India has resumed electronic visa services for eligible Canadian nationals after a nearly two-month pause. The High Commission of India in Canada announced on Wednesday.
The notification released by the Indian High Commission in Canada reads, “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 – details may be found on the respective websites of the High Commission of India, Ottawa; Consulate General of India, Toronto and Consulate General of India, Vancouver.”
This recent development follows the renewal of specific visa services for Canadian citizens by India last month, following a temporary one-month ban. Last month, India eased the ban and resumed services for entry, business, medical, and conference visas for Canadian nationals. Ottawa then expressed satisfaction with the decision, referring to it as “positive news for Canadians.”
The current decision to reinstate e-visa services marks a notable effort to improve diplomatic ties between the two nations, which had been strained due to Canada’s accusations of Indian involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory earlier this year. The move could ease tensions between the two countries, which swapped accusations and expelled each other’s diplomats, with India introducing a visa ban on Canadian nationals.
