Information about the application process
The first step is to determine which IRCC immigration program you should apply for.
IRCC has an online tool called Come to Canada, which will help you determine whether you can come to Canada as an immigrant, visitor, worker or student.
This tool will help you understand IRCC's requirements, including which supporting documents you may need to provide and how much you will need to pay for your application. All you need to do is answer some questions and based on your information, you'll receive a list of program options and step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
You'll also need to know the documents that you'll have to submit along with your application, how long the application might take and fees you'll have to pay.
Visit IRCC to learn more about Canada's immigration programs including the following specific programs:
You can click on the following links to obtain detailed information:
Temporary Resident Visa
Study Permit
Work Permit
Permanent Resident Travel Document
Have more questions? Visit the IRCC Help Centre to see answers to the most common questions from applicants.
Applicants can no longer submit an application for temporary residence in paper at the VAC with some exemptions. Please check the IRCC website to find out more about these exemptions.
Once you have applied for your visa, you need to Complete your application to have your fingerprints and photo taken at a Visa Application Centre. This is known as 'biometric information'.
Once you've booked your appointment, you'll receive an appointment confirmation email along with the letter of appointment.
If you are part of a family or group, you'll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group.
If you are not required to submit your biometric information, you do not need to make an appointment to visit your local Canada Visa Application Centre. Simply visit the Visa Application Centre at your convenience along with your passport, photographs, completed forms, the Government of Canada Fee, and all the supporting documents listed in the IRCC document checklist.
To find out if you need to give biometrics, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp.
Once you have completed your application, you'll have to pay your visa application fee. If you want to download the form to print and carry it with you to the Visa Application Centre, then you can pay at the time of your appointment. You'll have to pay the Government of Canada Fee and Biometric fee (if required) as per instructions on the IRCC website
Once you have completed your application, you'll have to pay your visa application fee. If you want to download the form to print and carry it with you to the Visa Application Centre, then you can pay at the time of your appointment.
You'll have to pay the Government of Canada Fee and Biometric fee (if required) as per instructions on the IRCC website
Once you have applied for your visa, you need to Book a VAC appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken at a Visa Application Centre. This is known as 'biometric information'.
Once you've booked your appointment, you'll receive an appointment confirmation email along with the letter of appointment.
If you are part of a family or group, you'll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group.
If you are not required to submit your biometric information, you do not need to make an appointment to visit your local Canada Visa Application Centre. Simply visit the Visa Application Centre at your convenience along with your passport, photographs, completed forms, the Government of Canada Fee, and all the supporting documents listed in the IRCC document checklist.
To find out if you need to give biometrics, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp
If you have not submitted your application online, you'll have to submit your complete visa application form at the Visa Application Centre in person.
Find out what happens at the Visa Application Centre.
If you are not required to submit biometrics, please visit the Visa Application Centre during business hours.
Once you arrive at the Canada Visa Application Centre, your application and biometrics (if applicable) will be collected. Pay the applicable Visa Application Centre service charges and obtain a receipt. This receipt will contain your unique tracking number, which will help you track the progress of your application online.
You can use the 'Track your application' service on this website only if you have already submitted a visa application or passport at the Canada Visa Application Centre and have received an acknowledgement receipt along with a tracking number. This service provides information on the current location of your application/passport, and not on the exact stage of the application process.
Important Note: If you have submitted your visa application online directly on IRCCs website, please note that status updates related to your visa application can only be obtained from IRCCs website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html
Once you have submitted your application/passport at the Canada Visa Application Centre, you can track the status of your passport using the “Track your application” service on this website.
You can track your passport/documents via online/web chat/helpline number/email provided below. To track your passport/documents online, you'll have to enter the Tracking ID number mentioned on the receipt received from the Visa Application Centre, and your Date of Birth.
Following are the methods to track your application:
- Website: Click here for applications lodged on or after 02 November 2018
- Web chat: Chat Now
- Email: Email Now
- Helpline Number: 18002668858, 022-67866002, 912262018404
- Visit the Visa Application Centre to track your application
You can use VFS Global's SMS service to stay updated on the status of your application. However, this service is available on payment of an additional charge.
Once the Canadian Visa Office has assessed your application, they will make a decision and affix a visa counterfoil to your passport, or issue a letter explaining why a visa could not be granted. The Canadian Visa Office will return your passport to the Canada Visa Application Centre, and the latter will inform you the status of your application via your preferred method of communication.
