Travel Guide To Canada

High Commission and Consulate General of India in Canada

High Commission of India of Ottawa-Hull

10 Springfield Road

Ottawa, Ontario

K1M 1C9

Tel: 613 744 3751, 613 744 3752, 613 744 3753

Email: hicomind@hciottawa.ca  

Consulate General of India

#201-325 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC

V6C 1Z7

Canada

Tel: (604) 662-8811, (604)-662-4643

Indian nationals travelling to Canada require a Canada Visa that has been issued in advance. Make sure you have the correct documentation and apply for it well in advance.

• Original passports with six months validity from the date of arrival in Canada along with the old passports if any
• Visa application form
• Confirmed hotel booking
• Everyday itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Confirmed air tickets
• Recent passport-sized photos
• Bank statements with transaction records of the past six months

Visa Processing Time - 14- 20 Working days

Canada is the world’s second-largest country covering 9.98 million square kilometres of land. Canada is situated in the northern part of North America and is surrounded by Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Oceana and the Arctic Ocean. The country is also known as ‘The Great White North’ for its direction and also because of the amount of artic tundra region and the massive snow that the country receives. Canada is also known for its picturesque scenery with beautiful lakes and snow-clad mountains. The country is diverse, with many south-east Asians found across the nation. Punjabi is the third national language in Canada after English and Fresh, respectively.

Niagara Falls

Standing tall at the US-Canadian border, this natural marvel is worth a visit. Every travel guide will mention this scenery as the waterfall has the highest flow rate in the world. The speed at which the waterfalls creates a mist that the tourists enjoy dearly. You can also take a Maid of the Mist tour to explore the grandeur of the fall up close. You can explore the marketplace close by and enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere.

Toronto

Toronto is one of the most bustling cities with various ethnic districts like Little India, Chinatown, and Little Italy. When in Toronto, don’t forget to visit the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, Castle of Casa Loma. With plenty of ballads, operas, Broadway shows and much more, the city is always full of things to do.

Québec City

The city of Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada, bustling with history and culture waiting to be explored. This town dates back to the early 1600s, has beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets making it one of the most picturesque places in Canada. Quebec is known for its winter carnival known as Carnaval de Quebec, where people flock from all over the world to attend it.

How to Reach Canada

Canada and India are well connected through air routes. Various airline services have direct and non-direct airline routes connecting India and Canada efficiently. All major airlines like Air Canada. Air India, Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates and Jet Airways fly to Canada through India. With the tips mentioned above in mind, get your Visa sorted well in advance from India.

Best Time to Visit

Canada is a vast continent, and it’ll be wrong to assume that all of Canada has the same weather. Canada has extreme winters, and it is best to avoid these months while taking a holiday here. However, cold weather has its perks as more bookings are available, fewer tourists, cheaper fights and much more. Make sure that you research in advance about the weather as you can never expect the temperatures of two places to be alike.

When visiting the great white north, there are a few essentials that you must remember to pack. Apart from packing all the necessities, here are a few other essential things that you’d need:

• Umbrella
• Hiking shoes and snow boots
• First-aid kit with cold soar cream
• Travel insurance (medical emergencies can pop up anytime)
• Universal power adaptor

Poutine

Poutine is a delicacy that is so loved that various parts of the world have welcomed with open arms. However, you must try poutine from where its place of origination – Canada! Poutine is prepared with crispy fries, cheese and rich gravy, making it the ultimate comfort food.

Maple Syrup

The town of Quebec is known for producing 85% of the world’s maple syrup. You will find many delicacies that are dedicated solely to maple syrup. This gooey goodness is poured over pancakes, waffles, toasts and many others. You will also find various bars and restaurants that serve cocktails and dishes that are infused with maple syrup.

Butter Tart

This Canadian favourite is a  must-try as it’s both soft and crunchy; the tart tends to melt in the mouth with every bite. This sweet delicacy is made from raisins, butter, pastry, syrup and more to get that perfect crispy outer layer and soft centre.

Shopping is an essential part of any international trip that you take. Without shopping, the journey seems incomplete as you’d want to explore and own something that reminds you of your trip for years to come.

Maple syrup

Canada is the largest producer of maple syrup, trying them from their place of origin is a must! Make sure that you stock up enough for when you come back and buy some for your friends and family. There’s something for everybody when it when shopping in Canada as there’s so much to explore. So, don’t hold yourself back when you’re in Canada

Nanaimo Bars

The Nanaimo bars are a no-bake sweets, made with layering crumbs chocolate, icing and more. Try as many flavours as you can when in Canada!

Ice Wine

Known as liquid gold in Canada, ice wine is famous around the world. It is known for its rich taste and smoothness, all thanks to the grapes that are left on the vine to freeze to temperatures below -8ºC. These frozen grapes are later handpicked and pressed to produce this famous ice wine.  

Moksha Indian Bistro Location

Location: 5993 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3Y2, Canada

Contact: +1 905-354-8585

Vij’s

Location: 3106 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2W2, Canada

Contact: +1 604-736-6664

Udupi Palace

Location: 1460 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4L 2A3, Canada

Contact: +1 416-405-8189

While travelling you Canada, you must be aware and informed of all the major healthcare centres near you. This information comes handy in the event of an emergency. Even though Canada is a massive country, here’s a list of all the healthcare facilities in some of the major cities.

Mount Sinai Hospital

Location: 600 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada

Contact: +1 416-586-4800

Mount Saint Joseph Hospital

Location: 3080 Prince Edward St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3N4, Canada

Contact: +977 61-430548

Hôtel-Dieu de Québec

Location: 11 Côte du Palais, Québec, QC G1R 2J6, Canada

Contact: +977 1-6612705

Every traveller should buy travel insurance before visiting Canada as an emergency can occur anytime. Travel insurance will help trace the hospitals with the best facilities in Canada and provide treatment without any hassle.

