New Delhi: India has announced plans to resume visa services for specific categories amid the ongoing diplomatic crisis with Canada. The High Commission in Ottawa stated that services for entry, business, medical, and conference visas will be reinstated, starting from October 26.
“The High Commission of India in Ottawa and its Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver were constrained to suspend visa services temporarily because of safety and security considerations. After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it has been decided to resume visa services…” the Indian authorities wrote in a press release.
India resumes visa services in Canada for the following categories- Entry visa, Business visa, Medical visa and Conference visa: High Commission of India, Ottawa pic.twitter.com/mn8Q6dZSPK
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) October 25, 2023
Officials have clarified that emergency situations will still be handled by the High Commission and the Consulates General, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to addressing urgent matters.
Visa services were suspended in late September amid escalating tensions between the two nations.
The strain intensified after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of potential involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, listed as one of India’s most-wanted terrorists.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar mentioned on Sunday that the resumption of visa services to Canada is contingent on improvements in the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada. The suspension had been attributed to “safety and security considerations,” as emphasized in the media statement.
“If we see progress in safety of our diplomats in Canada, we would like to resume issuance of visas there,” Mr Jaishankar said on Sunday.