The Online Application Tracking System will update you when your passport is ready to be returned. You'll have to come to the Canada Visa Application Centre to receive your passport.
Important Notice:
Effective 9th October 2023, passport submission for Canada VACs in India will be limited to the below individuals,
• Applicants submit the passport/document themselves.
• Parents submitting on behalf of minors.
• Families or groups traveling together can appoint 1 family/group member to submit all passports/documents on their behalf of the family or group. (Applicant or accompanying family member who has a passport request letter will be permitted to submit the passports/documents at the VACs.)
Effective Monday, 01st August 2022 applicants can submit their passports (with prior appointment) and collect their decision envelopes (walk-in) from Monday-Friday between 9:00 to 17:00 Hrs at all Visa Application Centres in India. Applicants can also visit the VACs for walk-in information / enquiries between 9:00 to 17:00 Hrs.
Two way courier service for passport submission will continue as an option.
Please note that the passport submission will require a prior appointment VFS : WebForm (mioot.com).
Only applicants and accompanying family members can visit the Visa Application Centres to submit passports and collect decision envelopes.
Passport Submission
Please do not submit your passport to the VAC until you have received a passport request letter from IRCC. For families applying for Temporary Residence, please do not submit passports for family members until a passport request letter issued by IRCC has been received specifically for that individual.
To submit your passport at a VAC, you will have to pay a service charge for Package Transmission, unless you submit your passport to the same VAC where you had initially submitted your biometric information and you have not previously submitted additional documents and/or a passport to support your current application.
Please note: All in-person passport submissions are by appointment only (except for emergency appointment. For details on emergency appointments, please see below). Click here to book an appointment now.
When submitting your passport, please ensure to bring the following documents with you:
1. The passport request letter you received from IRCC
2. The Visa Application Centre consent form - There should be one consent form per application.
3. 2 photos 5 cm / 7 cm if you are a permanent resident applicant.
4. Any other documents or information requested in the passport request letter from IRCC
Upon completion of the passport submission process you’ll be provided a receipt indicating the total amount paid based on additional services you have used at the VAC. Your receipt will also contain the application reference number and tracking number which you can use to track the progress of your passport online.
Emergency Passport Submission Appointments:
Emergency passport submission appointments cannot be scheduled using the online appointment system. To schedule an emergency passport submission appointment, please do so by calling the VAC Contact Centre or by visiting the VAC in person.
Please note the VAC will report all applicants to IRCC who do not present the required proof of emergency at the time of attending an emergency appointment at the VAC.
The criteria for an emergency passport submission are as follows:
- Death of an immediate family member residing in Canada
- Critically ill immediate family member residing in Canada
An immediate family member is defined as a
• spouse or common-law partner
• dependent child
• dependent child of a dependent child
• parent or step-parent
• guardian or tutor
Applicants requesting emergency appointments for the purpose of passport submission must provide proof of emergency (any one of the following) at the time of attending an appointment at the VAC
- Death/Medical Certificate
- Letter from Medical Officer/Unit
- Letter from Funeral Home
Permanent Resident Applicants
If you are a Permanent Resident applicant, and your application has been finalized, you’ll be instructed to submit your passport, 2 photographs as per specifications laid down by IRCC, and a completed Appendix A. You'll have to check the instructions sent to you for complete information and guidance. Submitting your passport at the Visa Application Centre requires the payment of the Package Transmission Service Charge.
Permanent Resident ApplicantsFor Temporary Resident applicants, the following documents must be provided to the VAC at the time of passport submission:
• Original passport of applicant
• Official IRCC letter requesting passport submission for all applicants
• A duly filled out VFS Global Consent Form. Please ensure the Consent for Indirect Submission and/or Collection section of this form has been completed if you are authorizing a family or group member to submit your passport for you.
For Permanent Resident applicants, the following documents must be provided to the VAC at the time of passport submission:
• Original passport of applicant
• Official IRCC letter requesting passport submission for all applicants
• Photograph(s) for each applicant as per IRCC specifications
• Completed IRCC Appendix A form
• A duly filled out VFS Global Consent Form. Please ensure the Consent for Indirect Submission and/or Collection section of this form has been completed if you are authorizing a family or group member to submit your passport for you.
