I always encourage my readers to get their US visa at some point. Having a US visa will open up many doors. Of course, you can travel to the US, but you can also travel to 30+ countries VISA-FREE with US visa.
But, many fear that the US visa is the most difficult to get.
Well, there is an alternative – CANADA VISA.
Canada visa is the second best visa. You can travel 20+ countries VISA-FREE with Canada visa.
The best thing about Canada visa is that there is NO VISA INTERVIEW.
The US visa interview process is frightening to many. If you have been to one, you would know what I mean. The high security at the consulate, lining up in the street outside the building, intimidating visa officers, questions that you were not prepared for, and the list goes on.
If you do not have a US consulate in your city, you have to travel to the nearest city where the US consulate is. The visa fee itself is quite steep and on top of that, these travel expenses can add up.
Why should you get a Canada tourist visa?
Though Canada visa doesn’t offer as much VISA-FREE travel as the US visa, Canada visa has its own advantages.
- Canada visa application has no visa interview.
- Canada tourist visa is also a long-term visa. Usually issued for 10 years or until the expiration of your passport.
- The fee for Canada tourist visa is much lesser. It’s only $100 CAD.
- India and China passport holders can even take advantage of the CAN+ expedited program.
- Last but not the least, Canada itself is a beautiful country. Have you ever seen the pictures of Banff National Park? Just Google it. It’s spectacular. That’s just one example. The country is vast, diverse and a nature lover’s paradise. It’s also culturally diverse and the people are the most polite in the world.
Which Canada visas are eligible?
The following Canada visas can be used
- Canada tourist visa (also called Canada TRV)
- Canada student visa
- Canada work visa
- Canada permanent resident card
Some countries requires the Canada visa to be multiple entry and have been used at least once to travel to Canada.
So, without further due, lets jump into the list.
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North America
01. Canada
- Of course!
02. Mexico
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 180 days
- More info: Consulate of Mexico in Washington DC, USA, Consulate of Mexico in Toronto, Canada and Consulate of Mexico in India
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Central America
03. Guatemala
- Applies to India and Jamaica passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Embassy of India in Guatemala and Consulate General of Jamaica, NYC
04. Honduras
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Embassy of India in Guatemala and Embassy of India in Guatemala
05. El Salvador
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Embassy of India in Guatemala
06. Costa Rica
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada and Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
07. Panama
- Applies to all nationalities
- Canada visa must be valid for at least one year from the date of arrival
- Canada visa must have been used at least once to enter Canada before
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Panama in the USA and Consulate of Panama in Toronto, Canada
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Caribbean
08. Cuba
- Applies to all nationalities
- Must hold the Tourist Card, which can be obtained from Cuban embassies, authorized airlines and travel agencies
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: IATA Travel Center and TIMATIC Web
09. Dominican Republic
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Dominican Republic in the UK
10. Antigua and Barbuda
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda and Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda in NYC
11. Aruba
- Applies to Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Peru passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Visit Aruba
12. Curaçao
- Applies to China, Dominican Republic and India passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Curaçao Tourism and Netherlands and You
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South America
13. Peru
- Applies to India and China passport holders only
- Canada visa must have been granted for at least 6 months
- Entry up to 180 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru and Embassy of India in Lima, Peru
14. Chile
- Applies to China passport holders only
- Canada visa must be tourist visa only (student, work visa or residence permit are not eligible)
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Consulate General of Chile, Washington DC and Chile Ministry of Exterior
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Europe
15. Georgia
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
16. Macedonia
- Applies to all nationalities
- The visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
- Entry up to 15 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia
17. United Kingdom
- Applies to all nationalities
- Must be in transit to/from Canada only and must have an onward ticket within 24 hours
- Available at Heathrow airport only
- Entry for 24 hours only
- More info: Heathrow Arrivals and UK Gov – Check Visa
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Middle East
18. Qatar
- Applies to all nationalities
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then avail Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Qatar Tourist Authority and Ministry of Foreign Interior, Qatar
19. Oman
- Applies to the following passport holders only
- Visa in NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eVisa
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
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Asia
20. Taiwan
- Applies to Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam passport holders only
- Visa is EXEMPT but must apply online for Republic of China Travel Authorization Certificate (Valid for 90 days) before arrival
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
21. Philippines
- Applies to only India and China passport holders
- Entry up to 14 days for India passport holders
- Entry up to 7 days for China passport holders
- A 7 day extension is possible
- More info: Embassy of Philippines in Singapore and Embassy of Philippines in India
22. South Korea
- Applies to all nationalities except Cuba, Macedonia, Syria, Sudan and Iran
- Must be in transit to reach Canada as final destination
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Republic of Korea Visa Portal and Hi Korea (e-Government for Foreigners)
23. Singapore
- Applies to India passport holders only
- Must be in transit to or from the US
- Entry up to 96 hours
- More info: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
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VISA-FREE travel with Canada Residence Permit (Permanent Resident Card)
If you have been living in Canada and hold your Residency Permit (Permanent Resident Card), you can also travel VISA-FREE to these additional countries.
01. Bahamas
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bahamas.com, Consulate General of Bahamas in Washington DC and Nassau Paradise Island
02. Sint Maarten
- Applies to Bolivia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Peru passport holders only
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Government of Sint Maarten
03. Aruba
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Visit Aruba
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There you have it! List of 20+ countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa. If you don’t have a Canada visa already, it’s time to apply for one and add another 20+ to your list of VISA-FREE countries.
Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) that offers visa exemption for Canada visa holders? Let me know in the comments below.
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