Canadian Consulate Kolkata

Canada is the second-largest country in the world, best known for its maple syrup, ice hockey and Niagara Falls. It is a prime travel destination for many Indians, either for work or simply to make a memorable trip.

From stunning cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City to breathtaking natural wonders like Gros Morne National Park, Niagara Falls and the Northern Lights, Canada has a lot to offer to prospective travellers. So rest assured you are not going to run out of places to visit.

The country is home to some unique wildlife like bald eagles, polar bears, the elusive spirit bear, bighorn sheep, cougars, mountain lions and, of course, plenty of beavers – the country’s national animal.

You will also be able to spot whale species like humpbacks and orcas gracing the country’s seas. In fact, whale watching is one of the more popular outdoor activities in Canada.

Now that your next travel destination is decided let us take a look at how you can get there by looking into the Canadian consulate office in Kolkata.

*Closed on Saturday, Sunday and other national/public holidays recognised by India and Canada. Make sure you contact the consulate to confirm opening hours before visiting.

Embassies and consulates are essential assets to countries worldwide to maintain a high level of interaction and diplomatic relations with one another. Although both terms are used interchangeably, they do have a few key differences:

Embassies serve as the primary diplomatic representation of a foreign country in India. They will only ever be found in the capital of a country. Hence, the Embassy of Canada will be present in New Delhi. It is overseen by an ambassador – the chief spokesperson of the country (Canada).

Embassies are also responsible for promoting their representative country’s culture and foreign policy within the host country, performing important government functions like preparing treaties and protecting the rights of their citizens who are living or travelling through India.

Consulates can be viewed as ‘extra diplomatic representation’. They can be found outside the capital in major cities that are major tourist, economic or financial centres. E.g. the Consulate of Canada in Kolkata. It is overseen by a consul general – an official government representative (of Canada).

Their main function lies in undertaking administrative duties like visa and passport processes and providing guidance on immigration processes for residents of the host country. They also offer these services to citizens of their home country, along with general assistance.

Under the context of applying for Canada visa applications and residence permits, you can approach either a Canadian Embassy or Consulate – whichever is closer to you, as both will offer these services.

The main function of the Canadian High Commission in Kolkata is to represent Canada as a country in India.

This means facilitating trade and commerce by promoting business ties between Canada and India, offering information on investment opportunities and organising cultural events, exhibitions, and conferences to promote Canadian culture in India.

The Canadian consulate office in Kolkata also serves as a central hub for Canadian authorities and nationals when they visit West Bengal by offering services that facilitate entry and exit from India when possible.

Other key consular functions include renewing passports, issuing/renewing visas, registering births and deaths and offering guidance on citizenship procedures for Canadian citizens residing in India.

It also provides Canadian nationals legal assistance for detentions, arrests, repatriations or any other kind of judiciary issues, should they arise.

Canada Visa Services for Indians: Indian citizens can apply for a Canadian visa through the Canadian High Commission in Kolkata or the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi. Some visa services you can access at both sites are:

Submitting Your Visa Applications: Your visa applications that were made online (via official portals) or offline will be accepted at all Canadian consulates in India. These applications can be for any visa type offered by the Canadian government, like work, tourist or student visas.

Paying your Visa Fees: You will also be able to pay your visa application fees here via the acceptable payment mode stated for each consulate. Generally most will either accept cash, credit or demand draft.

Getting Your Forms Verified: The Canadian embassy in Kolkata provides document verification services as well. You can get your supporting documents verified during your visa application procedure. All you need to do is submit them along with your Canadian visa application form.

Attestation of Documents: This service is often provided and needed for long-term visa applications (residence, employment or study visas) where certain documents need to be verified for legal authenticity by immigration authorities. This is usually required for educational certificates like college degrees, marriage certificates and birth certificates.

In-Person Visa Interviews: Your in-person visa application interviews will also be held at the Canadian consulate office in Kolkata to verify your identity against your submitted documents.

Visa/Passport Services to Canadian Citizens: Canadian citizens staying in India can get in touch with the Canadian High Commission in Kolkata if they have any passport or visa-related issues like lost/stolen passports, visa renewals, issuing temporary passports, etc.

Other Consular Services for Canadian Citizens: Apart from passport/visa services, other consular services Canadian citizens in India can access through consulates are:

• Guidance and information on citizenship procedures.

• Marriage Registration.

• Birth and Death Registration.

• Notary Procedures.

Jurisdiction refers to the operable range of a consulate or embassy. Every embassy/consulate has its own jurisdiction. For example, you can access consular services from the Canadian consulate office in Kolkata if you reside in an area within its jurisdiction.

To know if you reside within the jurisdiction of the Canadian High Commission in Kolkata, you can contact them through their helpline.

If you reside in areas out of bounds, you can always submit your visa applications through authorised service providers for the Government of Canada, like VFS Global.

Yes, Indian nationals require a Canadian visa if they wish to travel to or visit Canada, whether it be for work, leisure or study. Hence, if you wish to travel to or stay in Canada, you will need to apply for a visa, get it approved and issued and only then can you visit the country.

The only exceptions to this rule are Indian nationals who are green card holders or are permanent residents of the United States of America.

You can apply for your Canadian visa either online or in person at the Canadian consulate office in Kolkata or through one of VFS Global’s Visa Application Centres.

Online Canada Visa Application

Visit the official Canadian Government website and register for an IIRC account.

Once registered, login and click on ‘Apply to visit, study or work in Canada as a temporary resident’ on your account page.

You will be redirected to a new page. Select the check box at the bottom and then click ‘Start Application’.

Next, select whether you want to apply for yourself or for multiple applicants, i.e. if you are also applying for your family members. Click ‘Save and Continue’.

Fill out the visa application form and upload your supporting documents.

Once done, pay your visa fees and submit your application.

Next, you will need to submit your biometrics. You can do this once you pay your biometrics fee during your visa application and after you receive a letter from the website telling you what to do and where to submit your biometrics.

You may also be asked to get a medical exam and a police certificate.

On approval, you will be notified via 2 letters through your IIRC account: a letter with instructions to submit your passport and the final decision letter.

Useful Links:

IIRC Account Registration Page

How to Give Your Biometrics

How to get a Police Certificate

How to Get a Medical Exam

Applying for a Visa at the Canadian Consulate Office in Kolkata

Visit VFS Global or the Canadian Government website. Fill out and download the visa application form. Hand-written forms will not be accepted.

Next, visit the VFS Visa Application Centre (Monday-Friday between 9:00 to 17:00 Hrs) or the Canadian consulate in Kolkata during working hours. You may need to book an appointment in advance if you are visiting the consulate.

You will need to bring your application form along with all your supporting documents.

Submit your application and your documents and pay the visa fees.

You will receive an email update once a decision has been made on your application and you can collect your visa and passport from the VAC or have it sent to you via courier.

Useful Links:

Canada Visa Application Form and List of Documents Needed

Check Processing Times

Also Read: How to Check Canada Visa Status in India?

The Canadian government requires all travellers from India to have medical insurance or a travel insurance plan with medical coverage to cover the duration of their stay in Canada. It is recommended that you apply for your travel insurance plan after you get your port of entry (POE) letter.

There are also no limits or specific lists on what insurance companies you can get your travel insurance plan from as long as they are IRDAI-approved.

To make this process easier on your end, Tata AIG offers online travel insurance policies so you do not have to go through the trouble of visiting an insurance company office in person. This can streamline your travel plans, leaving you more time to focus on your visa application process.

Our plans also offer trip cancellation insurance in case of last-minute emergencies or a change of plans. This way, you stay financially secure against any uncertainties even before your trip!