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About Canada Embassy |
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Ottawa, Canada - High Commission of India
General Information on Visas
(Information and Instructions Given Below are Subject To Change Without Notice)
Important Instructions:
1. Visa applications are accepted at the counter from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm Monday through Friday, except holidays.
2. One Visa application should be submitted with: (i) two recent passport size photographs pasted/stapled on the application form and (ii) Valid passport. In addition to the current passport, the previous passport/Indian passport also be required, non-production of which may result in delay/refusal of visa.
3. THE VALIDITY OF VISAS STARTS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE. Visa are processed on receipt of the application irrespective of the date of travel. Applicants seeking short term visa up to six months are therefore, advised to apply for the same nearer the time of their travel so as to be able to complete their trip during the validity of the visas.
4. Special Visa applications are needed for nationals of PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH. It may take up to a week to grant visa to an applicant who is a visitor to Canada or has any passport other than a Canadian one.
5. Acceptance of Visa application and giving of a collection date on the receipt do not necessarily mean grant of visa. THE HIGH COMMISSION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DELAY/REFUSE VISA WITHOUT ASSIGNING ANY REASONS. VISAS ARE ISSUED SUBJECT TO ALL CHECKS AND CLEARANCES.
6. Applicant may be required to appear for an interview at his/her own expense. In such cases, the date of pick-up shown on the White Receipt will not be applicable.
7. All TELEPHONE INQUIRIES should be directed to: (613) 744-3751/3, Extension-241.
8. The High Commission Shall not be held liable to any claim arising out of delay/refusal of visa or loss of passport in transit or otherwise.
9. Passports submitted at counter will normally be ready for collection the next working day. However, this does not apply to applications for RESTRICTED/PROTECTED AREAS and certain other categories (such as visa for Research Studies, Missionary Work, etc) requiring references, where the processing period may take 10 - 12 weeks. At the time of the collection of the passport( with Visa), the WHITE RECEIPT for fee will have to be produced and surrendered. Mail cases will take a longer period ( about a week if all papers are complete).
10. Persons coming from or through Yellow Fever-infected areas are required to be in possession of a Valid Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever. No other Vaccinations are necessary.
11. Visa Fees, once charged, shall not be refunded, even if visa is refused or application is withdrawn.
12. MAILING CHARGES: C$12.00 by registered mail, C$15.00 by courier service for British Columbia and C$20.00 by priority and C$30.00 by courier for other areas covered by them.
13. EXACT VISA FEE, and MAILING CHARGES should be paid by money order/bank draft/certified cheque in favour of High Commission of India, Ottawa. Visa fee in cash is accepted only at the counter. APPLICANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHARGES LEVIED AGAINST DISHONOURED CHEQUES. No personal cheque is accepted.
14. All outstation applicants requiring urgent visas should ensure that a prepaid priority post envelope or a stamped, self-addressed envelope for registration is enclosed along with the application to enable The High Commission of India to return passports. No passports will be sent by the High Commission by COLLECT COURIER.
15. VISA FEE: NATIONALS OF CANADA/U.S.A.*/U.K. AND ALL OTHER COUNTRIES (INQUIRE ABOUT EXCEPTIONS) (VISA FEE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE):
(i) Transit Visa
C$ 16.00
(ii) Visitor / Business **(one year)
C$ 100.00
(iii) Tourist (up to 6 month's validity)
C$ 62.00
(iv) Student Visa *** (Valid for the duration of the course or for a period of five years, which ever is less -Multiple entries)
C$ 115.00
(v) Long Term Visa(Visitor/Business/Student) Visa ****
(over one year and up to five years)
C$ 200.00
(vi) Referral charges to be charged from other than Canadian national
C$ 30.00
(vii) Fee for Restricted Area
C$ 45.00
Emergency visa service - same day pickup - Additional fee
C$ 55.00
* Levy fees for US Passport C$ 31.00
** Business Visa - Applications for business visa should be accompanied by a letter from the applicant's company stating the purpose of the visit and another letter from Indian company inviting the applicant.
*** Student Visa - Applicants for student visas should be accompanied by a letter of admission from the school/institutions
**** Long Term Visa - Sufficient reason for granting Long Term Visa should be given in a separate manner
16. LONG TERM VISA holders desirous to stay for more than 180 days are required to comply with the regulations regarding registration at Foreigners Regional Registration offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai and District Superintendents of Police in all other districts.
