Business Travel Requirements for a India Visa for Canadian Citizens
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information pages of your passport. Your passport must:
- Be valid for the next 190 days
- Be signed
- Have at least two consecutive blank visa pages, side by side
- Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way
If your passport does not meet these requirements, please contact VisaCentral at 866-394-9726 for further details.
Photograph(s)
You must provide a photograph. Upload your photo and we will print it to the exact specifications required for this visa. Follow https://visacentral.ca/photo-service to upload your photo.
Alternatively, you may provide one colour, passport type photograph that meets the following strict criteria: be taken within the last three months against a white background free of shadows and printed on high quality photo paper; be 51mm by 51mm in size; provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression. You may wear neither glasses nor headwear except for religious purposes. Your photograph should not be affixed to your application and may not display evidence of adhesive or staples.
Visa Application Form
The Embassy of India has instituted a web-based visa application form. The application must be completed online and can be found at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/. We cannot process your visa request if you do not complete the application form online. Instructions:
- Please ensure to note the interim unique reference number generated at the start (and seen on each page) of the online application form
- Please record/ note the final reference number that is generated upon completion of your application
- Provide an email address in your application so that information on your unique reference numbers can be sent
- Applications MUST be signed by the applicant him/herself and not by any representative.
- All applications must be signed under the photo and on the second page; both signatures must match the signature in your passport.
- Before submitting your visa application, please check your passport(s) to ensure there is no valid visa for India
- Please ensure that the barcode appears on the bottom left-hand corner of your printed visa application
- Town/Country of Birth must match exactly to your passport
- Place of Issue of Passport must match exactly to your passport
NOTE: All fields on the Online Application Form must be completed in as much detail as possible. When entering address information, please ensure that you provide the Postal Code as well. Please fill out all additional forms found in this visa application kit.
VisaCentral provides a guide to assist you in completing the application. To access the guide follow this link: https://visacentral.ca/forms?formname=Guide-India.pdf or type the address into your browser.
Submission Surcharge
India visa applications require special shipping and handling for submission to the consulate. A shipping and handling surcharge of $25.00 will apply to all India visa orders.
Business Cover Letter
You are required to provide an original Business Introduction Letter from your Canadian-based company. All letters must be printed on company letterhead that displays an Canadian mailing address. Use the sample Business Introduction Letter provided at https://visacentral.ca/forms?formname=Canada-Business-Cover-Letter-Sample.pdf using the exact language and format provided in order to prevent a rejection and possible delays with your visa request.
Letter of Invitation
A letter of invitation from the company that you will be visiting is required. A copy is acceptable. The letter must:
- Be on a company letterhead
- Include the company's address, phone number, website address, and email address
- Contain Information about the applicant (e.g. intended dates of stay, places and firms to be visited).
- State the nature of business activities
- Include the intended period of stay
- Include the contact's address and phone number
- Be signed
Hotel Confirmation
You must provide confirmation of your hotel accommodations. Your confirmation details must be hand-written in column H on the 2nd page of the visa application form.
Sri Lankan Nationals and Persons of Sri Lankan Origin
Sri Lankan nationals and persons of Sri Lankan origin must submit the following:
- A completed and signed form entitled Additional Form for Sri Lankan Origins
- A copy of a current photo ID for Sri Lankan passport holders only
- A copy of your drivers license or a utility bill (only if you reside in Toronto)
Former Indian Nationals
Former Indian nationals applying for the first time for a visa to India must submit the following:
- A cancelled Indian passport
- Certificate certifying the visa applicant surrendered their Indian nationality
Business Information Sheet & Business Visa Checklist
You must provide one completed Business Information Sheet and one completed Business Visa Checklist form found in this kit. Note: The Business Information Sheet must be typed and not handwritten.
Postal Application Form
You must include one Postal Application Form found in this kit. Sign at the bottom. We will complete the form on your behalf. This form must be sent to VisaCentral with all other required documents.
VisaCentral Order Form
You must provide one completed VisaCentral Order Form. The form must:
- Include a valid email address and payment information
- Include your signature in blue or black ink
Persons of Pakistani Origin Only
You must make a personal appearance at the Indian Consulate to process your visa if you are a person of Pakistani origin, either of your parents were born in Pakistan, and/or formerly held a Pakistani passport. The consulate requires additional procedures in order to process your visa and VisaCentral is unable to assist in these procedures.
