Canadian citizens can apply for an Indian tourist visa electronically. If you are attending the wedding, we recommend that you apply for the tourist visa as soon as possible. For more information on the visa process, please read the following sections:
Documents needed to apply for a Tourist Visa:
Duly filled up and printed copy of the Online Application Form (click here).
Canadian/Foreign passport (Original and Copy)
Proof of Address
Photograph (link)
Surrender Certificate (mandatory only for Indian origin foreign nationals)
Fee
If applying for a Tourist Visa on behalf of a minor, the following additional documents are needed:
Minor Consent form (link)
Birth Certificate
Copies of valid passports of both the parents
For a child with a single parent:
Enclosed copy of child custody order from court (having sole custody of the child with the parent applying for visa) / Death Certificate, etc. as the case may be
Money Saving Tips
Wedding guests traveling from Eastern Canada to Kochi, India can save money by considering alternative travel routes. One cost-saving strategy is flying into a larger city in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, where international flight prices are often lower due to higher traffic. Once in India, guests can book more affordable domestic flights to Kochi, as domestic carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India often offer competitive fares. Booking these domestic flights well in advance, especially during the busy wedding season, will help further reduce costs.
Some guests may also find cheaper international flights by departing from U.S. airports, such as New York, Boston, or Washington D.C., where there are often more flight options and lower fares due to increased competition. For those living near the U.S.-Canada border, driving to a major U.S. airport and flying from there can lead to significant savings.
Helpful Links
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Online Visa Application
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa from an Indian Mission/Post or an eVisa.
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Consulate General of India, Toronto
There are only two Indian consulates in Canada. They are located in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. The website for the Consulate General of India, Toronto Office is provided in the link below. For more information about the Tourist Visa, please visit this website.
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Tourist Visa FAQs
On their website, the Consulate General of India, Toronto has provided answers to some important FAQs. We strongly encourage our guests (who are travelling from Canada) to review this page before submitting their Tourist Visa applications. The link to this page is provided below.
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Step-by-Step Visa Application
The Government of India has provided a step-by-step guide outlining the online tourist visa application process. We encourage our guests travelling from afar to review this document.
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Online Visa Photo Upload Process
To review the visa photo requirements, click on the link below.
Visa FAQs
What is a Tourist Visa?
A) A Tourist Visa is granted to a foreigner whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight-seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short-term yoga programme, and short duration medical treatments (including treatment under Indian systems of medicine)
I will travel at a much later date. Can my visa be issued to coincide with the date of travel?
A) No. post-dated visas are not issued. The validity of the visa begins from the date of issue.
I want to visit India for tourism/to attend a friend's marriage/ to meet my friends. Which visa should I apply for?
A) Applicant has to apply for a tourist visa.
Can I get a visa on arrival to enter India?
A) No, foreigners must obtain a visa before taking a flight to India. Foreigners cannot obtain a visa on arrival in India.
Travel FAQs
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You should fly to the Cochin International Airport. Cochin (also known as Kochi) is located 50km (approximately 1.5 hours away) from Kumarakom and is its closest city.
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The most convenient way to reach Kumarakom from Cochin is by hiring a taxi or a private car. The journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic conditions. We recommend booking a taxi ahead of your journey to ensure a smooth journey.
If you would like help in planning your transportation ahead of your arrival, please reach out to either Alex or Aishwarya to go over your options. We ask that our guests who require help with transportation contact us as soon as possible to minimize any issues.
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Baggage Assistance: Rs. 300/- per trolley; service of transporting baggage from car to check-in/ baggage belt to car.
Just Check-in/out: Rs. 1,000/- per person; in addition to baggage assistance, service includes being received by a representative who will complete all check-in/ arrival formalities.
Feel Safe: Rs. 3,000/- per person; in addition to baggage assistance, service includes being received by a representative who will complete all formalities up to boarding gate from arrival gate.
Transportation services: Pre-paid taxis, buses, and the metro are available.
For more information on available facilities and amenities, visit the Cochin International Airport website.
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If flying from Halifax, you will likely have (a minimum of) two layovers during your journey. The journey from Canada to India usually takes at least 24 hours so it's a good idea to bring a book or laptop (and charging devices) to keep you entertained. We encourage our guests to book their flights as soon as possible to ensure that they have options regarding layovers and flight times and to reduce the risk of dealing with escalating prices.
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Travelling within India (e.g. domestic flights) is very affordable. One tip we can offer our guests from Canada is that it might be more affordable to travel to a major hub/metropolitan city in India (e.g. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, etc) and then book a domestic flight to Kochi.
After completing some research, we found that a Halifax-Mumbai round trip can cost $1500. Please keep in mind that because airline prices fluctuate, these prices are subject to change.
Domestic flights in India are very affordable. A round trip between Mumbai and Kochi (i.e., a 2-hour flight each way) can cost $60 and a Bangalore-Kochi round trip (i.e., a 1-hour flight each way) costs approximately $40. Some domestic airlines we recommend checking out are: IndiGo, Spice Jet, GoAir, Vistara Airlines, Air India, and Air India Express.
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If you have any questions regarding your travels, feel free to contact either Alex or Aishwarya.