How to apply for a Canada tourist visa?

Posted on: Apr 6, 2023 | | Written by:

How to apply for a Canada tourist visa?

Published on April 08, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

An international tour is always great fun. Be it a solo trip or with your family or friends, the memories collected from a foreign trip never fail to enthral you. Canada is one of the most popular tourist places. Not just for the purpose of travel and tours, a number of Indians also visit Canada for the purpose of business, stay, and education. The serene views of this Northern hemisphere region are filled with beautiful black-blue lakes, the oldest rocks, rivers, and ice. As an Indian, if you wish to make a visit to Canada, you must know all about Canada tourist visa requirements. Apart from this, you should get international travel insurance so you can enjoy yourself at your best worry free.

Canada tourist visa requirements - Everything you need to know

To begin with, you need to apply for Canada tourist visa at the right time so you can execute your tour plans without any botheration. Here is a detail of the Canada tourist visa requirements that you must be aware of:

1. A visa for Canada is a must for every Indian citizen in order to visit Canada

2. Indians must possess a valid Canadian visa before arriving in Canada, as there is no visa on arrival for Indians

3. You can complete Canada tourist visa requirements through the online process as well as the offline process. For an online visa application, go to: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp

4. To secure your travel experience, you may also purchase travel insurance for Canada or international travel insurance.

How to Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa?

One of the first questions that might pop up in your mind may be how to apply for Canada tourist visa. There are a few simple steps that are to be followed correctly. Read on to find out how to apply for Canada tourist visa:

1. Via application form

Download the Canada tourist visa form online or collect it from the visa application centre

2. Form submission

Fill in all the Canada tourist visa requirements properly in the form and submit it either online or offline

3. Document submission

Make sure you submit all the required documents along with the form. Also, currently, travel insurance for Canada is mandatory to make a visit to the country

4. Appointment booking

You need to book an appointment with your visa application centre to submit biometrics/fingerprints and photos. After submitting the form, your visa application centre will inform you about the biometric submission deadline (most likely 30 days) and the centre where you need to submit it.

5. Pay the fees

Once you have submitted the application form for the visa, you also have to pay the application fees. It depends on the type of visa you have selected.

6. Interview

After your application is reviewed and passed; you will be allotted an interview date. If the visa application does not pass, it will be returned to you and notified.

7. Visa approval

After your successful interview, the visa will be stamped in your passport. If it fails to pass, you will have to apply again for the visa.

After your arrival in Canada, your identity will be checked at the inspection kiosk. Once passed, you can visit the country and enjoy yourself.

Canada Tourist Visa Eligibility

Before you apply for Canada tourist visa, you must check all the details of Canada tourist visa requirements, including the eligibility criteria for Indians, which are as folows:

1. Having a passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel

2. You must not have any criminal record or an immigration-related conviction

3. You should have sufficient finances for travel and return to your country

4. Your overall health should be fine

5. You must be fully Covid-19 vaccinated

The Visa Application Centre may ask for any other prerequisites, as applicable. Only after fulfilling all the requirements would you be allowed to proceed to file a Canada tourist visa application.

Documents Required For Canada Tourist Visa:

Before you sit down to begin the application process, collect all the relevant documents to avoid any unnecessary to and fro while form filling. Here is the list of documents you need to have to fulfil Canada tourist visa requirements:

1. Original passport (must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Canada)

2. Visa application form

3. Recent photographs

4. A cover letter listing details of the tour and the travellers

5. Hotel booking details (if applicable)

6. Itinerary details

7. Air tickets

8. On-leave letter (original) from workplace/educational institution

9. Last 6 months salary slip

10. MOA/Deed (for self-employed)

11. Bank statement details of last 6 months

12. Income tax returns or Form 16 of last 3 years

13. Government-issued identity card

14. Retirement and pension proof for retired individuals

15. Any other documents, as required

16. Travel insurance specific to Canada or international travel insurance

Photo Specifications for Canada Tourist Visa

Check out the specifications for a Canada tourist visa:

1. A size of 35mm x 44mm

2. Photos should have white background

3. Photographs should have a matt finish with 80% face size

4. Coloured photographs are a must

5. Photographs with a side face, wide smile, headgear, and glasses/sunglasses should be avoided

6. Make sure you give a natural expression and that both eyes and ears are clearly visible

Canada Tourist Visa Fees

Here is the fee structure for a Canada tourist visa:

Number of Persons	Visa Fees
Visitor visa per person (including Super Visa)	USD 87.18
Family (5 or more person)	USD 366.48
Stay extension per person	USD 78.18
Restoration of status as a visitor	USD 146.59

Processing Time of Canada Tourist Visa after Submission

The normal processing time after you apply for Canada tourist visa is 8 weeks. However, there may be a further delay depending on your application form errors, document verification, etc. So, it is wise to apply immediately for the visa once you have jotted down your tour plan. Also, make sure you have travel insurance so you can travel stress-free.

How to Check Canada Tourist Visa Status?

Once you have completed all the processes of visa application for Canada, you can check the status of your visa. You will receive mail and SMS from your visa application centre regarding the processing of your visa application. Using the link, you can keep a tab on your visa status. In the meantime, you may also choose the right international travel insurance to secure your tour.

When do You have this visa?

The time taken to get a Canada visitor visa is generally a few weeks. The actual processing time depends on the visa office. If the application is found to be incomplete, your application may be returned, and you may be asked to

• Go for an interview with the authorised Canadian official in India (your home country)

• Submit more documents/ information

• Get a medical check-up

• Get more verification from the police

If you have applied for permanent residence or Canadian citizenship, there is a weekly updation of the processing times, which are based on the past 6 months' time and 8 to 16 weeks in the case of temporary residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is travel insurance mandatory to visit Canada?

To make a visit to Canada, it is essential and mandatory to have travel insurance. It not only fulfils the legal requirements, but having international travel insurance is also important to ensure your safety while on tour. There are various types of travel insurance available for you to choose from.

2. Can the visa application process be done online?

Yes. You can fill out and submit the form online. However, to submit biometrics and photographs, you must visit the visa application centre.

3. Will I receive a refund if my visa application gets rejected?

No. The application fees charged are spent on the processing of your visa application. Hence, the fee is non-refundable.

4. Can I apply again if my Canada visa application gets rejected?

Yes, you can apply again for the visa if it gets rejected.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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