In diplomatic thaw, India resumes e-visa services for Canadians

Last month, India had restored visa services in some categories including entry visa, business visa, medical visa and conference visa. But tourist visas have still not been restored for Canadian citizens.

“What had happened was that we had temporarily suspended visa services… because the situation in Canada made it difficult for our diplomats to go to office and do the necessary work for assessing visa. As the situation there has become more secure or relatively improved, I think we have found it possible for the visa services to progressively resume. The physical visa had started in many categories. So at that time itself we had said, we will be looking at… so I think it was a logical step,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, responding to questions on the issue.

This is being perceived as a major de-escalatory move by India, a potential “door-opener” though Trudeau and his government have not withdrawn his allegation, which was dismissed by Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Earlier, when India had suspended visa services, New Delhi had said the High Commission of India in Ottawa and its Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver were constrained to take the decision because of safety and security considerations.

Following the diplomatic spat, Delhi had asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India. Last month, Canada had announced that it had pulled out 41 diplomats from India and halted its visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and these services would now be available only at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

Canada is the fourth biggest source of foreign arrivals in India. In 2021, it accounted for 5.3 per cent (80,437) of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs). Of these, 72.6 per cent were people of Indian origin, 2.5 per cent were tourists, 1.1 per cent were travelling on business/ professional work, 0.3 per cent for medical reasons, 0.1 per cent were students, and 23.4 per cent for other reasons.

“Opening of visas for Canada, which is one of the largest source markets, would be a booster shot for in-bound tourism. Hopefully, by January, the tourist flow from Canada will begin,” said Rajiv Mehra, president, IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators).

With inputs from Divya A