Visa Services for Canadians to India Remain Suspended in Multiple Categories

In an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, the issuance of visas in nine specific categories for Canadian travelers remains suspended. This development was confirmed by an update from Ottawa to its travel advisory, indicating the persistence of diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

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In an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, the issuance of visas in nine specific categories for Canadian travelers remains suspended. This development was confirmed by an update from Ottawa to its travel advisory, indicating the persistence of diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Visa services for Canadians to India have been suspended since September 21 as a result of heightened diplomatic tensions. However, on October 25, India resumed visa services in certain categories, offering a ray of hope for Canadian citizens. The categories that have resumed include entry, business, medical, and conference visas.

Regrettably, nine categories are still excluded from the resumption of visa services. These categories are tourist, employment, students, film, missionary, and journalist visas. The decision to keep these categories suspended was made after a thorough review of the security situation, which took into account recent Canadian measures in this regard.

The Canadian Government issued a statement emphasizing that the information provided by the Indian authorities is subject to change, which indicates the fluid nature of this diplomatic situation.

India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, clarified that only four categories have been resumed, in line with the press release from the Indian High Commission. The suspension of visa services had been a necessary measure due to safety and security considerations.

The Indian High Commission, along with the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, highlighted that further decisions regarding visa services would be based on the ongoing evaluation of the situation.

It's worth noting that while e-visas are available for citizens of 165 countries, Canada is not on the list. The issuance of e-visas for Canadians was resumed in December of the previous year after a suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The suspension of visa services on September 21 was a direct consequence of escalating tensions in the relationship between the two countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement in the House of Commons on September 18, which mentioned "credible allegations" of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, triggered a series of diplomatic actions.

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As a result, both countries expelled one diplomat each. Subsequently, 41 Canadian diplomats were pulled from India, leading to a further deterioration of diplomatic relations. Canada described it as a "mass expulsion" of its diplomats, while India argued it sought "parity" in the number of diplomats.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was associated with the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June. India accused Nijjar of being a terrorist, but these allegations were never tested in a Canadian court, and Canada has not provided any evidence of India's involvement in his killing.

The persistent suspension of visas in nine categories underscores the ongoing strain in the diplomatic relationship between Canada and India.