India and Canada have restored their e-visa issuance for Canadian nationals, signaling an improvement in their diplomatic ties. This resumption follows a period of suspension due to a dispute arising from Ottawa's accusation of potential Indian government involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that this decision was a logical outcome of the improved situation.
During a press conference after the conclusion of the Virtual G20 Leaders' Summit, Jaishankar clarified, "The resumption of E visa issuance had no direct correlation with the G20 meeting." He explained that the temporary suspension earlier was due to difficulties faced by Indian diplomats in Canada, hindering their ability to process visas and carry out essential tasks.
The Indian Mission in Canada had temporarily ceased visa services in September for operational reasons, as stated by BLS International, the Indian outsourcing service provider handling government and diplomatic missions globally. The BLS website had notified, "Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice from September 21, 2023, due to operational reasons. Please refer to the BLS website for updates."
However, in October, India chose to resume visa services for four specific categories after assessing the security situation and considering recent measures implemented by Canada. The reinstated categories encompass entry visas, business visas, medical visas, and conference visas, with services back in operation from October 26.
Breaking News India Resumes EVisa Services For Canadians After 2 month Break