The visa services are being resumed after a pause of almost two months
The Indian consulate in Canada has resumed e-visa services for Canadian residents. The announcement came on November 22, after a suspension that lasted over two months.
“Indian eVisa facility has been restored w.e.f. 22 November 2023, for all eligible Canadian citizens holding Regular/Ordinary Canadian passports. Holder of any other category of Canadian passport will need to apply for regular paper visa, in accordance with the existing modalities ,” read the statement issued by High Commission of India in Ottawa.
India had temporarily suspended the issuance of visas on September 21 after a diplomatic row with Canada erupted following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation about India’s involvement in killing a Canadian national. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated criminal in India, and supporter of the Khalistani movement was killed on June 18 in Surrey, Vancouver.
The issuance of visas to certain categories of visa-seekers like students, tourists, and journalists was completely stopped. However, in October, India resumed visa services for some categories like entry visas, medical visas, and conference visas.
Trudeau double-downed on the allegations made about India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing on November 12 saying Canada had reached out to India after learning about the allegations, for “getting to the bottom of this matter.” India’s Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar recently asked Canada to share evidence to back their allegations.
“And we have told them, if you have a reason to make such an allegation, please share the evidence with us. We are not ruling out an investigation and looking at anything which they may have to offer. They haven’t done so,” Jaishankar told veteran journalist Lionel Barber in a conversation titled ‘How a Billion People See the World’, during his recent visit to London.
