Canada offers 24-hour clearance for Indian business visas

Canada has announced a more liberal business visa regime for Indian businessmen as it seeks to catch up with other industrialised nations in boosting trade with India. The new visa regime was announced by the government in Toronto close on the heels of the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney said under the new system, applications from Indian citizens for business visas will be cleared within 24 hours. The express visa service offers multiple entry visas to applicants.

Along with the liberal visa regime, Toronto has also announced that a new nuclear cooperation pact is on the fast track, along with a mutual investment protection agreement. The nuclear agreement will pave the way for supply of enriched uranium for India's civil nuclear energy needs.