Proof of Provincial Residency
You must provide proof of residency. Your proof of residency must:
- Include a copy of your driver's license and an original utility bill OR
- A verified bank statement showing your address
Visa Conditions
If you are applying for a visa more than 3 months before your entry date, you must provide a letter indicating the reasons for the early visa submission.
Certificate of Incorporation from the Canadian Based Company
You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation from the Canadian based company.
Certificate of Incorporation from the Indian Based Company
You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation from the Indian based company.
Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card
You must provide a copy of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card from the Indian Based Company.
Optional Document Preparation Service
The Indian Consulate requires a visa application completed online. VisaCentral offers an easier solution to our clients: our secure Document Preparation Service. Simply provide answers to all the fields on the included optional India Document Preparation Service form and a VisaCentral visa specialist will complete and review the visa application for you within 48 hours. You will be contacted if any information is inaccurate or incorrect saving you valuable time and expense.
Application Status Updates
For status updates on applications, BLS only allows online status check. BLS will not provide any status update to anyone via phone.
Online Photo Upload
Uploading your photo to your online India visa application is optional. If you choose to upload your photo it must match the photograph that is submitted with your visa request. Please note that mismatched photos will cause your visa application to be rejected and/or delayed.
Urgent Applications
For urgent visa applications which carry a tight deadline, we offer a Pre-Check service to save applicants valuable time. Once you have collected the required documents for your visa application and completed the visa application form, simply scan these items and email them over to our team. One of our experienced Visa Consultants will check the documents and contact you to advise of any potential problems within 3 hours of receipt of the email, preventing unnecessary delays to your application. For more information on this service visit https://visacentral.ca/visa-pre-check-service
Traveller Registration (Highly Recommended)
Feel safer and travel with peace of mind by using our Traveller Registration Service. Registration notifies the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development where and when you will be travelling, enabling the Government of Canada to reach you in case of an emergency abroad or inform you of an emergency at home. To enroll in this optional service complete the registration form in this kit and send it to us with the rest of your documents.
Tourist Travel Requirements for a India Visa for Canadian Citizens
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information pages of your passport. Your passport must:
- Be valid for the next 190 days
- Be signed
- Have at least two consecutive blank visa pages, side by side
- Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way
If your passport does not meet these requirements, please contact VisaCentral at 866-394-9726 for further details.
Photograph(s)
You must provide a photograph. Upload your photo and we will print it to the exact specifications required for this visa. Follow https://visacentral.ca/photo-service to upload your photo.
Alternatively, you may provide one colour, passport type photograph that meets the following strict criteria: be taken within the last three months against a white background free of shadows and printed on high quality photo paper; be 51mm by 51mm in size; provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression. You may wear neither glasses nor headwear except for religious purposes. Your photograph should not be affixed to your application and may not display evidence of adhesive or staples.
Visa Application Form
The Embassy of India has instituted a web-based visa application form. The application must be completed online and can be found at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/. We cannot process your visa request if you do not complete the application form online. Instructions:
- Please ensure to note the interim unique reference number generated at the start (and seen on each page) of the online application form
- Please record/ note the final reference number that is generated upon completion of your application
- Provide an email address in your application so that information on your unique reference numbers can be sent
- Applications MUST be signed by the applicant him/herself and not by any representative.
- All applications must be signed under the photo and on the second page; both signatures must match the signature in your passport.
- Before submitting your visa application, please check your passport(s) to ensure there is no valid visa for India
- Please ensure that the barcode appears on the bottom left-hand corner of your printed visa application
- Town/Country of Birth must match exactly to your passport
- Place of Issue of Passport must match exactly to your passport
NOTE: All fields on the Online Application Form must be completed in as much detail as possible. When entering address information, please ensure that you provide the Postal Code as well. Please fill out all additional forms found in this visa application kit.
VisaCentral provides a guide to assist you in completing the application. To access the guide follow this link: https://visacentral.ca/forms?formname=Guide-India.pdf or type the address into your browser.
Submission Surcharge
India visa applications require special shipping and handling for submission to the consulate. A shipping and handling surcharge of $25.00 will apply to all India visa orders.
Proof of Provincial Residency
You must provide proof of residency. Your proof of residency must:
- Include a copy of your driver's license and an original utility bill OR
- A verified bank statement showing your address
Hotel Confirmation
You must provide confirmation of your hotel accommodations. Your confirmation details must be hand-written in column H on the 2nd page of the visa application form.
