EIG Global Alert: Updates on India and Canada Visa Operations

Following India’s suspension of visa operations for Canadian nationals one month ago, there have been further developments concerning Canada–India visa processing.

• Recent actions: Following India’s intent to revoke the diplomatic immunity for Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reduced its number of employees in India from 27 to 5, all of whom are stationed in New Delhi.

• What to expect: 

  • Canada has paused all in-person consular and visa services at consulates across India other than at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

  • The 5 Canada-based IRCC staff who remain in India will focus on work that requires an in-country presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and overseeing key partners. Visa Applicants can still submit biometrics.

  • The IRCC notes that the decreased staff size will create a backlog and some delays. They aim to return to normal processing times by early 2024.

• Go deeper: The large majority of applications from India are already processed outside the country, with 89% of India’s applications processed through the global network. Third-party Visa Application Center (VAC) operations, which include initial processing and document transmission, will be unaffected. Online visa applications to Canada, including for work permits, are largely processed in Canada at CIC Edmonton, which will continue.

• The bottom line: Clients in India should expect delays in overall processing and response times and to get their visa or passports returned.