India to resume visa services in Canada for select categories from Thursday
Decision comes 'after a considered review of the security situation'
Decision comes 'after a considered review of the security situation'
Decision comes 'after a considered review of the security situation'
Decision comes 'after a considered review of the security situation'
India, on Wednesday, said it will resume visa services for select categories in Canada, suspended amid the diplomatic row between the two countries, from Thursday.
In a post on X, the High Commission of India in Canada said that services for entry visa, business visa, medical visa, and conference visa will resume from October 26.
An official communique stated that the high commission in Canada and its consulates general 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 for the following categories with effect from October 26, 2023:
(a) Entry visa,
(b) Business visa
(c)Medical visa, and
(d) Conference visa.”
The development comes days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India is looking at resuming visa services for Canadians "very soon" if it sees progress in the safety of its diplomats in Canada.
“Emergency situations will continue to be addressed by the High Commission and the Consulates General as it is being done currently” the statement read. Further decisions, as appropriate, would be intimated based on continuing evaluation of the situation, it added.
The relations between India and Canada took a hit after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged on September 18 that there was a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. A few days later, India announced that it is temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in India.