The High Commission of India in Ottawa announced the resumption of select visa services in Canada starting from October 26th. The consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver will resume processing entry visas, business visas, medical visas, and conference visas, according to a press release from the High Commission.
Earlier, India had halted the issuance of visas in Canada due to safety concerns for its diplomats, as stated by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar. However, the decision to resume services indicates a step towards normalizing the visa process, despite recent tensions between India and Canada. This comes in the wake of strained relations, sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations involving the Indian government’s alleged role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
Meanwhile, Canada has temporarily suspended visa and in-person consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, shifting these services exclusively to the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has also reduced its workforce in India from 27 to 5 employees, potentially leading to delays in processing times and responses to inquiries for Indian citizens.