Sri Lankan Nationals and Persons of Sri Lankan Origin
Sri Lankan nationals and persons of Sri Lankan origin must submit the following:
- A completed and signed form entitled Additional Form for Sri Lankan Origins
- A copy of a current photo ID for Sri Lankan passport holders only
- A copy of your drivers license or a utility bill (only if you reside in Toronto)
Former Indian Nationals
Former Indian nationals applying for the first time for a visa to India must submit the following:
- A cancelled Indian passport
- Certificate certifying the visa applicant surrendered their Indian nationality
Children Under 18 Years Old
Please note the following requirements for minors only:
- Minor consent form must be signed by both parents
- Photocopy of the picture page of both parents passports must be included
- If only one parent is traveling with the child, the parent not traveling must provide a notarized letter explaining that they authorize the child to travel with the other parent only. If no parents are traveling with the child, both parents must sign the notarized letter and provide details regarding who the minor is traveling with
- Both parents must sign the application form as well as the authorization letter
VisaCentral Order Form
You must provide one completed VisaCentral Order Form. The form must:
- Include a valid email address and payment information
- Include your signature in blue or black ink
BLS India Tourist Checklist
You must complete and sign the enclosed BLS India Tourist Checklist.
Please ignore the instruction to include a bank draft or money order as VisaCentral will handle the payment on your behalf.
Optional Document Preparation Service
The Indian Consulate requires a visa application completed online. VisaCentral offers an easier solution to our clients: our secure Document Preparation Service. Simply provide answers to all the fields on the included optional India Document Preparation Service form and a VisaCentral visa specialist will complete and review the visa application for you within 48 hours. You will be contacted if any information is inaccurate or incorrect saving you valuable time and expense.
Persons of Pakistani Origin Only
You must make a personal appearance at the Indian Consulate to process your visa if you are a person of Pakistani origin, either of your parents were born in Pakistan, and/or formerly held a Pakistani passport. The consulate requires additional procedures in order to process your visa and VisaCentral is unable to assist in these procedures.
Application Status Updates
For status updates on applications, BLS only allows online status check. BLS will not provide any status update to anyone via phone.
Visa Conditions
If you are applying for a visa more than 3 months before your entry date, you must provide a letter indicating the reasons for the early visa submission.
Online Photo Upload
Uploading your photo to your online India visa application is optional. If you choose to upload your photo it must match the photograph that is submitted with your visa request. Please note that mismatched photos will cause your visa application to be rejected and/or delayed.
Urgent Applications
For urgent visa applications which carry a tight deadline, we offer a Pre-Check service to save applicants valuable time. Once you have collected the required documents for your visa application and completed the visa application form, simply scan these items and email them over to our team. One of our experienced Visa Consultants will check the documents and contact you to advise of any potential problems within 3 hours of receipt of the email, preventing unnecessary delays to your application. For more information on this service visit https://visacentral.ca/visa-pre-check-service
Traveller Registration (Highly Recommended)
Feel safer and travel with peace of mind by using our Traveller Registration Service. Registration notifies the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development where and when you will be travelling, enabling the Government of Canada to reach you in case of an emergency abroad or inform you of an emergency at home. To enroll in this optional service complete the registration form in this kit and send it to us with the rest of your documents.
Postal Application Form
You must include one Postal Application Form found in this kit. Sign at the bottom. We will complete the form on your behalf. This form must be sent to VisaCentral with all other required documents.
Electronic Tourist Visa
If you meet specific eligibility requirements then you may wish to apply for an Electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) instead of following the information listed above. The eTV is an electronic authorization from the government to enter India and is equivalent to a visa, but no stamp or label is placed in your passport.
To be eligible the traveler must:
- Submit for the e-Tourist visa no less than 4 days and no more than 120 days prior to entry into India
- Be applying for a visa for no more than 2 entries only
- Must be arriving by air or sea at specific airports and seaports
- Traveling for a 60 day or less stay in India
To learn more about this option, return to our homepage and select "Electronic Tourist Visa" from our travel purpose list.
Cruise Passengers
While completing the visa application form, applicants who are cruise passengers must indicate "aboard cruise ship" on column H in the visa application form.
Additionally, if applicants will be staying at a hotel, they must provide details about their hotel accommodations in India along with the hotel confirmation.
Please note that your hotel accommodation details or cruise information must be hand-written in column H on the 2nd page of the visa application form.