Package Transmission Service Charge
If you submit your passport/documents to the same VAC where you had initially submitted your biometric information and you have not previously submitted additional documents and/or a passport to support your current application, you will not be required to pay for the package transmission service. If the above does not apply to you, you will have to pay a service charge for package transmission in order to submit your passport or additional documents at a VAC.
| Service Price (per applicant) | Amount in CAD (inc. VAT) | Amount in RS (inc. VAT) |
| Package transmission (per package) | $9.57 | 570.00 |
Important Notice:
Effective Monday, 01st August 2022 applicants can submit their passports (with prior appointment) and collect their decision envelopes (walk-in) from Monday-Friday between 9:00 to 17:00 Hrs at all Visa Application Centres in India. Applicants can also visit the VACs for walk-in information / enquiries between 9:00 to 17:00 Hrs.
• Upon receiving the Passport Request Letter, the applicants will visit the VFS website (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can/book-an-appointment) to request for the two-way courier service through the use of the “Mioot Webform”.
• The applicant then completes the payment process
• Once the payment is completed, an Air Waybill number (AWB) will be generated for each passport to be picked up
• The package will be picked up within 3 to 5 working days
The courier provider will only pick up sealed packages and the accuracy of the documents, the condition of the passports, and the payment of correct charges remain on the Applicant
Passport Submission
Please do not submit your passport to the VAC until you have received a passport request letter from IRCC. For families applying for Temporary Residence, please do not submit passports for family members until a passport request letter issued by IRCC has been received specifically for that individual.
To submit your passport at a VAC, you will have to pay a service charge for Package Transmission, unless you submit your passport to the same VAC where you had initially submitted your biometric information and you have not previously submitted additional documents and/or a passport to support your current application.
Please address the package containing your passport to VFS Global Canada Visa Application Centre when submitting by courier:
1. The passport request letter you received from IRCC
2. A copy of your biometrics sticker, if applicable
3. Your contact information, including your email, phone number and return address
4. Payment confirmation for courier service, if you wish your documents to be returned via courier. More details about fees can be found on https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can/additional-services
5. The Visa Application Centre consent form - there should be one consent form per application
6. 2 photos 5 cm / 7 cm if you are a permanent resident applicant
7. Any other documents or information requested in the passport request letter from IRCC
Upon completion of the passport submission process you'll be provided a receipt indicating the total amount paid based on additional services you have used at the VAC. Your receipt will also contain the application reference number and tracking number which you can use to track the progress of your passport online.
Permanent Resident Applicants
If you are a Permanent Resident applicant, and your application has been finalized, you’ll be instructed to submit your passport, 2 photographs as per specifications laid down by IRCC, and a completed Appendix A as well. You'll have to check the instructions sent to you for complete information and guidance. Submitting your passport at the Visa Application Centre requires the payment of the Package Transmission Service Charge.
Package Transmission Service Charge
If you submit your passport/documents to the same VAC where you had initially submitted your biometric information and you have not previously submitted additional documents and/or a passport to support your current application, you will not be required to pay for the package transmission service. If the above does not apply to you, you will have to pay a service charge for Package Transmission in order to submit your passport or additional documents at a VAC.
| Service Price (per applicant) | Amount in CAD (inc. VAT) | Amount in RS (inc. VAT) |
| Package transmission (per package) | $9.57 | 570.00 |
After a visa application decision has been made, you can pick up your documents from the Visa Application Centre or have your documents returned to you by courier for an additional fee. Check whether this service is available at the Visa Application Centre you are visiting.
In order to collect the decision envelope in person at the Visa Application Centre, you must provide the following:
• A copy of the stamped biographic page of your passport
• The original Visa Application Centre Services Receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre or the printout of the E-ICR
• A form of government identification
You may also delegate someone to collect your decision envelope at the Visa Application Centre. Your delegate must provide the following:
• The signed Visa Application Centre services consent form with the delegate's name and relationship to the applicant
• A copy of the stamped biographic page of the applicant's passport
• The original Visa Application Centre Services Receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre or the printout of the E-ICR
• A form of the delegate's government identification
It is your responsibility to check the details of the visa issued to ensure that it is valid for the date of proposed entry to Canada, the number of entries required, and for the purpose of the trip. You'll have to check these details immediately after collecting your decision envelope. The validity period and number of entries is determined solely by the Visa Office and may differ from what was requested in your application.
Visit IRCC to get started on your application and then come back to VFS Global to learn more
about the services we offer