Overview
- The government acknowledged on Friday that Canada has delayed processing visa applications for certain retired Indian government officials following a Lok Sabha question from MP Mala Roy.
- Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh described the cases as “specific instances” and said they include retired Ministry of External Affairs officers who previously served in Canada.
- India has taken the matter up with the Canadian government and says diplomatic engagement on the issue is ongoing, but it did not disclose how many people are affected or whether it may impose reciprocal steps.
- In the same written reply to Parliament the MEA also listed domestic passport-service upgrades, noting 93 Passport Seva Kendras and 456 Post Office PSKs are operational as part of efforts to speed travel-document processing.
- The disclosure adds to a recent pattern of strained India–Canada ties that have affected visa services and official exchanges and could prompt further diplomatic talks or operational changes in consular processing to resolve delays.