The official currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar.

The official languages of Canada English, which is spoken by more than 85% of the population. There are other languages, including French and Punjabi, that are spoken in Canada. Communication won’t be an issue as most people understand English and communicate in the same.

The following medical expenses are covered: 

• Travel insurance includes medical expenses, repatriation, and emergency medical evacuation. Even dental care expenses such as acute anesthetic treatment of teeth are covered.

“Deductible”means a cost-sharing requirement under this policy, that provides that the insurer will not be liable for a specified rupee amount or percentage of claim amount or number of days or number of hours, as specified in the policy schedule and which will apply before any benefits are payable by the insurer. A deductible does not reduce the sum insured and is applicable per event, upto the specified limits mentioned.

• Medical Expenses (inclusive of Repatriation and Emergency Medical Evacuation), Daily Allowance in case of hospitalization, Compassionate Visit benefits, the following will not be payable for Any pre-existing condition, Routine examinations, Expenses for rest or recuperation at spa/ health resort/ sanatorium, Pregnancy (including childbirth, miscarriage, abortion or related complications ) or treatment relating to the removal of physical flaws or anomalies (cosmetic treatment or plastic surgery).
• Cosmetic surgery, unless such cosmetic surgery is rendered medically necessary as part of treatment for accidents and burns whilst being abroad.
• Suicide, attempted or wilfully self inflicted injury or illness, mental disorder, anxiety, stress or depression, venereal disease, alcoholism, drunkenness or the abuse of drugs, or any loss arising, directly or indirectly, from any injury, illness, death, loss, expense, or other liability attributable to HIV and/or any HIV related illness including AIDS and/or any mutant derivative or variation thereof however caused.
• Treatment which could be reasonably delayed until the Insured’s return to India, which will be decided jointly by the treating Physician and the Emergency Assistance Service Provider and shall be in accordance with accepted standards of medical care.
• The Insured taking part in naval, military or air force operations; war and nuclear perils.
• Insured engaging in air travel unless he or she flies as a Fare Paying passenger in an aircraft licensed to carry passengers.
• Participation of the Insured in winter sports, mountaineering and such other professional sports or any other hazardous or potentially dangerous sport for which the Insured members are adequately trained, physically fit and using proper equipment. and that too only if specifically agreed and mentioned in the policy schedule.
• Hazardous occupation, or if engaged in any criminal or illegal act.
• Medical Expenses in respect of Experimental, investigational or unproven treatments or treatments which are not consistent with or incidental to the diagnosis and treatment of the positive existence or presence of any Illness for which confinement is required at a Hospital. Any Illness or treatment which is a result or a consequence of undergoing such experimental or unproven treatment.
• Naturopathy treatment.
• Non Allopathic treatment e.g. - Ayurvedic, Yogic, Homeopathic, Unani treatment(s).
• Under no circumstances shall this insurance contract be deemed to provide cover and no liability be incurred to pay any claim or provide any benefit hereunder to the extent that the provision of such cover, payment of such claim or provision of such benefit would expose us to any sanction, prohibition, or restriction under United Nations resolutions or the trade or economic sanctions, laws or regulations of the European Union, United Kingdom, United States of America & India

You can avail the Travel Insurance online and enjoy the benefits offered by ICICI Lombard General Insurance (Bharti AXA General Insurance*)

Loss of passport and documents:

Reimbursement of actual expenses incurred in connection with obtaining a duplicate or fresh passport or reasonable cost of replacing/obtaining the stolen documents/ tickets if the passport belonging to the Insured / Insured Person be lost

Home Fire Insurance Contents & Home Burglary Insurance (contents):

Cover against any loss or damage of the Contents at Home of the Insured in India caused by Fire and Allied perils or through burglary and/or housebreaking while the Insured is on a trip abroad.

Hijack Distress Allowance

Payment of distress allowance in case of hijack of a common carrier for more than certain number of hours whilst on the trip. You can easily avail the allowance by filing a claim online through Travel Insurance cover online process.

Medical Expensesinclusive of Repartration  and Emergency Medical Evacuation

If you are sick or injured during the journey, your medical expenses can prove to be costly. In such cases,  Travel Insurance cover greatly helps. The insurance company also offers a cashless settlement with the network hospitals or you can also opt for the reimbursement process within 30 days of hospitalization.

Legal Expenses

Payment of legal costs and expenses incurred by the Insured towards claims from third Parties for compensation in respect of death or disablement arising due to an injury whilst on a trip abroad.

Personal Accident

Payment of compensation if the Insured sustains accidental bodily injury during a trip resulting in death or Permanent Total Disablement or Permanent Partial Disablement within 12 months of occurrence of such injury.

Trip Cancellation/Or Interruption

Payment towards the non-refundable prepaid payments incurred on the trip being cancelled and additional cost of transportation in case of Interruption: due to medical problems, personal employment problems or natural disasters or other listed reason in policy wordings.

Trip Delay

 Reimbursement of additional expenses if trip is delayed beyond a period, due to airline problems, medical problems, personal employment problems or natural disasters.

 Daily Allowance in case of Hospitalisation

 Payment of daily allowance for the days the Insured is hospitalised beyond a specified number of days, as mentioned in the Policy Schedule, for which a valid claim is admissible under the Policy whilst on a trip abroad.Emergency Accommodation

 Payment of compensation for the additional cost of emergency accommodation if the Insured/ Insured Person could not stay in the accommodation originally booked due to ­fire& flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, explosion, outbreak of major infectious diseases.

During a trip there are chances of unfortunate events such as loss of checked in baggage, medical emergency, loss of passport that can spoil your international trip, be it business or leisure. Travel insurance can protect you from such events ensuring that you are left stuck in foreign land.