Visa

The time taken depends on the visa subtypes and the processing option you choose. Take a look at the following

  1. If the application is made in person, it takes about 3 to 5 days.
  2. Persons of Indian origin and those applying for a short term visa take a processing time of up to two weeks. However, there may be exceptions, and it may take longer than that.
  3. Cases that require a prior reference check takes even longer. The time for the reference check itself is about one week long.
  • Documentation for E-visa

There is a lot of paperwork required to obtain the E-visa. It is important that you read everything carefully and recheck every detail you submit.

If your application for E-visa has mistakes or errors, it may be rejected. You would have to repeat the whole process.

Here are all the documents you need to apply E-visa for India 

1. Passport:

A copy of the first and last page of your passport. You can scan it.

2. Photo:

Latest photograph of yourself with a white background. The image format must be JPEG.

 There are size restrictions. It must be between 10 KB to 300 KB. Further, the height and width of the photo must be equal.

The minimum width and height dimensions are 350 pixels each. On the other hand, the maximum height and width dimensions must be 1000 pixels.

Further, you may also require details about your parents’ passport, spouse, the port of entry in India, and your work-related information.

It is crucial to adhere to the specifications and file formats of the documents. If there are any variations, your application will be rejected.

To be sure, you can hire the services of a visa agent.

You can send your photos, and they will edit them to meet the specifications.

  • Applying for E-visa

To apply a visa to India by yourself, you need to log on to the Indian government site https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/.

Next, you will get your visa via email. Always carry a hard copy or a printout of the visa with you in India.

As soon as you land in India, the visa will be affixed to your passport. Fill and recheck all the details carefully.

E-visa is neither convertible nor extendable. You can only apply for 2 E-visas per year. You do not have to send your passport anywhere, as the process is entirely online.

Sticker or Longer Term Indian Visa

This kind of visa requires you to send your passport to the authorities.

It is generally a longer and more complicated process than obtaining an E-visa.

Generally speaking, you need more than just 1 and 2 months to explore India properly. For this, you may need a sticker visas for India.

The Indian visa application process is outsourced to BLS International Services.

  1. Long Term Visa Requirements Visas will only be issued on passports and not on any travel document.
  2. You must complete all the fields in the application form.
  3. Any missing information will only cause delays.
  4. Incomplete forms will be rejected and are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
  5. The passport must be valid for at least 190 days. Moreover, there must be at least two blank pages. One of the pages is used to affix the visa sticker, whereas the immigration officer uses the other one.
  6. There is no refund available even if your application id rejected. The same goes in case the applicant withdraws the application.
  7. High Commission can refuse or delay visas without providing a reason.
  8. At the port of entry in India, an immigration officer shall assess the admission into the country after the visa is granted.
  9. The visa may be revoked anytime without providing a reason. A foreigner within the country may be asked to leave.
  10. Do not purchase or finalize travel plans before you receive the visa.
  11. The validity of the visa begins from the date of issue and not the time you reach the country.
  12. There is no need for vaccination for Canadians traveling to India. However, if they are passing through areas infected by Yellow Fever, therefore, before you arrive in India, you must possess a certificate of vaccination against the disease.
  13. A person with age ranging from 18 to 70 years and staying for over a year must clear an HIV AIDS test.
  14. Two references, one for India and others for Canada, are mandatory on the application form in case of an emergency.
  15. All the contact details that you provide on the application form must be the latest and complete. The application center can contact you without any trouble.

Ascertain what Visa Type Suits you

Going by the trend, most Canadian passengers spend 3 to 6 months. An Indian tourist visa works just fine for that.

You get access to single, double, as well as multiple entries. However, this type of visa is inconvertible and non-extendable.

But how much does a visa cost? Well, an important thing to note is that the cost of processing the visa for six months or 12 months is the same.

Therefore, you might as well just apply for 12 months.

However, even if you obtain a visa for 12 months, you cannot spend more than 180 days in India at a stretch.

Also, if for just a day, you would have to leave the country and re-enter.

Further, foreigners will only get a visa if they do not have a residence in India.

Also, the purpose of the visit must be a casual visit, sightseeing or recreation, and so on. No other activity is allowed on a tourist visa.

There are other visas for other purposes. For instance, if you want to pursue business in India, you have to obtain an Indian business visa.

Take a quick look at the types of visas and the purposes that it suits

1. Business Visa

If you are traveling to India for business pursuits, you must file for this type of visa. It is valid for a year or more with multiple entries.

2. Conference Visa

If you want to visit the country for an international conference, this visa suits you.

Delegates invited for a conference, seminar, or workshop, and so on must apply for a conference visa. The visa is valid for three months and allows a single entry.

3. Diplomatic Visa

The Indian Embassy process diplomatic and official passports for a diplomatic visa. There is no processing fee or service charge for this type of visa.

4. Employment Visa

A person suitable for an employment visa must be an employee or a paid intern for an Indian company.

Also, people traveling for NGO volunteering work seek such a visa. The duration varies and may be extended up to 5 years.

5. Emergency Visa

As the name suggests, such a visa is granted in case of an emergency such as illness, death, and so on.

6. Entry Visa

Such type of visa is perfect for a passenger of Indian origin.

7. Journalist Visa

Professional journalists and photographers can obtain such visas. You can stay for up to 3 months with this type of visa.

8. Medical Visa

If you seek medical help or treatment from a specialized Indian center or institution, you need a medical visa.

The visa is usually valid up to a year or till the treatment is ongoing, whichever comes first. A maximum of 3 entries per year is permitted.

9. Missionaries Visa

If you are to travel to India for religious purposes, a Missionaries Visa is what you need. It carries single entry and may take up to 3 months to process.

10. Permit to Re-enter within 2 Months

11. Research Visa

You can obtain a research visa if you are a researcher, research professor, participant, or scholar attending research conferences, workshops, or seminars.

It is mandatory to apply for such a visa at least six months before your scheduled departure.

12. Student Visa

Students that are attending legit courses with recognized Indian institutions can apply for multiple-visit Student Visa. It is valid for the duration of the class.

13. Transit Visa

This type of visa is only granted to enable visa holders to pass through or travel through India to reach their ultimate destination. You cannot change the purpose of the visa.

14. Transfer of Visa to New Passport

if the passport that you are holding has expired, however, the visa is still valid, you can travel to India using both the older and newer passport.

It is necessary, though, to transfer the visa to your new passport.

The New 10 year Indian Tourist Visa for Canadians

Recently, the Indian government introduced a ten-year multiple entry visa for Canadians. The maximum limit earlier was five years. However, the restriction on the stay in one go remains the same, i.e., 180 days.

Cost of Indian Tourist Visa for Canadians

Cost of a tourist visa for India that has a validity of 1-year costs CDN $153 for all Canadian passport holders.

However, when you combine the processing fees and BLS International fee, the total amount increases to about CDN $164.40.

Finally, there are additional costs, such as postage and photos. Such costs vary from region to region.

On the other hand, the ten-year visa cost for India is CDN $202, excluding the processing fee.

So, that covers everything Canadians must know for getting a visa for India. For any queries,

you can log on to official government websites. It is advised that you seek the professional help of a visa agent to save yourself from all the cumbersome processes and intricacies. Have a seamless travel experience in India!

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