India Visa & OCI Guide for Canadians and Americans
Who needs a visa, how to get an e-Visa, and the OCI new-passport rule many people miss.
Last updated: November 2026
Rules change. This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm with the official government websites before you travel.
- Indian e-Visa (Government of India)
- OCI Services (Government of India)
- Travel advice for India (Government of Canada)
- India travel information (U.S. Department of State)
FlyToIndia.ca is not connected to the Government of India, and we earn nothing from these government links.
Do I need a visa for India?
It depends on which passport you travel on. Find yourself in the table below.
| If you travel on… | What you need |
|---|---|
| Canadian or US passport, no OCI card | A visa. Most people use the Indian e-Visa (applied for online). |
| Canadian or US passport + OCI card | No visa. Bring your OCI card and your current passport. |
| Indian passport (living in Canada or the USA as a PR, student or worker) | No visa. You are still an Indian citizen, so just bring your valid Indian passport. |
| Born Indian, now a Canadian or US citizen | A visa or an OCI card, but first you need a Surrender Certificate for your old Indian passport. |
India does not allow dual citizenship. Once you become a Canadian or US citizen, your Indian passport can no longer be used.
Getting an Indian e-Visa
Canadian and US citizens can both apply for an e-Visa online. You don't have to visit an office or mail your passport. (e-Visas for Canadians were paused in late 2023, but they have been back since then and are working normally in 2026.)
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive in India and have 2 blank pages.
- Apply at least 4 days before you fly. Earlier is better, especially around Diwali and December.
- You will need a recent photo with a white background and a scan of your passport photo page.
- Pay online by card. The fee cannot be refunded, even if the visa is refused.
- Print the approval (called the ETA) that comes by email, and carry it with you.
Don't forget the e-Arrival Card
Since 2026, everyone entering India on a foreign passport, including OCI cardholders, fills out a free online e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing. It replaced the old paper form on the plane. Save the QR code on your phone or print it, because immigration will ask for it.
OCI card: what to know
The OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card is a lifelong visa for people of Indian origin and their foreign spouses. With it you can come and go from India as often as you like, for as long as you like. It is not Indian citizenship, and you cannot vote. It is the easiest option for families who go home often.
Got a new passport? Update your OCI within 3 months
Many people miss this. Every time you get a new Canadian or US passport, you must upload it to the OCI website.
- Within 3 months of the new passport's issue date: free. Upload a copy of the new passport and a photo taken in the last 30 days. You don't need to mail anything.
- After 3 months: you pay a late fee of US$25, plus about US$3 for a government welfare fund, plus a processing fee.
- Got your OCI as a child? When you get your first new passport after turning 20, you need a brand-new OCI card once. That is a full re-issue application, not just an online upload. Start it on the official OCI site.
- Married to an Indian citizen or OCI holder (and not of Indian origin yourself)? With every new passport, also upload a declaration that you are still married and proof of your spouse's status.
- You can travel with your current passport and your OCI card. You no longer need to carry your old passport.
On the site, choose "OCI Miscellaneous Services" and then the option to update your passport details.
Were you born Indian? You may need a Surrender Certificate
If you became a Canadian or US citizen on or after June 1, 2010, you must formally hand back your old Indian passport and get a Surrender Certificate before you can get a visa or an OCI card. A "cancelled" stamp in the old passport is not enough. Do this soon after you become a citizen, because waiting can mean extra fees. Your nearest Indian High Commission or Consulate website explains how to apply where you live.
Before you fly: quick checklist
- Passport valid for 6+ months, with 2 blank pages
- e-Visa approval printed, OR OCI card + the passport linked to it
- New passport? OCI updated online (free within 3 months)
- e-Arrival Card done in the 72 hours before landing, with the QR code saved
- Former Indian citizen? Surrender Certificate in hand