Indian Visa For Canadians

I am living in a foreign country since 3 years and going to other cities and countries for my business purposes. In last 3 years I have visited many countries and don’t want to get stuck in the airport by taking wrong kind of visa. So, I thought about writing about best Indian visa for Canadians so that it will help out my friends and colleagues as well.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of India, notifies a new list on annual basis with regard to the number of visa applications received at different posts as well as the number of visas issued. The figures are compiled by the Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) of India. To avoid any possible inconvenience to applicants and their dependents during the process and execution of the aforesaid Indian Visa For Canadians, one should be fully aware about the respective I Visa Categories and ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA for entry into India for short-duration visit.   

Indian Visa For Canadians

Almost every person plans to go abroad at least once in his or her lifetime. India is one of the most favourite places for attaining education or to gain experience or just for tourism. To plan a visit to this marvellous country, one needs visa. The passport holder from Canada can travel to various regions of India only after obtaining Indian visa from an authorized Indian e-consulate. The salient feature of Indian visas is that any kind of applicant can cross the border without any difficulty if he/she has obtained an e-visa.

If you are a passport holder of Canada, then you must be knowing visa rules of India which is becoming tougher and tougher all the time.

If you have had enough of your “temporary resident” visa and want to leave India, what can you do? You can apply for a long term multiple entry visa – that is to say, an Indian visa which will allow you to enter and exit India any number of times. I am talking about Indian visa that will allow you to stay in India for as long as you like, on condition that your stay is not indefinite.

India is a stunning country, with many treasures for you to discover. Whether you are looking for culture, wilderness and beauty or high energy cities, you will find all of this in India.

The Consulate has outsourced its VISA services to BLS International Services Inc (BLS). 

• If you are a Canadian citizen and looking for long-term business and tourist visa please Click Here
• We also accept visa applications at the Consulate provided (a) you have a medical (or any other genuine humanitarian) emergency.
• If you have any emergency please click here.
  If you are a Pakistani Citizen or a Person of Pakistan origin (Pak-Canadian or other foreign passport holder) please click here. Minimum processing time for visa application of a Pakistani citizen or a person of Pakistan origin is 7-9 weeks.
• If you are a minor applicant below 18 years of age, attach parents’ consent form, copy of birth certificate (detailed/long one) of the minor and main pages of parents’ passport.
  
  In case the parents of the minors are separated then a copy of the judicial custody from the court along with divorce papers will be required. 
• If you are applying for eTV (e Tourist visa) please click here.
  
  IMPORTANT: APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO REFRAIN FROM BOOKING TICKETS BEFORE OBTAINING A VISA. HAVING A TRAVEL TICKET WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. 

Requirements and Process in brief :

• Duly filled in visa application form (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/) (Please use the latest version of browser which supports secured site).
• Print and sign the application form at the places marked on application at its first and the second page.
• Two recent colour passport size (2inch x 2inch) photographs with plain white background showing full frontal face to be pasted on the form.
• Current valid passport of the applicant and address proof (Driving license can be considered as proof of address).
• Attach the required documents, for details in respect of documents and visa process please visit BLS website through the link https://www.blsindia-canada.com/, and submit the application at the nearest BLS centre. You must ensure that all documents are attached as per the checklist as per the category of visa you seek. Incomplete application will be returned for re-submission.
  

Other useful information for VISA seekers :

• Visa is normally issued on passport / Identity Certificate.
• Validity of passport should be more than 190 days.
• The Consulate General of India reserves the right to delay / change the duration / refuse visa without assigning any reasons. Visas are issued after various verifications and clearances. Acceptance of visa application does not necessarily mean grant of visa. 
• Biometric is compulsory for issuance of visa
• Long-term visa applicants who have held an Indian passport in the past have to submit proof of Immigration status at the time of arrival in Canada.
• Former Indian passport holders, are required to submit their Canadian passport with Surrender Certificate or the surrendered Indian passport.
• Fees once charged will not be refunded even in cases where visa is refused or application is withdrawn.
• In addition to the prescribed fee, an applicant would be required to pay C$ 4 on account of Consular surcharge + BLS service fee of C$ 7.40 (inclusive of applicable taxes).
• No vaccination is necessary for those traveling to India from Canada. However, persons coming from or passing through Yellow Fever infected areas are required to be in possession of a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever before arriving in India.
• Long Term Visa holders of staying for more than 180 days are required to register at their nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or District Superintendents of Police in districts in the prescribed form.
• Visit to Restricted/Protected area in India requires a Special Permit. Please submit the application in the prescribed form. It takes at least 10-12 weeks to process such application. 
• Separate rules apply in cases of visa for Research, Missionary work, Journalism and Travel document holders.
• Visas are valid from the date of issue. Kindly check the validity of the visa while making travel plans.
• Visas are issued and affixed on passports and therefore, passports must be submitted with the application.
• Tourist visas cannot be extended.
• The processing time for visa application submitted at BLS centres is 30 working days (excluding transit/delivery time from outsourced agency to and from the Consulate). However, you are advised to apply well in advance say three weeks before the date of travel.
• If the passport on which visa has been endorsed is lapsed,the visa will still be valid if the old passport is carried along with the new passport.
• Processing time of visa on travel documents is minimum 30 working days. Validity of visa on Travel Document is 30 days only (Persons of Tibetan origin on submission of copy of Certificate of Identity along with travel document apply for 3 months single entry tourist visa).

IMPORTANT: APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO REFRAIN FROM BOOKING TICKETS BEFORE OBTAINING A VISA. HAVING A TRAVEL TICKET WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. 

Please note that Non-Canadian nationals are required to fill in the additional Visa Reference Form.

 Warning: Satellite phones are not permitted in India.

Warning for fake/frauds websites for e-Tourist Visa

It has come to the notice of the Consulate that a number of fake visa websites are operating on the internet, claiming to provide Indian e-Tourist Visa service to visa applicants desirous of travel to India.