Different Canada Visa types from India for Indians

Want to travel to Canada – to work, to study, or to live with your family and relatives? Learn all about which could be the best visa type to suit your requirement and purpose of travel.

Canada, the world’s 2nd largest country, has become one of the most preferred destinations for people aspiring to immigrate abroad, thanks to the nation's welcoming nature and friendly immigration laws.

The reasons for the choice are many, from providing a world-class education structure to top-notch facilitators and lectures to a highly emerging employment market, to free public health care and many more.

Having said that, you might not have had the chance to familiarize yourself with the various visa options available to immigrate to Canada, or even though you are familiar with the terms but certainly might not have been with its eligibility and requirements.

Fret Not! Through this article of ours, you would be imbibed with all information related to the Canada visa types for Indians along with their requirement and every minute detail in detail.

So, without further ado, let us dive in and learn more about the offered and available different Canada Visa types from India.

Canada Visa

There are different types of Canada Visa options available for Indians to suit your purpose. The visa fees for these visas vary with respect to the type of stay and number of entries.

However, in general, the issued duration length of a Canada Visa is 6 months, but the duration has the benefit of extension based on the Canadian Border Security Office’s decision.

What do you require for a Canada Visa?

The documentation requirements depend on the type of visa opted for, however, there is some general set of documentation required to attach with your application listed below:

1. Valid passport along with old passport (if any)
2. 3 photos as per specific Canada Visa requirements.
3. Application form – filled and self-attested
4. Travel Itinerary – confirmed tickets, proof of accommodation
5. Proof of financials – Form 16, salary slips, passbook, etc.
6. Identity and civil status documents
7. Police clearance certificate (on request)
8. Medical clearance certification
9. Proof to support your return to your origin country upon visa expiry
10. NOC from employers/ leave sanction letter in case of students.
11. A cover letter stating your purpose of visit, duration, and motive
12. Invitation to Canada

Documentation requirements for Minors

The law for migration of minors to the country is similar to the ones followed by the tourists. However, based on their purpose additional documentation could be requested

Mandatory additional documents:

While traveling alone

1. Birth certificate copy with passport
2. Documentation as required while traveling alone
3. Travel authorization from parents and legal guardian organizations provided the language should be either English or French

When traveling with one parent

1. Details (phone number and address) of the non-accompanying parent or legal guardians
2. Non-accompanying parent’s passport copy along with 2 copies of parent’s national identification card

Parents are divorced with joint custody of the child

1. Legal paperwork documentation needed to be carried with the traveling parent
2. Authorization letter from the other parent

In case the child is under 100% single-parent custody

1. In case of one parent has expired then the death certificate needs to be attached
2. In case the child is traveling with a legal guardian or adoptive parents, the person needs to carry the guardianship or adoption certificates
3. Written authorization from the parent or guardian and it is mandatory to include contact details and address of the parent or legal guardian.

Canada Visas types for Indians

There are different types of Canada visa options available for Indians, these options are however categorized under broader heads that is, Temporary Resident Visas and Permanent Resident Visas.

The temporary resident visa is available to Indians with a minimum issued duration of 6 months to visit and stay in the country. The duration however can be increased at the time of issuing the visa, as per the requirement and the acceptance of the Visa officer.

Moving further let us list the different Canada visa types and fees related to it. If we further segregate the temporary visa head, the types of visa options available are

1. Visitor visa

This is the visa type for people who want to visit Canada for tourism, family, and business-related purposes. They are granted temporary resident status in the country and the issued duration is generally 6 months. In order for you to apply for this visa you can do it online or through application submission at the Canadian Embassy.

It is mandatory to have a Canadian visitor visa even for passengers transiting through the country’s airport. The visa can be a single-entry (allowed to enter the country only once, no permission for re-entry after exiting the country) or a multiple-entry visa (you are free to come in and leave multiple times along the duration of the visa validity period).

Visitor visas would cost you CAD 100 per person and for a family of 5 members and more (must apply together) would cost you CAD 500. The extension cost for the visa is CAD 100 per person.

Visitor visas options to Canada include:-

i. Canada tourist Visa

Visitors who wish to enter and explore Canada’s tourism should apply for this visa.

ii. Canada Super Visa

This visa type is for parents or grandparents living in India who wants to visit their children or grandchildren who are Canadian permanent resident holders or Canadian citizens.

iii. Courtesy Visa

This visa type is for all people who do not qualify for Diplomatic & official visas. This visa generally includes people (members) of trade missions and diplomats, whose visit is considered important, concerning their position or higher ranks.

iv. Canada Diplomat & Official visa

This visa type is specifically for diplomats and foreign country officials, to visit Canada on official duties.

v. Canada Business Visa

This visa type is for individuals or groups of people who want to visit Canada for business purposes.

