India Has Resumed Providing Some Categories Of Visas To Canada
On Wednesday, India began offering some kinds of visas to Canadians again, after a month-long suspension due to tensions with the North American nation.
“Visa services for the following categories will be resumed with effect from October 26, 2023, following a thoughtful assessment of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian initiatives in this area. The Indian high commission in Canada advertised on X under the following categories: (a) entry visa, (b) business visa, (c) medical visa, and (d) conference visa.
The official statement also stated that “emergency situations will continue to be addressed by the High Commission and the Consulates General as it is currently done.”
India halted visa services for citizens of Canada on September 21 due to increased diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Tensions started after Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau claimed that India was involved in the June 2018 murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a member of the Khalistani movement. It came after both nations’ tit-for-tar expulsion of diplomats, which heightened tensions even more.
Speaking recently, S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, explained why India had ceased granting visas to residents of Canada. The minister had stated that the two nations’ relationship was going through a “difficult phase” and that “we stopped issuing visas in Canada some weeks ago because it was no longer safe for our diplomats to go to work to issue visas.” Thus, the main reason we had to temporarily halt the issuance of visas was to ensure their safety and security.
Additionally, Jaishankar stated that if improvements are made in the safety of its diplomats in Canada, India is considering “very soon” resuming visa services for Canadians.
