Travelling to India from Canada Now: Entry and Visa Rules

Canadians travelling to India now must carry a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages and hold an approved visa or an Overseas Citizen of India card. All travellers must complete a digital e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before their flight touches down. The Government of Canada advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country due to terrorism risks, and strictly warns against all travel within ten kilometres of the western border in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Passport and Entry Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Under official Canadian travel guidelines for India, every Canadian passport holder must present a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of arrival in India. Immigration authorities require the document to have at least two completely blank pages available for entry and exit border stamps.

Transportation carriers and airlines may enforce passport validity criteria that are more stringent than the minimum entry rules set by Indian border authorities. Travellers should always verify their carrier's specific boarding standards before departure. When passing through immigration control, officers may also ask to inspect an onward or return airline ticket alongside evidence showing sufficient funds to cover your stay. For details on whether entry documents can be obtained upon landing, consult rules on visa on arrival for Canadian citizens.

Mandatory Digital Filing: The e-Arrival Card

All inbound international passengers must complete an official digital e-Arrival Card prior to arriving in India. According to Travel.gc.ca entry rules, travellers must complete and submit this electronic form within the 72 hours immediately before arrival.

The submission can be completed through two authorized digital channels:

• The official website of the Indian Bureau of Immigration.
• The official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app, available on Android Google Play and Apple iOS platforms.

Completing this digital card ahead of travel is intended to lower waiting times at airport immigration counters.

Visa Application Rules at BLS Service Centres

You can check current processing timelines by reviewing tourist visa processing timeframes for Canadians.

Specific in-person attendance rules apply to travellers filing visa applications through BLS International. According to BLS International Canada, which serves as the contracted consular administrative service provider for the High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, all visa applications must be lodged in person at a BLS facility. Applications submitted by postal mail are not accepted because biometrics must be collected for all visa categories regardless of validity length.

Under guidelines established by the Indian diplomatic missions, BLS centres accept applications under the following visa classifications:

• Entry Visa
• Business Visa
• Medical Visa
• Student Visa
• Conference Visa

Final decisions on whether a visa is issued rest solely with the High Commission of India and the respective Consulates General.

Entry and Exit Guidelines for Overseas Citizens of India

Travellers registered as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) must follow specific border procedures. Under official Canadian travel guidelines for India, an OCI cardholder must present their physical card at border checkpoints when entering and exiting India. If an individual has been issued an Electronic Overseas Citizen of India card (e-OCI), carrying the physical card is not required.

For applicants applying for new OCI status within Canada, BLS consular guidelines require that all fresh OCI applications be presented in person at a BLS centre to capture mandatory biometrics. Mailed OCI submissions are rejected.

For travellers who already hold an OCI card and need to record a renewed Canadian passport, the following rules apply:

• Temporary Fee Exemption: From 1 November 2026 through 31 December 2026, an official exemption waives the usual CAD 34 penalty (excluding ICWF fees) charged for delayed updates of passport details.
• Online Submission Window: During this limited exemption period, applicants do not need to attend a BLS centre in person and can update their passport details directly online through the OCI portal on the Consulate website.
• Standard BLS Rule: Outside of this temporary portal window, BLS guidelines require individuals whose Canadian or foreign passports were renewed more than three months prior to attend a BLS centre to update their records.

Official Travel Advisories and Regional Risk Levels

The Canadian government instructs travellers to exercise a high degree of caution across India due to the nationwide threat of terrorist attacks. Learn more about overall safety factors on safety advisories for travel to India from Canada.

Canadian authorities also enforce explicit regional advisories warning against travel to several specific regions:

• Western Border Regions: Avoid all travel to areas within 10 kilometres of the western land border in Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan because of unexploded ordnance, landmines, and unpredictable security.
• Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir: Avoid all travel due to an unpredictable security situation involving civil unrest, terrorism, militancy, and the risk of kidnapping. This warning excludes travel to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Manipur: Avoid non-essential travel due to risks stemming from insurgency and terrorism.

Throughout the country, general strikes, demonstrations, and mass gatherings (frequently called bandhs or hartals) take place frequently. These gatherings can turn violent without warning and cause widespread disruptions to local transit and metro networks. Safety recommendations include avoiding solitary travel at night, maintaining high vigilance on public transit and auto-rickshaws, rejecting snacks or beverages from new acquaintances, staying away from unlit or isolated areas, and observing local customs and dress codes.

Special Area Permits and Consular Support

Certain zones across India are classified as restricted or protected areas by the Indian Bureau of Immigration. Canadians intending to visit these areas must obtain special entry permits in advance.

Regarding documentation, apostille certificates issued by competent Canadian authorities (including electronic e-Apostilles) no longer require further attestation or consular legalization by the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver.

When carrying goods, electronics, or personal gifts into India, travellers should verify applicable duty exemptions on India customs gift limits and duty rules.

Canadians requiring consular support or emergency assistance can reach the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, located at 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri. The consular mission assists Canadians across Indian states and union territories and can be contacted by phone at +91 11 4178 2000 or by email at india.consular@international.gc.ca.

Sources

• Indian Visa & Passport Application Centre in Canada - BLS International
• India travel advice

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Facts checked against the sources above as of 12 November 2026. Rules and fares change; confirm current requirements before you travel, or ask us and we will check for you. This guide is general information, not legal, immigration or customs advice.