17. The High Commission may be closed on important Canadian holidays. In addition to these, the High Commission will be closed on the following holidays, some of which do not fall on fixed dates: Republic Day (26th Jan), Independence Day(15th Aug), Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday(2nd Oct), Christmas Day (25th Dec), Buddha Purnima, Dussehra, Diwali, Good Friday, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Mahavir Jayanthi and Muharram. The High Commission may be closed on other holidays as well, for which website be seen. (Please check website for exact list of holidays)
18. An applicant who desires to visit any RESTRICTED/PROTECTED areas in India is required to submit an application on the prescribed form for the issue of a Special Permit, in addition to the visa application. It takes about 10 - 12 weeks for processing of such an application. These forms are supplied upon request.
RESTRICTED AREAS currently include the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, certain bordering areas in the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and areas lying on the western side of National Highway # 15 from Ganganagar to Sanchore in Rajasthan.
19. The High Commission of India, Ottawa, has the following jurisdiction: Ottawa, Hull, National Capital region comprising Kingston, Cornwall, Hawksbury, Smith Falls, Carleton Place and Montreal.
20. Our other offices in Canada and their jurisdictions are as follows:
Consulate General of India, No.201-325, Howe Street, Vancouver BC V6C 1Z7
Tel: (604) 6628811 Fax: 604- 6822471/3556
(Jurisdiction:)British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut territories. Consulate General Of India, Suite# 400, 1835 Yonge St, Toronto, Ontario
M4S 1X8 Tel: ( 416) 960-0751- 52 Fax : (416) 960-9812
(Jurisdiction:) Ontario and Quebec, except places falling under the jurisdiction of HCI, Ottawa, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.).
21. VISA APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF COST. Forms can also be downloaded from the website.
Persons Of Indian Origin Card Scheme - 2002
In deference to the sentiments of persons of Indian origin to reconnect with their roots, as well as respecting their desire to participate in the development of the country of their origin, the Government of India had announced a scheme for issuance of a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card with effect from 31 March 1999. The issue of fee for PIO Card was under consideration of the Government of India for quite sometime.
With effect from 15th September 2002, the Government of India has announced a new PIO Card Scheme-2002. The salient features of the new Scheme are as follows:
"Person of Indian Origin" means a foreign citizen (not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time) if, he/she at any time held an Indian Passport ; or
he/she or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently resident in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter provided neither was at any time a citizen of any of the aforesaid countries (as referred to in (1) above; or
he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (i) or (ii) above.
Form of application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card
An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by :
Documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.
Four recent passport size photographs.
The appropriate PIO Card fee (Canadian $480 for persons 18 years of age or above or Canadian $240 in respect of children below the age of 18 years. The fee should be paid either by a certified cheque or a Money order made out to the High Commission of India, Ottawa/ Consulate General of India (Toronto/Vancouver) depending on where the application is sent. Cash payment can only be accepted at the counter. Payment cannot be made by personal cheque or credit/debit card.
Where the application is sent by courier/registered post, it should be accompanied by a self-addressed Federal Express/Priority Mail way bill or C $ 15 may be added to the certified cheque/money order sent as payment for the PIO card.
Authority to which application is to be made
Depending upon the residential area of the applicant, application for issue of a PIO Card shall be made either to:
High Commission of India, 10 Springfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, KIM 1C9. E-Mail: hicomind@hciottawa.ca, or
Consulate General of India, 1835 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1X8. E-mail: cgindia@cgitoronto.ca, or
Consulate General of India, 201-325 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1Z 7,Vancouver. E-mail: indiacg@telus.net
Validity of PIO Card
Under the new Scheme, the PIO Card shall be valid for fifteen years from the date of issue. The validity of the PIO Cards issued under Scheme- 1999, will be extended by 10 more years without charging any fee. No refund shall, however, be admissible to earlier PIO Card holders under the Scheme- 1999, on reduction of PIO Card fee under the new Scheme-2002.
PIO Card Fee
Fee for new PIO Card for persons above 18 years of age - Canadian Dollars 480/-
Fee for new PIO Card for children below 18 years of age - Canadian Dollars 240/-
Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card holder
A PIO Card holder shall not require a separate Visa to visit India.
A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his/her stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days.
In the event of continuous stay in India of the PIO Card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer/Foreigners Registration Officer.
All PIO Card holders shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities available to the latter in the economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.
Prior permission of the Government of India is required by the PIO Card holders for undertaking mountaineering expeditions, missionary activities, research work; and visits to the restricted/protected areas. |
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