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CANADA – Visas to India Suspended
September 29, 2023
A diplomatic row between Canada and India has led to a suspension of visa issuance, keeping many people from traveling between the two countries.
The crisis began after the Canadian government accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder of a Sikh activist living in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the step of publicly accusing India of involvement in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who India considered a criminal for his advocacy of an independent Sikh nation within India.
In response, India stopped processing visas for Canadians wishing to travel to India, both within India and in third-party countries. Existing valid visas for travel to India are still being honored. But the move has prevented many nationalized Canadian citizens of Indian descent from traveling back to India. Many of these Canadian-Indians were making plans to travel to India for the festival of Diwali which takes place in November.
Canada has not placed any restrictions on Indians traveling to Canada and is still processing visa requests in India.
The two countries have also reduced the size of the other’s diplomatic missions in their countries, and negotiations on a free-trade agreement between Canada and India have been suspended.
Immigration Insights
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they are available.
