India has reportedly resumed e-visa services to Canadian tourists and business travellers. India had temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. India has asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.
Following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s accusations in September of a “potential” role for Indian operatives. In the June 18 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Theties between India and Canada became severely strained.
India has rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
Days after Trudeau’s allegations in September, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens.
India resumed some visa services in Canada last month. More than a month after they were suspended. While India’s relaxation on visas may have raised some expectations of improved relations. It was not a breakthrough, as neither side has much incentive to hasten a return to normalcy, officials and experts in both countries said.
Canada expelled India’s intelligence chief in Ottawa. India quickly responded by halting 13 categories of visas for Canadians and cutting Canada’s diplomatic presence in India. A move Ottawa said violated the Vienna Conventions.
Then on October 25, New Delhi said it would resume issuing visas under four categories, a measure Indian officials said aims to help people of Indian origin travel to India during the wedding season beginning this month.
“This is not a thaw,” an Indian foreign ministry official told Reuters. “People can read whatever they want into it.”
Canada has the largest Sikh population outside Punjab, with 770,000 people reporting Sikhism as their religion in the 2021 census. India is by far Canada’s largest source of foreign students, accounting for 40% of study permit holders – a vital source for Canada’s fast-growing international education business, contributing over C$20 billion ($15 billion) to the economy annually.
