How to Apply For 30 Days Indian Tourist E-Visa from Canada?
India attracts many tourists from hundreds of countries across the globe. Its diverse culture and environment make it a hotspot for many foreign nationals looking to go on a long trip. However, in order to enter India's borders, you will need an Indian visa, that you can apply for online as well. India allows E-visa services to citizens of 171 countries in the world.
However, the service of applying for an E-visa to visit India is not available for every foreign national. To know whether your country is allowed E-visa services, you can check your Indian E-visa eligibility online. The list of eligible countries may not remain the same over time. Make sure to see the list in advance when you apply for an Indian E-visa.
India around October of 2022 suspended E-visa services to Canadian passport holders. In December 2022, India restored the facility of a 30-day tourist E-visa to Canadian passport holders. This means that all Canadian nationals can now apply for an e-tourist visa to enter and explore India.
So, keep reading further to learn about how you can apply for a 30-day Indian tourist E-visa from Canada.
What is a 30-Day Tourist E-visa?
In basic terms, a tourist E-visa is an extension document to your passport that allows you to travel for tourism or leisure within the borders of a country legally. The document is obtained in electronic form and you are required to keep a copy of this document on either your mobile phone or a printed copy with yourself and show the same to the immigration officer.
How is a tourist E-visa different from other E-visas?
A tourist E-visa is different from other E-visas as it only allows you to do certain types of activities. The 30-day version of a tourist E-visa allows you to stay within India for a maximum of 30 days after you enter India.
This makes a 30-day tourist E-visa a very suitable option for Canadian passport holders who wish to make plans for trips to many of India's great tourist hotspots like the Taj Mahal or visit family members residing within India. A 30-day tourist E-visa is valid till 30 days after you receive your E-visa and allows double entry in Indian borders.
What Is the Application Process for a 30 Day E-Tourist Visa from Canada?
The process of applying for a tourist E-visa for Canadian citizens is very simple and can be completed entirely through online means, Below are the steps you need to take to apply for a tourist 30-day E-visa:
First, fill out an application form. This form will ask general questions about you like personal details, family background, and financial statements. Make sure to carefully fill out every question asked in the form.
Second, you will need to attach all necessary documents with the application form before submission.
Once you have attached all the necessary documents, you are required to pay the application fee to send your application to the appropriate authorities. The fee for Canadian citizens can change over time. So, make sure to check the official immigration website to find out the actual value of the fee you need to pay for the application.
After paying the appropriate fees, your application will be sent for scrutiny. If the appropriate authority approves your application, then you will receive your E-visa on the email that you mentioned in the application form. If your application is rejected, then you will receive an email informing you of the same along with all the reasons that led to the rejection.
This entire process may take up between 3 to 10 days as a normal process but if you applied for an urgent E-visa, then it will be completed within 1 to 3 days. You may get the option to make the corrections in your application if it gets rejected, but you most likely will have to fill a new form to get your E-visa.
The 30-day tourist E-visa cannot be extended once it is acquired. So, if your stay is longer than expected, consider applying for a 1-year or 5-year tourist E-visa.
Documents Required to fill the Indian eVisa forms
These documents will include:
- A scanned photocopy (size: 10 MB and file format: any) of the first page of your valid passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months.
- Digital two passport-sized photographs (size: 10 MB and file format: any); both should be taken within 6 months and should be clear enough to identify the individual.
- Bank statements of the previous 6 months.
- Round-trip tickets (for entry and exiting the country)
- A Yellow Fever Vaccination Card if arriving from countries affected by yellow fever
What Activities I am Allowed to Do When I Hold a 30-Day Tourist E-visa
Depending on what type of E-visa you have as a Canadian citizen, you are allowed to do only a specific list of activities during your stay in India. You must determine the purpose of your visit first and then check what E-visa allows you to achieve that purpose. For tourist E-visa holders, the below-mentioned list of activities is allowed for Canadian citizens within India:
- Sightseeing
- Casual visit such as visits to family and friends
- Short-term leisure travel
- Short-term programs such as Yoga, Cooking, etc.
- Other recreational activities
Engaging in any of the prohibited activities can result in you getting fined by the officials, So, stick to only the activities you are allowed to do.
What Will Happen If I Stay in India Longer than Allowed?
An E-visa only allows you to stay within the territory of India for a limited number of days. A 30-day tourist E-visa is valid for only 30 days after you receive your E-visa. For example, if you received your E-visa on the 1st of January, then your E-visa is only valid till 30th January.
If you stay for even 1 day longer, you will be deemed an illegal immigrant and are liable to a flat fine fee and the cost of a new E-visa. So, plan your tickets and itinerary accordingly.
If you wish to travel to India for more than 30 days, you can apply to extend your Indian tourist e-visa after 30 days before its expiry date. But if it is a 30-day tourist E-visa, you cannot extend it. The visa extension option is available only for long-term tourist e-visa. So, consult Visa Indian Online to apply for the right Indian tourist E-visa.
In addition to Canadian nationals, citizens of many countries including Fiji, France, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico and New Zealand are also eligible for Indian e-Visa.