vi. Temporary work Visa

This visa type is for people with a job offer from a Canadian employer. this visa is only valid for people having a work requirement of fewer than 6 months in the country and would as well require you to attach your job offer letter with your application.

vii. Temporary Resident Permit

This visa type is offered to people visiting Canada for any purpose and when he does not qualify for a Temporary Resident Visa.

viii. Working Holiday Visa

This visa is offered only to youngsters that come from only 30 countries including India to travel to Canada for work purposes. The selection for this visa is done randomly once you have submitted your application.

ix. Canada Transit Visa

As per Canada’s immigration laws, every person needs to have a transit visa if their international flights have a stopover in a Canadian airport before reaching their destination country. It is also important to note that as a traveler if you do not have a Canada visitor visa you need to transit through Canada in less than 48 hours.

x. Organ Donor visa

The visa is only applicable to people who are willing to travel to Canada in order to donate their organs to a Canadian citizen or resident.

xi. Give Birth in Canada

This visa type is given to pregnant women who are willing to give birth in Canada, making the baby gain the privilege of being a Canadian Citizen by birth. However, rules and criteria exist to be fulfilled to receive acceptance.

xii. Canada Felicitation Visa

This visa is only eligible for individuals with dual nationalities, and do not have a Canadian passport.

2. Student Visa

Canada offers varied courses to pursue from their international renown and ranked universities, to international students from all around the world. In order for you to come to pursue these courses and specializations you would be needing a visa. If your course is for a time period that is less than 180 days you can travel on a Temporary Resident Visa. If not, if the course duration is for more than 6 months then it is mandatory to apply for a student visa to come to Canada and study without any obstacles.

3. Work Visa

If you want to move to Canada in search of better employment opportunities, or want to work post completing your studies in Canada you would have to apply for a Canada work visa. A Canadian work visa enables an individual to arrive, work and live in Canada.

The work visas are however of two types namely Employer specific work visas (valid for working under a specific employer only) and open work visas (have the freedom to work for any employer in Canada).

4. Immigrant Visa

The Immigrant visa holders are provided the permit to work, settle and live in Canada. These are also known as permanent residence visas. The different types of Canada visas for immigrants include

i. Immigrant Investor Program

This visa program is for individuals who are willing to make investments in the Canadian economy. The minimum net worth required for eligibility is CAD $800,000 and should be able to invest nothing less than CAD $400,000, which the Canadian government would pay back in 5 years of time.

ii. Startup Visa Program

This program is for people who want to contribute to the Canadian economy. The individual must carry a net worth of at least CAD $300,000 and the individual must also commit to owning and managing 1/3rd of Canadian business as well. This is to create new employment markets within 3 years of their existence in the country.

iii. Self-Employed Persons Visa

This visa is for skilled people in the fields like athletics, business, farming, etc, to come to Canada and set up their own ventures in Canada. It is however mandatory for the person to demonstrate his skills in the area and also the proof to financials.

iv. Family Sponsorship Program

This visa type or program is mainly for the purpose of family reunification. Under this program, the spouse and dependents of the Canadian Permanent Resident to permanently relocate to Canada. The sponsor promises to support the members for a given time period of at least 3 years to 10 years.

v. Live – IN Caregiver (LCP)

This visa program is for a person who is qualified to take care of the elderly and children. These migrants however would be required to be accommodated in private homes in Canada.

5. Visas under Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program

Visa programs for working skilled workers, that is Express Entry System, and Provincial Nominee Program, and the suggestive best way to earn Canadian permanent residency. The eligibility under these programs however varies individually and the cause. Under Express Entry applicants are qualified based on their CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores into the categories

i. Federal Skilled Workers Program

This program is for skilled workers having a minimum of a year’s relevant experience and qualifying the eligibility criteria as per the employment with a minimum score of 69 out of 100.

ii. Federal Skilled Trades Program

This program is for international skilled tradesmen, of which the individuals scoring the highest are invited to apply for permanent residency post the draw.

iii. Canadian Experience Class

These are the visa options offered to applicants who are on a temporary work or study permit that is have studied or just completed studies in Canada and/or have a minimum of a year of work experience working in Canada

iv. Provincial Nominee Program

While under the Provincial Nominee Program, the candidates get nominated by the provinces to come work and settle in their province. This nomination is done by the provinces individually or from the express entry pool ways, and every province enjoys the freedom to operate to their own eligibility requirements.

Canada Visa Fees

As we are well aware the visa fee is not just a single factor that is the application fee, rather is a summation of other aspects concerning the process like the Biometric fee, and other service charges. The cost of the visa fee varies with respect to the country of application, mode of application, number of entries, and duration.

Biometric fee

Every person following the visa process needs to undergo a Biometric evaluation. However, temporary residency applicants like visitor visas, work permits, or study permits only would have to provide biometrics once every 10 years, while the applicants for permanent residency would only have to do it at the time of application, (regardless they might have had produced in the past).