Do Canadians Need a Visa for India? The India e-Visa Explained (2026)

Short answer: yes, Canadian passport holders need a visa to enter India. India is not a visa-free or visa-on-arrival destination for Canadians. The good news is that most Canadian travellers can skip the consulate queue and apply online for an e-Visa (sometimes called an electronic travel authorization, or ETA) before they fly.

Here is how the India e-Visa works for Canadians in 2026, based on the Government of India's official e-Visa portal.

Is the e-Visa actually available to Canadians right now?

This is worth flagging because it has changed in recent years. India and Canada went through a diplomatic dispute in 2023 that briefly disrupted visa processing for Canadian applicants. As of 2026 the online e-Visa system is operational for Canadian passport holders again. Because this relationship has been volatile, it is smart to confirm current availability on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, before you book non-refundable travel.

Who is NOT eligible for the e-Visa

Not every Canadian can use the online route. According to Indian government rules, you cannot use the e-Visa and must apply for a regular (paper) visa at an Indian mission if you:

• Hold a diplomatic or official passport, or a travel document that is not a national passport, or
• Have a background (serving or retired) in the military, defence, security services, or police.

Anyone in those categories should contact the High Commission of India in Ottawa or an Indian consulate for a sticker visa instead.

e-Visa categories for Canadians

India's e-Visa system covers several purposes of travel. The main categories are:

• e-Tourist Visa — tourism, sightseeing, visiting friends and family, short yoga programs
• e-Business Visa — meetings, trade, setting up a venture, sales
• e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa — medical treatment and accompanying family
• e-Conference Visa — attending a conference or seminar organized by a government or PSU body

The e-Visa is strictly for the purpose you applied under. It cannot be used for journalism, paid employment, or study, and it is generally non-extendable and non-convertible to another visa type inside India.

Tourist e-Visa: validity and stay

The e-Tourist Visa comes in three sub-types, and the fee depends on which you pick:

• 30-day e-Tourist Visa — double entry, valid 30 days from your date of arrival. Official fee is US$25 for most of the year, dropping to a special US$10 during the April–June low season.
• 1-year e-Tourist Visa — multiple entry, valid 365 days from the date the ETA is granted. Official fee is US$40.
• 5-year e-Tourist Visa — multiple entry, valid 5 years from the date of grant. Official fee is US$80.

Per-visit stay is important. On the 1-year and 5-year tourist e-Visas, continuous stay per visit is normally capped, but nationals of Canada (along with the US, UK, and Japan) may generally stay up to 180 days at a time. Regardless of visa type, tourists are limited to roughly 180 days total in a calendar year. Always confirm the exact stay stamped on your grant.

Business and other e-Visas

The e-Business Visa is typically valid for one year from the date of grant with multiple entries, and each stay is usually capped around 180 days. Fees for the business and medical categories differ from the tourist rates and are shown on the portal when you select your category.

One extra cost applies across the board: a bank/transaction charge of about 2.5% is added to the visa fee at payment. The fee is non-refundable whether or not your application is approved.

How to apply online, step by step

1. Go to the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, and start a fresh e-Visa application. Avoid look-alike third-party sites that charge inflated "service fees" on top of the government fee.
2. Apply at least a few days ahead — the system generally requires you to apply a minimum of 4 days before arrival, and you can apply up to 30 days out.
3. Fill in passport and travel details, then upload a recent passport-style photo and a scan of your passport's bio-data page. e-Business applicants also upload a business card or invitation letter.
4. Pay the fee online by card.
5. Wait for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email — many are approved within a few business days.
6. Print the ETA and carry it with your passport. You show it at immigration on arrival.

Passport and entry rules

Your Canadian passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and have at least two blank pages. The e-Visa is valid for entry only at India's designated airports and seaports (you can exit from any authorized immigration post). It is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas or Cantonment zones without separate permits.

For context on where Canadians can travel without a visa, see our guide to visa-free countries for Canadian passport holders — India is not on that list, which is exactly why the e-Visa matters.

IRCC.com is an independent news and information website. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Government of Canada, and we do not provide immigration services or legal advice. Entry requirements change — always verify with official sources before you travel.