Canada
Bring every document on this list. Canadian visa officers refuse far more applications for thin paperwork than for anything a traveller has actually done wrong.
- Visa type
- Visitor visa (TRV)
- Apply through
- VFS Global, biometrics in person
- Passport validity
- 6 months minimum
- Checklist updated
- September 2026
Everyone travelling
Required regardless of what you do for a living.
-
Carry all old and expired passports too, even cancelled ones. Previous travel history is one of the strongest things working in your favour.
-
Taken within the last 6 months against a plain white or light background. Full face, neutral expression, ears and forehead visible, no headgear except where worn for religious reasons. See the photograph specification below.
-
We arrange thisA reservation is enough at the application stage — you should not buy a ticket before the visa is granted.
-
We arrange thisThere must be no unexplained gaps in your accommodation.
-
We prepare thisA clear day-by-day plan showing where you'll be and when.
-
If you are travelling on business, this goes on your company letterhead and must state your name, passport number, the purpose of travel, and the passport details of everyone travelling with you.
Money and tax
The officer is deciding one thing above all: can you afford this trip, and will you come home afterwards. This is where that gets answered.
-
We recommend showing a closing balance of at least ₹4,00,000 per person . This is our own guidance based on what gets approved, not a figure published by the Canadian authorities. A steady balance built over months reads far better than a large sum deposited last week.
-
D-Mat account statements, LIC policies, mutual fund statements, fixed deposits, property papers. Include anything you have declared on the application form — a declared asset with no supporting document raises a question you don't want asked.
-
Recommended
Proof of what you do
Your ties to India. Strong ties here are the single biggest factor in an approval.
-
On company letterhead, signed, confirming your position, your approved leave dates and that your job is waiting for you.
-
Confirming you are enrolled and that your leave of absence is approved.
-
See the sponsor section below.
Depending on your situation
-
If travelling with your spouse
-
For each child travelling
-
If a child travels with one parent only
Biometrics are compulsory
Almost every Indian applicant aged 14 to 79 must give fingerprints and a photograph in person at a VFS Global centre after submitting the application online. Biometrics stay valid for 10 years, so if you have given them for a Canadian application before, you may not need to repeat them. We book the appointment for you.
Photograph specification
- 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, printed on matt or semi-matt paper, no border.
- Taken within the last 6 months, in a studio. No selfies, no scanned or reprinted photographs.
- Plain white or light-coloured background, evenly lit, no shadows.
- Full face, looking straight at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
- Face measured from chin to crown should be between 31 mm and 36 mm.
- No headgear unless worn daily for religious reasons, and it must not cover any part of the face.
- Spectacles are best removed. If worn, the frames must not cover the eyes and there must be no glare.
If someone in Canada is inviting or funding your trip
Only needed when a relative or friend in Canada is hosting you or paying part of your costs. Everything here comes from your sponsor, not from you.
-
Stating the purpose of your visit, their relationship to you, how long you'll stay, and exactly which expenses they will cover.
-
PR card, citizenship certificate, or a valid work or study permit.
-
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, or a family registration document that connects you both.
-
The employment letter should state their position, salary and length of service.
-
In Canada this means the T4 slip and Notice of Assessment. If the sponsor is self-employed, business registration plus proof of income instead.
-
Rental agreement or property ownership papers. If they will not be hosting you, a hotel booking instead.
-
Optional
Not sure about your file?
Send us a message and we'll tell you honestly whether your documents are ready, or what to fix before you apply. We've been filing visas from Chandigarh since 2010.