Photo specification
Square format, plain white background, full face, correct file size. Rejections are automated and unappealable. This is the single most common cause of an e-Visa application bouncing, and it is entirely preventable.
Wings Travels processes Indian tourist visas for Canadian passport holders from Calgary. Most travellers qualify for the e-Visa (electronic, issued online in 3-5 business days) but we also handle regular sticker visas for longer stays or OCI-eligible applicants.
There are two distinct routes into India for a Canadian traveller and they are not interchangeable. The e-Visa is applied for online with no appointment and is the right route for most straightforward tourism. The regular sticker visa requires submission through the visa application centre and is what you need for longer validity, certain purposes, and situations the e-Visa cannot cover.
If you hold an OCI card, neither applies — you already have lifetime visa-free entry and should not be applying for a tourist visa at all. If you were born in India or previously held an Indian passport, your file will require your renunciation certificate or evidence of surrender, and this catches out a large number of naturalised Canadians every year who assume their Canadian passport is the end of the story.
The other reliable source of trouble is the photograph. Indian visa photo specifications are stricter than most countries' and are enforced automatically rather than by a human being exercising judgment. A photo that would pass for a Canadian passport is frequently rejected here, and because the rejection is automated there is no one to appeal to — you simply restart.
| Processing time | e-Visa: 3-5 business days. Regular visa: 7-14 business days |
|---|---|
| Embassy/consular fee | e-Visa: US$25-80 + Wings processing. Regular: CAD $115+ + processing |
| Validity | Varies by visa type — typically 30 days to 10 years |
| Calgary biometrics | Required for most; we coordinate appointment booking |
We establish which route your trip actually requires before anything is filed, which avoids the most expensive mistake on this application. We check photographs against the current specification before submission rather than after rejection, handle renunciation and surrender documentation for former Indian nationals, advise on OCI eligibility where a card would serve you better than repeated tourist visas, and arrange the additional permits for restricted regions. Visa preparation is included when you book flights with us.
Before you file
Square format, plain white background, full face, correct file size. Rejections are automated and unappealable. This is the single most common cause of an e-Visa application bouncing, and it is entirely preventable.
If you were born in India or held an Indian passport previously, you must document renunciation or surrender. Naturalised Canadians routinely omit this and are stopped, sometimes after the visa has otherwise been approved.
The e-Visa does not cover every purpose or duration. Choosing it because it is easier, when your trip actually requires a regular visa, wastes both the fee and the lead time before you discover the problem.
Parts of the northeast, and certain border and island regions, require additional permits beyond any visa. These are arranged separately and are easy to miss until you are refused entry to the region itself rather than the country.
FAQ
The e-Visa suits most straightforward tourism and needs no appointment. The regular sticker visa is required for longer validity, certain purposes, and cases the e-Visa cannot cover. Choosing the easier route when your trip needs the other one costs you both the fee and the lead time.
You will need to evidence renunciation or surrender of your Indian citizenship, because India does not permit dual nationality. This requirement catches out a large number of naturalised Canadians. If you were formerly an Indian citizen, an OCI card is usually the better long-term answer than repeated tourist visas.
The specification is stricter than most countries', requiring square format and a plain white background, and it is enforced by automated checks rather than human judgment. A photo that would pass for a Canadian passport frequently fails here, and there is no appeal — you restart.
No. An OCI card grants lifetime visa-free entry to India, so applying for a tourist visa alongside it is unnecessary. Carry the OCI card together with the passport it was issued against.
Yes. Several northeastern states and certain border and island regions require permits in addition to your visa. They are arranged separately, and travellers usually discover the requirement only when they are turned back at the regional boundary rather than at the airport.
Talk to an agent
Sumeet and our Calgary team handle every enquiry in under 45 minutes during business hours. Routed quotes before the day ends.