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After approval · India

Canada Visa Passport Request in India: What It Means and What to Do Next

Received a letter asking you to submit your passport? For online visitor visa applicants, IRCC sends this letter when your application is approved. Here is how to send your passport through a Visa Application Centre in India, what to check, and what to avoid.

Last reviewed: October 2026 · Based on IRCC’s “after you apply” guidance

Steps to submit your passportChecklist
Illustration of a passport, a letter and a delivery route
Quick answer

If you applied online, IRCC says that when your visitor visa is approved you get a letter in your IRCC account with instructions to submit your passport. In India, you normally submit it through a VFS Global Visa Application Centre (VAC), following the instructions in your letter. Send the same passport you used in your application, and do not book travel you cannot change until the visa is placed in your passport and returned to you.

What does a Canada visa passport request mean?

For online applications, IRCC sends the passport request after your visitor visa is approved. The visa itself is a sticker (counterfoil) that has to be placed in your passport, which is why IRCC needs the passport.

A good sign

For online visitor visa applicants, IRCC describes this letter as the step after approval.

Same passport

IRCC says to submit the passport you used in your application.

Not ready to fly yet

You cannot travel to Canada until the visa is placed in your passport.

What happens after your visa is approved?

Process diagram: approval, passport request letter, submit at VAC, visa placed in passport, passport returned1Approved2Passport requestletter in IRCC account3Submit at VACin person or by courier4Visa placedby the visa office5Passport returnedcollect or courier
Typical sequence for online visitor visa applicants. Original graphic.

How to submit your passport in India

  1. Read the letter in your IRCC account carefully. It tells you what to send, where, and any deadline. Follow it over any general advice, including this page.
  2. Check the official VFS Global website for Canada in India for VAC locations, opening hours and whether you need an appointment or can use courier service.
  3. Prepare your passport and the letter. Bring the printed passport request letter and any forms the VAC asks for.
  4. Submit and keep your receipt. The VAC gives you a reference number for tracking.
  5. Track and collect. Use the VAC tracking service, then collect your passport or receive it by courier.
  6. Check the visa sticker straight away. Confirm your name, date of birth, passport number and expiry date. Report any error before you travel.
Fees: the IRCC visa fee was paid with your application. VACs charge their own service and courier fees, which are separate from government fees. Check the current amounts on the official VFS Global website for Canada.

Checklist before you submit

Original passport

The same one used in your application, valid and undamaged.

Passport request letter

Printed from your IRCC account.

VAC instructions

Forms or consent documents the VAC lists, if any.

Courier details

A correct return address and phone number if using courier.

What if you renewed your passport?

IRCC says to submit the same passport you used in your application. If you send a newer passport, processing can be delayed, and it will not get you a longer visa validity. If you must change passport, follow IRCC’s instructions and contact IRCC through the official web form before you submit.

How long does it take to get the passport back?

IRCC does not publish a separate processing time for this step. It depends on the VAC, the visa office workload and courier times. Track your passport with the VAC reference number rather than relying on timelines shared online. For overall processing times, see our Canada visitor visa processing time guide.

Common passport request mistakes

Mistake
Better approach
Booking non-refundable flights before the passport is back
Wait until the visa is in your passport and you have checked it.
Sending a different passport without telling IRCC
Use the passport from your application, or follow IRCC’s instructions first.
Paying an agent or a WhatsApp contact for “visa stamping”
Submit only through the official VAC, as your letter instructs.
Not checking the visa sticker
Check every detail on the visa as soon as you receive it.

Frequently asked questions

Does a passport request mean my Canada visa is approved?

For online visitor visa applications, IRCC says the passport letter is sent when your application is approved.

Where do I submit my passport in India?

At a Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global for Canada, following the instructions in your IRCC letter.

Can I travel to Canada as soon as I get the passport request?

No. You can only travel once the visa is placed in your passport.

Is there a fee to submit the passport?

IRCC fees were paid when you applied. The VAC charges its own service and courier fees.

What if my passport is about to expire?

A visa cannot be valid beyond your passport’s expiry. Follow IRCC’s instructions before changing passports.

Questions about your passport request?

Send your question on WhatsApp. We reply with general guidance based on IRCC’s official instructions.

WhatsApp +1 917-437-4455Visitor visa guide
This website shares general information only. It is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC, and it is not a licensed immigration representative. We cannot guarantee visas, processing times or jobs. Pay government fees only on official Government of Canada websites.

Official sources

Rules, fees and processing times can change. Always confirm the current requirements on the official pages above before you apply.