NEW DELHI — The Union Government acknowledged in the Lok Sabha on Friday that Canada has delayed processing visa applications for several retired Government of India officials, including former Ministry of External Affairs officers who had previously served in Canadian diplomatic missions. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh confirmed that New Delhi has formally taken up the issue with Ottawa through diplomatic channels to resolve the pending cases.
Responding to a written query submitted by Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mala Roy, the Minister stated that the government is aware of specific instances where visa clearances for former Indian public servants faced prolonged processing times. The parliamentary inquiry sought clarification on whether a comprehensive list of affected personnel had been shared with Canadian authorities and whether the Ministry of External Affairs was evaluating reciprocal administrative measures in response.
While confirming ongoing bilateral dialogue on the issue, the government refrained from disclosing the exact number of pending applications or outlining potential reciprocal restrictions. The diplomatic engagement occurs amid broader efforts by both nations to stabilize bilateral relations and restore routine consular services following a prolonged period of diplomatic strain.
