The situation has improved relatively, says Jaishankar, after India resumed e-Visa services for Canadians
The move to restore e-visa services comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada.
New Delhi: A day after e-Visa services were restored for Canadian citizens, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said visa issuance had been temporarily suspended as the situation in Canada has made it “difficult for our diplomats to do the necessary work to do.” After the virtual G20 leaders’ summit on Wednesday, Jaishankar said physical visas have started in many categories.
“Regarding the E-visa, first of all it had nothing to do with the G20 meeting. What had happened was that we had temporarily suspended the issuance of visas because the situation in Canada was making it difficult for our diplomats to honestly go to the office and do the necessary work for processing visas,” Jaishankar said.
“As the situation has become safer or relatively improved. “I think we have found it possible for visa services to resume gradually,” he added.
Commenting further, the minister said: “…And you know, the physical visa has started in many categories.”
The development comes as India resumed electronic visa services for eligible Canadian citizens, the High Commission of India in Canada announced on Wednesday.
The notification released by the Indian High Commission in Canada reads: “The Indian eVisa facility has been restored on November 22, 2023 for all eligible Canadian citizens holding a regular/ordinary Canadian passport.”
“Holder of any other category of Canadian passport will have to apply for a regular paper visa, in accordance with existing modalities – details can be found on the respective websites of the High Commission of India, Ottawa; Consulate General of India, Toronto and Consulate General of India, Vancouver,” it added.
The move to restore e-visa services comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada. Earlier in September, the Indian Mission in Canada suspended visa services until further notice due to operational reasons, BLS International said.
BLS International Services Limited is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa, passport, consular, attestation and citizen services.
“Important message from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, Indian visa services have been suspended with effect from September 21, 2023 until further notice. Continue to check the BLS website for further updates,” the BLS website said.
However, in October, India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation, “taking into account some recent Canadian measures in this area.” Entry visas, business visas, medical visas and conference visas were four categories in which India decided to resume visa services in Canada with effect from October 26.
Notably, ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier this year. Nijjar was shot dead outside Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18.
(With inputs from ANI)