Canada's Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) processing times for India have swung sharply in 2026 — from under a month to nearly three. Hike Visa builds a complete, honest file and sets realistic timelines before you book a single flight.
What to expect this year
Figures per IRCC's current fee schedule and recent 2026 processing-time data for India. Confirmed current as of this page's last review.
A Canada visitor visa — officially a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — is what most Indian passport holders need to fly to Canada for tourism, a family visit, or business. The government fee itself hasn't moved: it's still CAD $100 per person (capped at $500 for a family of five or more applying together), plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
What has changed is how long a decision takes. Mid-2025 reports put India's post-biometrics wait at around 24 days. By January 2026, IRCC's own data showed it stretching to roughly 88 days, and independent trackers through the year have logged figures anywhere from 27 to 60+ days depending on the month and visa office load. IRCC has stated a goal of a 60-day global standard by Q4 2026, but that's a target, not a guarantee.
Processing only starts after your biometrics are given at a VFS centre — not from the date you submit online. This is the single most common source of frustration we see: people count from application date, then panic when the visa hasn't arrived by their expected departure.
Note: IRCC updates its processing-time estimator regularly and it can shift week to week. We check the live figure for your visa office before we set your file's timeline.
CAD $100 per person application fee, CAD $85 biometrics — both stable through 2026.
India post-biometrics waits have ranged from ~27 to ~88 days across 2026 reporting periods.
Not your submission date. Book your biometrics appointment promptly after applying.
A stated goal for Q4 2026, not yet the reality for every applicant or every visa office.
Our standing advice given current volatility — don't book non-refundable travel before approval.
Not every traveller to Canada needs a visitor visa. Indian passport holders almost always do — here's how it's decided.
Required for citizens of visa-required countries, including India, to enter Canada by air, land, or sea for a temporary stay.
A lighter, minutes-long online authorization for citizens of visa-exempt countries flying to Canada — not applicable to most Indian passport holders.
Your passport must be valid well beyond your intended stay, with at least one blank page.
Bank statements and income documentation showing you can support your trip without working in Canada.
A clear reason for travel — tourism, family visit, or business — and a credible plan to return to India.
Employment, business, property, or family ties that support your intent to leave Canada by the end of your authorized stay.
The TRV covers most purposes under one application — but a few related categories are worth knowing about.
For sightseeing, leisure travel, or attending an event. Up to 6 months per visit, typically multiple-entry.
Same TRV, strengthened with a letter of invitation from your Canadian host, proof of relationship, and their status.
For meetings, conferences, and trade events — not employment. A company or invitation letter strengthens the file.
A long-term visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs, allowing stays of up to 5 years per entry — with its own income and insurance requirements.
Required for most visa-required travellers connecting through a Canadian airport, even without leaving the airport.
Applied for from inside Canada to extend an authorized stay before it expires. Current processing runs long, so apply early.
The exact list depends on your purpose of travel. This is the baseline set we prepare for every applicant.
Valid passport with at least six months' validity and one blank page, plus old passports if held.
Digital photograph meeting IRCC's specifications.
Cover letter explaining your purpose of travel, itinerary, and ties to India.
Letter of invitation, if visiting family or friends, with their status and accommodation proof.
Travel itinerary including flight and accommodation plans, where available.
Bank statements for the last six months showing consistent funds.
Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last three years, where applicable.
Employment or business proof, such as a leave letter, salary slips, or business registration.
Biometrics, given at a VFS centre after you apply — usually valid for 10 years.
Proof of ties to India, such as property documents or family details supporting your return.
Note: fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Our consultation is always free — you only pay government fees and our service fee once you decide to proceed.
Good to know: exchange rates shift these INR estimates slightly month to month. We confirm the exact payable amount at the time you apply.
There's no single fixed number — timelines shift with volume, season, and application completeness. These are the ranges we're seeing and tracking through 2026.
From document collection to visa stamp, here's how a Hike Visa file moves.
We establish whether you need a standard TRV, family-visit TRV, business TRV, or Super Visa, and plan your file accordingly.
We assemble financial proof, ITRs, employment documents, and invitation letters that clearly support your application.
We file your online application and calculate your exact fees, including any family-group caps that apply.
We book your VFS appointment promptly — processing only starts once your biometrics are submitted.
Once approved, we brief you on your authorized stay, port-of-entry documents, and how to read your visa's validity dates.
There's no fixed number. Post-biometrics processing for India has ranged from roughly 27 to 88 days across different points in 2026, depending on volume and visa office load. We recommend applying at least 8–12 weeks before your intended travel date.
The government application fee is CAD $100 per person, capped at CAD $500 for a family of five or more applying together. Biometrics add CAD $85 per person, capped at CAD $170 for a family. All fees are non-refundable.
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a full visa application required for citizens of visa-required countries, including India. An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a lighter, minutes-long online check for citizens of visa-exempt countries flying to Canada — it doesn't apply to most Indian passport holders.
The border officer decides at entry, typically authorizing up to 6 months per visit. This is stamped in your passport or noted in your entry record — it's this date, not your visa's expiry date, that determines when you must leave.
The Super Visa is a long-term visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing stays of up to 5 years per entry. It has its own income and insurance requirements, separate from a standard TRV — ask us for a dedicated assessment.
Yes, by applying for a Visitor Record before your authorized stay expires, for a CAD $100 fee. Processing for extensions currently runs very long, so apply as early as possible and rely on implied status while your decision is pending.
No. A refusal doesn't permanently bar you from Canada, but it does become part of your travel history. We review the refusal reasons carefully before you reapply, so the next file addresses what went wrong.
Tell us your purpose of travel, planned dates, and current documents. We'll tell you plainly where you stand — funds gap, invitation strength, and realistic timeline — before you spend a rupee.
No charge. No obligation. Just honest advice.
