🇨🇦 Canada visa for India citizens

Most nationalities need a visa or an eTA. US citizens and permanent residents don't.

Who walks in visa-free (and who doesn't)

For most remote workers heading to Canada, your passport dictates everything. US citizens and permanent residents can waltz in for up to six months without needing any pre-approval. Show up, get a stamp, and you’re good. Easy.

Then there's the eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) crowd. Think most European countries, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and a bunch of others. You'll need to apply online for this before you travel. It costs $7 CAD and is usually approved in minutes, though it can take longer. It links to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows multiple entries for stays of up to six months per visit.

Anyone not on those lists, like citizens of India, China, or Brazil, will likely need a visitor visa. This is a more involved process. You'll need to apply well in advance, provide extensive documentation (proof of funds, travel itinerary, ties to your home country), and potentially attend an interview. Processing times can stretch to several weeks or even months. This is where most digital nomads from these regions get stuck before they even book a flight.

How long can you actually stay?

The standard visitor stay in Canada is six months. This is automatically granted at the port of entry by the border services officer. It’s not a hard rule; some officers might grant less, and you can request more time if needed, but six months is the default for many.

Here’s where it gets tricky. While you get six months per entry, your eTA or visitor visa is usually valid for five years for multiple entries. This means you can leave Canada and re-enter, but each re-entry starts a new six-month clock. Some travellers try to "reset" their stay by doing a quick border hop to the US or Mexico and coming back. This can work, but it's up to the discretion of the border agent. Don't assume you'll automatically get another six months. They might only grant you 24 hours or a week if they think you're trying to live there long-term on a visitor status.

Overstaying is a serious business. If you're caught, you can face a $1,000 CAD fine and a ban from re-entering Canada for one year. If you overstay for more than 90 days and leave voluntarily, you might be banned for five years. If you’re removed from Canada, the ban is ten years. It’s not worth the risk. Always be aware of your expiry date.

Working Remotely on a Tourist Stamp

Canada’s stance on working remotely on a visitor visa or eTA is a bit of a grey area. Officially, you’re supposed to be visiting for tourism, family, or business meetings, not for employment. However, they don't typically have a specific "digital nomad visa" for short-term stays.

What this means in practice is that working on your laptop from a cafe or co-working space is generally tolerated. Border agents are more concerned with you not taking jobs away from Canadians or accessing Canadian services without proper authorization. As long as you're not employed by a Canadian company and your presence isn't impacting the local job market, most remote workers fly under the radar.

The key is to be able to demonstrate to the border agent that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay and that you intend to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. Mentioning you're a remote worker for a foreign company is usually fine. Just don't try to get a business visa if your primary purpose is tourism and remote work.

What’s new with Canadian travel rules?

Canada has been slowly expanding its visa-waiver programs. The biggest recent change was the expansion of the eTA program to include citizens of the Philippines starting February 29, 2024. This is a significant development for travellers from that country, streamlining their entry process considerably.

Previously, citizens of Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago were added to the eTA program in December 2023. These additions mean more nationalities can now enjoy the simpler, faster eTA application process instead of a full visitor visa.

The fee for the eTA remains $7 CAD, and it’s still valid for five years. There haven't been major changes to the visitor visa application process itself for countries that still require it, meaning those applications remain lengthy and document-heavy. Keep an eye on the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for any future updates, as they do adjust these programs periodically.