Canada has one of the largest Gujarati diaspora communities in the world — Toronto, Brampton and Surrey are practically extensions of Surat and Ahmedabad for many families. The standard visitor visa (TRV) is usually valid for up to 10 years with each individual stay capped at six months, while parents and grandparents have a dedicated Super Visa route allowing a single stay of up to five years at a stretch.
TRV vs Super Visa — which one do you need?
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is the standard visitor visa for tourism, business or a family visit — typically multiple-entry, valid up to 10 years, though each individual stay is capped at six months. The Super Visa is designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing a single stay of up to five years without needing to renew, and it is valid for up to 10 years overall. If your children have settled in Canada and you want to spend real time with grandchildren rather than a six-month visit followed by an exit, the Super Visa is the route we recommend for most parents visiting Canadian-resident children.
Documents for a standard TRV
You will need a passport valid for your intended stay with blank pages, proof of funds through bank statements and ITR for the last 2–3 years, a letter of invitation if visiting family along with the host's status document, proof of ties to India such as property, business, employment or family, and a travel itinerary with proof of accommodation where relevant.
Documents for the Super Visa — the extra requirements
On top of the standard documents, the Super Visa needs an invitation letter from the Canadian child or grandchild including their income details and household size, proof of the host's status in Canada (citizenship or PR), and Canadian medical insurance valid for at least one year with a minimum coverage of CAD 100,000 — this is mandatory and specific to the Super Visa — plus a medical exam from a panel physician, which we help you schedule.
The process, step by step
You complete the online application through the IRCC portal, pay the application and biometrics fees, give biometrics at a VFS Global centre — Ahmedabad and Mumbai serve most Gujarat applicants — and then wait for processing, which typically takes a few weeks for standard TRVs though times vary by season. Once approved, the visa arrives as a sticker in your passport, couriered back to you.
What decides an approval
As with the UK and US, the core question Canadian immigration is answering is whether you intend to return to India after your visit. Strong, verifiable ties — a running business, property, employment, dependants — carry real weight, alongside a clean travel history and financial documents that are internally consistent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a TRV and a Super Visa for Canada? A standard TRV allows multiple visits with each stay capped at six months, while the Super Visa, for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or residents, allows a single stay of up to five years without renewal.
Where do I give biometrics for a Canada visa in Gujarat? At a VFS Global centre — Ahmedabad and Mumbai serve most Gujarat applicants, and we book the appointment as part of preparing your file.
Is medical insurance mandatory for the Super Visa? Yes — Super Visa applicants must show Canadian medical insurance valid for at least one year with a minimum CAD 100,000 coverage, which we help arrange as part of the application.
Visiting family in Canada or planning a Rockies-and-Niagara holiday? Message Explera Vacations on WhatsApp or get in touch — we prepare the full document file, book your VFS biometrics appointment, and for Super Visa applicants, arrange the mandatory medical insurance and panel physician exam.
