Canada to India: Indian eVisa, Nonstop Flights from Toronto & CAD Travel Money
Canadian passport holders need an Indian eVisa before departure — the 1-year multiple-entry at $40 is strongly recommended for a corridor where over 1.4 million Indian-Canadians travel regularly for family visits. Toronto Pearson to Delhi is a well-established direct route served by Air Canada and Air India, making India one of Canada's most accessible long-haul destinations.
Visa requirements
Canadian passport holders apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The 1-year multiple-entry Tourist eVisa ($40) is strongly recommended — Canada has over 1.4 million Indian-Canadians and many Canadian citizens travel to India regularly to visit family and on business. Most applications approved within 24-72 hours. Air India operates a direct Toronto→Delhi service.
Documents required
- ✓Valid Canadian passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Passport photo (white background, face 80% of frame)
- ✓Return flight itinerary
- ✓Hotel booking confirmation
Flights from Canada to India
Money, cards & forex fees
Canada's best travel card for India — zero forex CAD→INR with Scene+ points on all purchases
Best CAD→INR exchange rate for ATM withdrawals
Weekday zero-fee spending across India
ATMs in India
Best ATMs: HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank ATMs are most reliable for international Visa/Mastercard cards. Axis Bank is also good. Avoid SBI ATMs for foreign cards — higher inconsistency. Avoid standalone ATMs at tourist sites (near Taj Mahal etc.) — often poorly stocked and unreliable for foreign cards.
Typical surcharge: ₹150-250 per foreign card withdrawal at major Indian banks
Withdrawal tip: Inform your home bank before traveling to India — several international banks flag Indian ATM transactions as potential fraud. Withdraw ₹10,000-15,000 per transaction to minimize the per-withdrawal fee. HDFC ATMs in major cities are most reliable. Many smaller towns and villages still prefer or require cash.
Top cities in India
Delhi
India's capital and gateway to the Golden Triangle. Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk is one of Asia's most sensory bazaars; New Delhi's Lutyens zone has sweeping Raj-era boulevards. Excellent metro system makes it easy to cover a lot of ground.
Mumbai
India's financial capital and maximum city. The Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves ferry, Marine Drive's Queen's Necklace at night, and Bollywood studio tours make this a city of contrasts. Efficient suburban rail gets you everywhere.
Agra (Taj Mahal)
Home to the Taj Mahal — the most photographed building on earth. Best experienced at sunrise before the crowds arrive. Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri make it worth a full day or overnight stop rather than just a day trip.
Rajasthan (Jaipur / Udaipur / Jodhpur)
The quintessential India experience. The Pink City of Jaipur, Blue City of Jodhpur, and romantic lake city of Udaipur each offer a different shade of Rajput heritage, desert landscape, and vibrant markets.
Goa
India's beach playground with a Portuguese colonial soul. Baga and Anjuna for lively beach scenes, Palolem for calm south Goa vibes, Old Goa's UNESCO churches, and coastal seafood shacks serving fish curry rice.
Kerala Backwaters (Kochi / Alleppey / Munnar)
God's Own Country. Houseboat cruises on the Alleppey backwaters, tea plantations in Munnar, ayurvedic treatments, and the colonial heritage of Fort Kochi make Kerala the most relaxing Indian destination.
Indian eVisa for Canadian passport holders
Canadian citizens must apply for an Indian eVisa before boarding — no visa on arrival is available for Canadian passport holders. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. For most Canadians, the 1-year multiple-entry Tourist eVisa ($40) is the right choice — Canada has over 1.4 million residents of Indian origin and many Canadian citizens travel to India annually for family visits, weddings, and business. The 30-day double-entry ($25) is sufficient for a single trip. Complete the application with your passport details, Canadian address, India accommodation, and purpose of visit. White-background photo required. Pay online. Processing takes 24-72 hours. The approval PDF arrives by email — save it and present at check-in and at Indian immigration. Canadian passport holders of Indian origin: if you hold an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card, you do not need a separate eVisa — your OCI card provides visa-free, unrestricted-stay access to India alongside your Canadian passport. Many Indo-Canadians have not applied for OCI cards and apply eVisas for each trip — if you visit India regularly, the OCI card is worth pursuing through the Indian consulate in Toronto, Vancouver, or Ottawa.
