Canada temporarily pauses visa, consular services in Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Canada has temporarily suspended consular services in three Indian cities including Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. The in-person services will be available in the High Commission of Canada in India located in New Delhi.

The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi updated its travel advisory for India wherein it urged its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

“Exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas. If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa,” read the India travel advice.

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The travel advice page of Canada informed about the suspension of services in a post on X.

Canadians in #India. Consular services in person are temporarily unavailable in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in person at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi will remain available. Read more here: https://t.co/IRFMSqPtJB pic.twitter.com/gkAN5AayqD

— Travel.gc.ca (@TravelGoC) October 19, 2023

On security situation, the advisory read that in view of the recent developments between the two countries, there are calls for protests and some “negative sentiment” towards Canada in traditional media and on social media. “Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them,” it added.

The Canadian government has also withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after they were threatened to have their diplomatic immunity stripped according to Canadian foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly. "Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our consulates in Chandigarh and Mumbai and Bangalore," she said in a press conference in Ottawa.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms. India asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.