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Indians in Canada

The High Commission and consulates, BLS centres for passport and OCI, tax rules on both sides and help when things go wrong, in one place.

Indian embassy and consulates

• High Commission of India, Ottawa · +1 613 744 3751; Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm
• Passport, visa and OCI questions · +1 613 755 2072
• Consulate General of India, Toronto · Check which office covers your province
• Consulate General of India, Vancouver · Check which office covers your province

Outsourced service centres

• BLS International Canada · Passport, visa and OCI applications
• OCI in person only · From 5 April 2026, no OCI applications by post
• BLS walk-in centres · Brampton, Halifax, Mississauga, Toronto, Winnipeg
• BLS charges · Service fees on top of government fees

Welfare and emergency help

• MADAD · Complaints and help requests to Indian missions
• Passport Seva · Passport rules and status

Local emergency numbers

• Emergency · 911 for police, fire and ambulance
• Suicide crisis helpline · 988, call or text
• Health advice line · 811 in most provinces, free advice from a nurse

Tax and money

• Foreign property over C$100,000 (Form T1135) · Report Indian property and accounts to the CRA
• India-Canada tax treaty (DTAA) · Avoid paying tax twice on the same income
• NRE and NRO accounts (RBI) · How NRI bank accounts work
• Income tax e-filing (India) · File your Indian ITR, see Form 26AS and AIS, track refunds

Rules that matter to Indians

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · Permits, PR and citizenship
• OCI card: apply, renew or update · Online OCI services from the Government of India
• Give up Indian citizenship · Renunciation and surrender certificate after taking another citizenship

Key dates

• Canadian tax returns due · 30 April for most people
• Indian income tax return · 31 July for most NRIs