Parliament Question: Visa for Retired Government Employees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3353 ANSWERED ON - 07/08/2026 VISA FOR RETIRED GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

3353. SMT. MALA ROY

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government of India is aware that the Government of Canada has been holding back visa applications of retired Government employees of India, especially those who served in the Ministry of MEA and were posted in Canada;

(b) if so, whether a list of such cases has been prepared and the matter has been taken up with the Government of Canada; and

(c) whether the Government of India has considered or initiated any reciprocal measures to counter the delayed processing of visa applications by the Government of Canada? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) 1(a) to (c) Yes, Government is aware of specific instances of delays in the processing of visa applications by the Government of Canada, including those of retired Government of India officials and retired officials of the Ministry of External Affairs who had previously served in Canada.

India and Canada remain engaged on this matter. ***** 2