Planning to work, study or sightsee in Canada? How diplomatic row may affect your trip

Planning a trip to Canada for pleasure? Or are you going there to work or study?

You might well be worried about your travel plans being affected given the deteriorating relations between the two countries.

India on Thursday said the current diplomatic row with Canada has been precipitated by the Trudeau government’s “baseless” allegations, and reiterated that “no evidence” has been shared in support of Ottawa’s serious allegations against New Delhi.

At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s own admission during a public inquiry tells the value of allegations levelled against India.

Testifying before the public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, Trudeau on Wednesday acknowledged that he had only intelligence and no “hard evidentiary proof” when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

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The MEA early on Thursday reacted to this and said what it has heard only “confirms” New Delhi’s consistent stand that Canada has “presented us no evidence” in support of the serious allegations Ottawa chose to level against India and Indian diplomats.

During the briefing, Jaiswal reiterated that so far no evidence has been shared by Canada.

“The current crisis (in India-Canada relationship) has been precipitated by the Trudeau government’s baseless allegations,” he said.

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Economic Times spoke to a number of persons in the travel industry who expressed concern that deteriorating relations between the two countries could make things more difficult for Indians.

They said Indians looking to go to Canada for a bout of sightseeing or to work and study could face more inspections and security checks, longer waits for visas to be processed.

Rajiv Mehra, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators, told the newspapers though travel advisories have not been updated yet, those going to meet friends and family could be affected if visa processing timelines decline.

Sohail Hanafi, director, Azura Holidays Pvt Ltd, added that Canada has long been favoured destination for Indians.

But things could change, Hanafi added.

“…recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have begun to impact these experiences. Stricter visa processing, heightened scrutiny, and uncertainty surrounding bilateral relations have caused concerns among prospective students and tourists,” he said. “While the number of Indian travellers has historically been robust, current diplomatic strain is likely to create hesitancy, particularly for students, who may reconsider their plans due to visa delays and geopolitical concerns. Tourism may also witness a slowdown, as travelers look for alternative destinations amid the diplomatic uncertainty,” he added

The Globe and Mail quoted Fazle Baki, president of the South Asian Centre of Windsor in southwestern Ontario, as saying that many families and students are worried about travelling between the two countries – particularly if visa services are suspended.

“They’re tense, they’re concerned, they’re frustrated with the lack of information and they’re looking for guidance,” he said in a phone interview.

India in September 2023 had suspended visa services for Canadians after the government claimed there were ‘credible allegations’ that India was involved in Nijjar’s killing.

India in October had begun easing some curbs for those applying for business, medical and conference visas. In November, curbs for tourists, students and other groups were lifted.

Khursheed Ahmed, president of the South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region, added that a visa suspension would affect the community.

“October, November is the festive time in India,” he said. “There are lots of family weddings and a lot of people travel, so they will definitely be very inconvenienced.”

India, in turn, could become a less attractive destination for Canadians, experts say.

“It will impact the inbound tourist flow. Unlike outbound or domestic numbers is yet to reach pre-Covid levels and we were hoping that this year would see some significant recovery. Tourism aids soft diplomacy, but in times of conflict and discord, it is the first sector that gets impacted,” said Ajay Prakash, board member of Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) told the Economic Times.

CNBC quoted Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly as saying “everything is on the table” after India alleged that Canada was harbouring Khalistani terrorists.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla, ex-US ambassador, told the outlet India would not be affected by sanctions.

“We should be able to deal with sanctions if they are thrown at us now. A decade or two decades ago, it was different, but this is a new India. We are a confident India, and I don’t think we will be intimidated by threats or coercion of this nature.”

Shringla warned of a ‘fitting response’ from New Delhi if Ottawa chooses to act thus.

Punjab families worried

Kunal Saini says he can see his dream of studying in Canada going up in smoke. Arvind Sharma fears he might not get a visa to visit his son in the country so far away. And shopkeepers say the NRI season might not bring the profits they are so looking towards.

Anxiety is the subtext across large swathes of Punjab where lakhs of families have a strong connect with the North American country, some whose children are studying there or aspiring to, others whose kin chose to settle down there for better jobs and money.

The escalating diplomatic row between India and Canada has left many families back home worried.

Canada is one of the most favourite countries for Punjabis to study and settle down there.

A number of people of the Doaba region, comprising Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr), are settled abroad, mostly in Canada, the USA and the UK.

Reacting to the fresh development, Kunal Saini (21), resident of Gautam Nagar in Hoshiarpur, expressed his worry over the situation, stating that his dream of studying in Canada now feels uncertain.

His sister, Kanika Saini, who moved to Canada three years ago on a student visa, has been keeping him informed about the challenges the Indian students are already facing there.

She told her brother that the Canadian government has imposed stricter restrictions, especially limiting students to 20 hours of work per week.

This has particularly affected those from modest backgrounds, as they struggle to meet their living expenses with limited part-time job opportunities.

Given the current situation, Kunal has reluctantly decided to abandon his plans of studying in Canada and is now exploring other options for higher education.

In September this year, the Canadian government announced a reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025. It reduced study permits by 10 per cent from the 2024 target of 4.85 lakh new student permits.

According to estimates, Punjab accounts for around 70 per cent of the total Indian students who go to Canada.

Arvind Sharma, a resident of Red Road in Hoshiarpur who owns a stationery shop, voiced concerns over the uncertainty facing Indians in Canada.

His son, Gopal Sharma, who obtained permanent resident status there, is also affected by the tension between the two countries.

Arvind fears that the ongoing diplomatic standoff could make it difficult for Indians, both in Canada and India, to secure visas to visit their relatives.

Another local resident Gulshan Batra said his daughter Sabhy Batra moved to Canada from Hoshiarpur a year ago on a study visa to pursue an interior design course.

Gulshan, who runs an electronic goods shop, said Sabhy has expressed concern over Canada’s recent policy changes, which include reducing permanent residency nominations and limiting study permits.

Similarly, Rajesh Marwaha, whose son Shubham Marwaha went to Canada on a study visa seven months ago, is concerned over the manner in which the diplomatic fallout will affect his son’s future.

Rajesh owns a crockery shop in Hoshiarpur.

In Kapurthala, Rishipal, Amandeep and Madan Lal, all local residents whose wards are studying in Canada, said their children were already facing problems in getting extension in work permits. While Rishipal and Amandeep are shop owners, Madan Lal is a retired government employee.

The three are facing problems in securing visitor visas to meet their wards in Canada, they said.

In Phagwara, a local resident, seeking anonymity, said both the countries should resolve their issues amicably.

“I am exploring other options in the wake of the diplomatic war between the two countries,” said a student on condition of anonymity.

A showroom owner in Phagwara said, “The season of NRI visits to their homeland has begun. Shops of goldsmiths, cloth merchants and other wares do quick business during the season as hordes of NRIs flock Punjab, especially Doaba and do liberal shopping.

“But the bitterness in the India-Canada relationship will cause uncertainty and there is every possibility of many NRIs from Canada deferring their visits due to it, resulting in dim business activities,” he said.

Inderpal Singh, a travel agent in Kapurthala, said there is already a waiting period of four to six months for getting visitor visas for parents who want to meet their wards in Canada.

In Amritsar, another travel agent Prabhjot Kaur echoed similar sentiments, saying the visa sanctioning process between India and Canada will be affected due to the worsening relations between the two countries.

With inputs from agencies