Canada Visa from India — Every Type, How to Apply (2026)
India is one of the largest source countries for Canadian immigration of every type — student permits, work permits, Express Entry PR, family sponsorship, and visitor visas. This page summarizes every Canada visa available to Indian passport holders, the IRCC New Delhi visa office process, and the most common refusal patterns we see across Indian files at Halani Immigration.
All Canada visa types for Indian applicants
Visitor Visa (TRV)
Short-term visit for tourism, family, business meetings. 6-month maximum stay per entry. Most-applied visa from India.
Visitor visa →Super Visa (parents/grandparents)
10-year multi-entry, up to 5-year stays. For parents/grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs. Most popular for Indian families bringing parents.
Super Visa →Study Permit
For international students at Canadian DLIs. India is the largest source country for Canadian study permits. Post-SDS regime applies since November 2024.
Study permit →Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
For graduates of eligible Canadian programs. 8 months to 3 years. The single most-used path from Indian student to Canadian PR.
PGWP details →Work Permit (LMIA-based)
For Indian workers with a Canadian employer who has obtained an LMIA. Spouse may qualify for SOWP.
Work permit →Express Entry (PR)
Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades. India is the #1 source country for Express Entry PRs.
Express Entry →Provincial Nominee Programs
OINP (Ontario), AAIP (Alberta), BC PNP, SINP (Saskatchewan), MPNP (Manitoba), and more. +600 CRS on nomination.
All PNP streams →Spousal Sponsorship
For Indian spouses of Canadian citizens / PRs. Outland (New Delhi visa office) or inland. Common for Indo-Canadian families.
Spousal sponsorship →The IRCC New Delhi visa office
IRCC New Delhi is one of the highest-volume Canadian visa offices in the world. Most Indian applications — visitor, study, work, and PR — are processed there. The Chandigarh VAC serves Punjab and northern Indian applicants for biometrics and document submission. VACs also operate in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Jalandhar for biometrics — but adjudication is centralized.
New Delhi has well-known refusal patterns by application type. Visitor visa refusals frequently cite "insufficient ties to country of residence" for self-employed Indian applicants and students. Study permit refusals frequently cite "purpose of visit" (SOP weakness) and "financial proof" (GIC + sponsor capacity inconsistencies). Knowing which pattern your file is most likely to trigger lets you pre-empt it.
Most-applied visa types from India — what you should know
Visitor Visa from India (most common)
Indian visitor visa applications regularly refuse on "insufficient ties to home" — especially for self-employed applicants, recent graduates, and applicants without prior international travel. The fix is structuring ties evidence concretely: stable employment letter with return-date, NADRA-equivalent family-anchor evidence (spouse + children remaining in India), property documentation, ongoing business obligations. We have a separate page for visitor visa from Pakistan that covers the same pattern in detail — see /visitor-visa-canada-from-pakistan. The Indian process mirrors it closely.
Study Permit from India (post-SDS regime)
SDS ended November 2024. Indian students now apply under the regular study permit stream. The key documentation: GIC of CAD 22,895 (single applicant; current 2025-2026 figure), tuition payment proof for first year, statement of purpose (SOP) tightly aligned with a credible career plan back in India, financial proof (parental sponsor income + bank statements ≥6 months), and acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DLI). Refusal-prone areas: SOP weakness (the #1 ground), financial proof inconsistency, and DLI track record for the specific program.
Express Entry from India
India is the largest source country for Express Entry PRs. The most common Indian Express Entry profile is: IT professional (NOC 21231, 21232, 21234), age 25-32, master's degree, IELTS 7+, 3-5 years overseas work experience. Strong files in this profile typically score CRS 470-510 — competitive in category-based draws (STEM, tech). Backstop with PNP (OINP Human Capital Priorities, AAIP Express Entry, BC PNP Tech) if CRS is below current draw cutoffs.
Work Permit from India
Most Indian work permits are LMIA-based — your Canadian employer has obtained an LMIA confirming there is no Canadian worker available for the role. Some IT roles qualify for LMIA-exempt streams (Intra-Company Transfer for established multinationals, GTS for highly skilled in-demand roles). Indian-Canadian families also use the Open Work Permit for spouses of skilled-worker permit holders or study permit holders. We map specifically at consultation.
FAQ — Canada visa from India
What types of Canada visa can I apply for from India?
All Canadian visa types are available to Indian applicants — visitor visa (TRV), study permit, work permit (LMIA-based or LMIA-exempt), eTA is not applicable for Indian passport holders, Super Visa for parents, spousal sponsorship, and PR through Express Entry, PNP, or family sponsorship.
Which visa office processes Canada visa applications from India?
Most applications are processed by IRCC New Delhi. Punjab applicants typically submit through the Chandigarh VAC. Other VACs operate across India (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, etc.) for biometrics and document submission, but adjudication is centralized.
How long does a Canada visa from India take?
Processing times vary by visa type. Visitor visas range from a few weeks to several months. Study permits for SDS-style applicants are typically faster than non-SDS. Express Entry PR is roughly 5-6 months from AOR. Always check the live IRCC processing times at /tools/processing-times before planning travel.
What's the difference between Canada Visit Visa and Tourist Visa from India?
They are the same thing. Canadian immigration calls it a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Indian applicants and travel agents commonly use 'visit visa' and 'tourist visa' interchangeably. There is a single TRV application that covers tourism, family visits, and short business trips.
Do I need IELTS to apply for a Canada visitor visa from India?
No. IELTS is only required for PR streams (Express Entry, most PNP) and for some study permits (SDS for Indian students). Visitor and standard work permits do not require language test scores.
How much funds do I need to show for a Canada visa from India?
Depends on visa type. Visitor visa: enough to fund your stay (typically INR 3-5 lakhs in stable balance for a 2-week visit). Study permit: tuition + CAD 22,895/yr cost of living (for single applicant, 2025-2026). FSW PR: CAD 14,690 settlement funds for single applicant + CAD 3,966 per additional family member. Steady, well-documented balance always beats sudden deposits.
Is the Student Direct Stream (SDS) still available for Indian students?
No. The Student Direct Stream ended on 8 November 2024. Indian students now apply under the regular study permit stream, which requires the same documentation (GIC, tuition payment, financial proof) but without the SDS processing-speed advantage.
Can I appeal a Canadian visa refusal from India?
Not directly — visitor / study / work permit refusals do not have a statutory appeal right. You can (a) reapply with stronger evidence addressing the specific concern, or (b) file a judicial review application in the Federal Court of Canada within 15 days of receiving the refusal letter. We assess judicial review viability case-by-case.
Indian visa file? We work New Delhi files daily.
Halani Immigration Services Inc., led by Shoukat Halani, RCIC-IRB (CICC No. R711322), represents Indian applicants across every Canadian visa type. Free 15-minute assessment.
Free Indian File Review →Related: Full India corridor guide · Express Entry · Study permit · Visitor visa · Super Visa