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I AM CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES, AND I AM USING A VALID NON-IMMIGRANT VISA. I WILL NEED TO VISIT INDIA ON A FLIGHT FROM PORTLAND IN THE UNITED STATES TO CANADA (SPECIFICALLY, VANCOUVER) ON AIR CANADA. FROM THERE, I WILL GO THROUGH FRANKFURT TO INDIA ON LUFTHANSA AIRLINES. WE WILL JUST STAY FOR ONE HOUR IN CANADA. DO WE HAVE TO GET A TRANSIT VISA SINCE WE ARE TRAVELING THROUGH CANADA? AND IF YES, CAN I DO IT IN THE AIRPORT ITSELF?

A Transit Visa is very much like a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Any person traveling through Canada to another country from a non-visa-exempt country whose flight stops over in Canada for less than 48 hours must be in possession of a Transit Visa.

India is not among the five countries where transit without a visa is applicable. A visa-required traveler would originate from a visa-required country, and you would need a visitor’s visa when you

  • visit Canada (even if you’re transiting through the airport in Canada for less than 48 hours
  • stay in Canada for more than 48 hours while transiting
  • are crossing the border whether by bus, car, train, boat or cruise ship

You need a transit visa when:

  • your international flight has a stopover at an airport in Canada on route to any other country
  • you are connecting between two international flights at an airport in Canada
  • you are in transit inside of Canada for 48 hours or less,
  • you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Visa-exempt travelers are those from any Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)-required country. You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country. Travelers who need an eTA to visit Canada will also need an eTA to transit within an airport in Canada. Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must apply for and be issued an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through an airport in Canada and must produce a valid passport and a valid Green Card at check-in.

The Transit Visa is available at no fee. You cannot apply for the transit visa when you are already at the airport, however, much like you apply for Indian visa. The application must be made from your country of residence, and you cannot apply upon arrival in Canada. It is recommended that application for a transit visa for Canada be made a minimum of 30 days ahead of your departure. If you intend mailing the application, be sure to make an application at least eight weeks before departure.

The Transit Visa or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is available in three types: single entry, multiple entry, and transit. You will require the Transit Visa type. Simply go online, and complete two-page application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada or contact your nearest Canada Visa Office telephonically. At the top of the application form, select the box labeled “Transit.” Make sure you have all the required documents to send together with the application form to a Canada Visa Office. You can either mail the application or take it in personally.

Indian citizens also need an airport transit visa for Germany, but not if they hold a US valid visa. Frankfurt is one of the very few German airports in which travelers may remain within the International Transit Area without a visa, provided they do not stay there for a period longer than 12 hours. This airport transit privilege is revoked under certain circumstances, which would mean that travelers will need to get a visitor visa. These conditions are those travelers with an open ticket; those who collect their luggage or those who must check-in again; or travelers transiting through two or more airports within the Schengen Member States.

To apply for a Transit Visa for Germany, submit the completed application form and required documentation to the Germany visa application center, embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The process takes five working days at most. Submissions mustn’t be earlier than three months before transiting. A fee is charged for this visa, and the receipt must be retained as proof.