Canada tourist visa: documents you usually need
Visa needed
Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
Indian citizens need a visa for this trip. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides. You apply online and give biometrics at a visa application centre.
Documents you usually need
Passport and forms
- Valid passportValid well beyond your trip, with blank pages for stamps. Bring old passports too.
- Recent photographsTaken to the size and background the embassy asks for.
- IRCC online applicationMade through your IRCC account, with the fee paid online.
- BiometricsFingerprints and photo at a visa application centre, after you apply.
Money
- Bank statementsThe last 3 to 6 months, showing regular income and steady savings.
- Income tax returnsUsually the last 2 to 3 years, with salary slips or Form 16 if you are employed.
Your plans and ties to India
- Employment or business proofLeave letter and employer letter, or business registration and GST papers. Students bring a bonafide letter.
- Day-by-day itineraryWhere you will be each day. Keep it consistent with your bookings and cover letter.
- Ties to IndiaProperty papers, family details, a job or business to return to. Anything that shows you will come back.
- Cover letterOne page: who you are, why you are travelling, how long, who pays.
- Earlier visas and travel historyPast visas from the US, UK, Schengen, Canada or Australia help your case.
- Invitation letterIf you visit family or friends: their letter, status in Canada and address.
Health and safety
- Medical examOnly if you will stay longer than 6 months or if you are asked.
IRCC checklists are updated often. Confirm the current list on the IRCC site before you apply.
If you hold a different passport: Some citizens only need an online travel authorisation (eTA) to fly to Canada. Others need a visa. Use the official tool to check your passport.
Check the official source
More checklists
Visa decisions are made by the embassy or visa office. We guide your application; we cannot guarantee approval. This list is a summary of what applicants usually need, last reviewed 21 October 2026. Always confirm on the official site.