India has opted to reinstate visa services for specific categories of Canadian citizens, encompassing Entry Visa, Business Visa, Medical Visa, and Conference Visa. This decision comes after a recent suspension of visa services to Canadians, which occurred in the midst of escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.
The Indian High Commission of India in Canada, in a notification on Wednesday, said, "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 reinstatement of visa services will take effect on Thursday, October 26.
On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that if Indian diplomats are guaranteed safety in Canada in accordance with the Vienna Convention, he would "very much like to resume visa issuance."
He explained that India had halted visa issuance in Canada due to concerns about the safety of our diplomats while carrying out their duties.
India suspended the issuance of new visas to Canadians in September after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted having "credible" allegations of potential involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau alleged that his country's national security officials had grounds to suspect that the murder was carried out by "agents of the Indian government." In response to Canada's claims, India labeled them as "absurd" and "politically motivated."