Direct flights from Canada to India
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is the main hub for Canada-India direct services. Air Canada and Air India both operate nonstop Toronto-Delhi services, approximately 14-15 hours. Economy round-trip fares typically range from $680-$800 USD ($920-$1,100 CAD) booked 4-8 weeks ahead. From Vancouver (YVR), the route to India is shorter — approximately 12-13 hours to Delhi — and Air Canada, Air India, and WestJet operate on this corridor. The Vancouver-Delhi route is particularly popular with the large British Columbia Punjabi community. For Cathay Pacific connections via Hong Kong: these are often excellent value from Vancouver, adding 2-3 hours but frequently priced $100-$150 USD cheaper than nonstop options. Booking tip: September-October and January-February offer the best Canada-India fares. Avoid Diwali season, Christmas-New Year, and the India summer holiday period (May-June) when fares spike significantly. Aeroplan (Air Canada's loyalty program) partners with Air India for reciprocal earning — worth noting if you accumulate Aeroplan points.
Money in India for Canadian travelers: CAD to INR
The CAD→INR exchange rate is approximately ₹61-63 per Canadian dollar. Most Canadian banks (TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank) charge 2.5% foreign transaction fees on international card purchases. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card charges zero foreign transaction fees and earns Scene+ points on all overseas spending — this is broadly considered Canada's best credit card for international travel, and it is widely available. For ATM withdrawals specifically, Wise Multi-Currency Card gives the best CAD→INR rate at just 0.35% above mid-market — superior to any Canadian bank's advertised exchange rate. At Indian ATMs: HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank ATMs are the most reliable for Canadian Visa and Mastercard cards. India's ATM infrastructure has improved significantly in the past decade but reliability still varies — stick to bank-branch ATMs in cities rather than standalone machines at tourist sites. The per-withdrawal surcharge is ₹150-250 regardless of card. Withdraw ₹10,000-15,000 per transaction to minimize this. DCC warning: tourist areas in Rajasthan and Goa frequently offer to charge your Scotiabank card in CAD — always select INR. DCC rates are 3-5% worse. Call Scotiabank before departure: Canadian bank cards are among the most commonly fraud-flagged at Indian ATMs due to the geographic distance.
On-arrival tips
- 1Indian eVisa is email-only — save the approval email PDF on your phone or print it. No physical visa sticker.
- 2Both DEL (IGI) and BOM (CSIA) have official pre-paid taxi counters in arrivals — use these to avoid price disputes
- 3Install Ola and Uber before landing — both work reliably in Indian cities
- 4Inform your home bank before travel — Indian ATM transactions are frequently flagged as potential fraud
- 5HDFC and ICICI ATMs are most reliable for foreign Visa/Mastercard cards — use bank-branch ATMs rather than standalone machines
- 6Bargaining is expected at markets, auto-rickshaws without meters, and souvenir shops — initial price is often 2-3x the fair price
Key takeaways
- ✓Canadian passport holders need an Indian eVisa — $40 for 1-year multiple-entry; OCI cardholders don't need a separate visa
- ✓Air Canada and Air India fly nonstop from Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi; economy from $680-$800 USD round trip
- ✓Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is Canada's best card for India — zero forex on all overseas purchases
- ✓Wise Multi-Currency Card gives the best CAD→INR rate for ATM withdrawals
- ✓Use HDFC or ICICI Bank ATMs — most reliable for Canadian cards; withdraw ₹10,000-15,000 per transaction
- ✓Always select INR at Indian ATMs — never CAD; DCC adds 3-5% above Wise or Scotiabank rates
Related visa guides
Visa information is based on publicly available government sources and official embassy data. Entry requirements, fees, and procedures change frequently — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of India before travelling. ForexFee is not a legal adviser.