Canada visa and consular services now available only in Delhi

Canada's temporary suspension of visa and consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai has disrupted visa processing in India. It is reported that the Canadian High Commission in Delhi is the sole available location for these services. This move follows India's earlier suspension of visa processing in Canada.

Canada's updated travel advisory for India, as of October 19, expresses concerns about potential protests and negative sentiment towards Canada, particularly in Delhi and the National Capital Region. It also advises travellers to maintain a low profile, avoid sharing personal information with strangers, and be cautious in crowded areas and public transportation.
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In-person consular services are temporarily unavailable in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh, while services at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi continue. In India, Canada and the United Kingdom have made significant progress in returning visa processing to pre-Covid levels, while the US is still experiencing long wait times for visitor visa interviews. Several key Schengen countries have limitations on appointment availability.

Further, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also stated that Canadian observers may be contemplating the implications of activities in India, emphasising that India's choice will affect the extent of services provided at consulates in both nations.
He added that this decision will also impact in-person services at Canadian consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.

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Tensions between India and Canada escalated when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of having a link to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India strongly refutes these allegations and emphasises the need to address the presence of ‘terrorists and criminal elements’ in Canada as the core issue in their relationship.