Key Takeaways
• Harprit Singh, a Canadian national, arrested in India on May 16, 2025, for attempting entry without a valid visa.
• India has suspended all new visas for Canadians since September 2023 due to diplomatic tensions.
• Singh was prosecuted under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, detained, and faces jail or deportation for violating entry requirements.
A Canadian national named Harprit Singh was detained by Indian authorities on May 16, 2025, after he tried to enter India from Nepal without a valid visa. On that day, officers from the Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB), which is the force that handles security at India’s borders, found Harprit Singh at the Maitri bridge on the Raxaul border. This bridge is a key crossing point between Nepal and India and has an integrated customs check post where security checks are very strict.
The Detention: What Happened?
Harprit Singh traveled by taxi from Nepal toward India, hoping to cross into Indian territory at Raxaul in Bihar. However, when asked to show his documents, he did not have a valid Indian visa. Not having proper documents, such as a visa, is a major issue for anyone entering India, especially now as border security is tighter than ever.
After he was stopped at the bridge, the Sashashtra Seema Bal handed him over to immigration officers for further questioning and document checks. As reported by VisaVerge.com, after it was confirmed that Harprit Singh did not have a valid visa, he was booked under the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025. By May 17, he was sent to jail, showing how serious Indian officials are about following immigration laws.
Who is Harprit Singh?
During his interrogation, Harprit Singh explained that he is originally from Kapurthala, a city in Punjab. He said that he had worked in Canada as a laborer for about 11 years before finally returning to his home village in February 2023. After his return to India, he traveled to Nepal. However, while in Nepal, he said he was not able to purchase a plane ticket back to Canada. He also mentioned that he did not have a valid Nepali visa at this point, making it complicated for him to leave Nepal legally.
Because of his lack of valid travel documents for both India and Nepal, questions have been raised about his current citizenship status, his movements, and what exactly led him to try to cross back into India by land. The Indian authorities are now looking into these aspects as they continue their investigation.
Legal Consequences and What Law Applies
Harprit Singh’s case is being handled under India’s Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. This law makes it illegal for foreign nationals to enter or stay in India without valid documents like a passport and visa. Under this law:
- Foreigners must enter India only with a valid passport and a valid visa.
- Anyone found in the country without these documents can be arrested, fined, and detained.
- Sometimes, the penalty can even include time in jail, as happened with Harprit Singh.
Since Harprit Singh did not have a valid visa, the authorities could not allow him to enter India. He was first detained at the border and then, after checking his details, sent to jail while legal proceedings are carried out. An official complaint, called a First Information Report (FIR), was filed under the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
Why is This Happening Now? The Bigger Picture
To fully understand this situation, it is important to look at the current relationship between Canada 🇨🇦 and India 🇮🇳, especially around visa policies. In September 2023, India suspended all types of visas—including electronic visas and tourist visas—for Canadian citizens. This happened because of ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Right now, this means:
- Canadians cannot apply for new Indian visas, no matter the reason for travel (tourism, business, family visits, and so on).
- Only Canadian nationals who already hold a valid Indian visa, or who are registered as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), can travel to India.
- All other Canadians who try to get a visa for India have their applications refused.
- There have been other cases where Canadian nationals were caught, detained, or even sent back (deported) from India when they tried to enter without proper documents.
So, when Harprit Singh tried to cross into India with neither a valid visa nor currently legal status in Nepal, he broke several key border and document requirements.
India’s Entry Rules for Foreigners
India’s general rules for foreigner entry are very clear. The country says that anyone who is not a citizen, including Canadians, must have both:
- A valid passport—proof of identity, issued by your home country.
- A valid visa—a stamp or document in your passport that shows you have permission to enter and stay in India.
The only exception is for citizens of countries that have special visa-free agreements, but Canada 🇨🇦 is not on that list.
If any foreigner tries to enter India without both a passport and a valid visa, they will be stopped, interrogated, detained, and possibly prosecuted. Cases like Harprit Singh’s are not very common, but they do happen when travelers try to take short-cuts, avoid proper channels, or cross during times of strict policy.
For more detailed information about what documents are needed to travel to India, the official Indian Ministry of Home Affairs page provides current visa requirements and updates for foreign visitors.
Border Tensions and Security
Another reason this incident has drawn attention is because of the current atmosphere at the India-Nepal border. Over the last few years, India has increased its security at all major entry points, including Raxaul. This follows ongoing security operations and fears about possible illegal infiltration.
The Sashashtra Seema Bal, which works at all land borders, has set up more checks to stop illegal crossings. Those who try to cross into India from neighboring countries without documents face strict questioning, and officers have the authority to detain and arrest them on the spot, as happened with Harprit Singh.
Similar Incidents and Trends
Harprit Singh’s situation is not the first of its kind. Over the past year, there have been several other reported cases of Canadian citizens facing trouble at Indian borders or being detained within the country for violating visa rules. Many of these incidents are a direct result of the new, tougher policies put in place after September 2023.
For example:
- Some Canadians were deported from different states in India, such as Assam, after being found without proper documents or conducting activities not allowed under their visa types.
- There have also been cases where Canadians were accused of having the wrong type of visa for their activities, or their visas had expired.
- All of these cases resulted in arrest, detention, or deportation, underlining the strong line Indian authorities are taking on these matters.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that the number of border checks, detentions, and deportations has increased since the suspension of new visas for Canadians. The Raxaul crossing, in particular, has become a focus point for these strict rules due to being one of the busiest and most sensitive entry points between India and Nepal.
What Happens to Detained Foreigners?
When someone like Harprit Singh is detained by Indian officials, the process usually follows these steps:
- Border officers (like the Sashashtra Seema Bal) check documents and question the individual at the border.
- If the person does not have a valid passport and visa, they are handed over to local immigration authorities.
- The immigration officers make a report, verify the facts, and file an FIR under the relevant law.
- The person is kept in custody and, if required by law, sent to jail while the case is investigated.
- Courts may decide on further actions, which could include deportation from India, fines, or even jail time, depending on the findings.
In cases involving Canadians or others from countries with special visa suspensions, travel bans, or diplomatic conflicts, the actual outcome can be even more complicated and usually takes a long time to resolve.
Questions About Citizenship and Status
The fact that Harprit Singh had been away from India for so long before returning—and then found himself unable to leave Nepal—raises important questions for immigration authorities. They are checking to find out:
- Does he still have Indian citizenship, or is he a Canadian citizen only?
- Should he be treated as a foreigner or as a returned Indian citizen?
- Why was he in Nepal without a valid visa, and did he follow proper exit and entry procedures when traveling between countries?
These questions must be answered before the authorities can decide what to do next, including possible deportation, further detention, or even criminal prosecution.
Impact on Other Travelers and Indian Policy
The ongoing ban on new visas for Canadians means that no Canadian citizen can expect to receive a new visa for India right now. Only those who already held a valid visa before September 2023, or who have OCI status (a special program for people of Indian origin), are allowed to enter.
This suspension has made travel difficult for Canadians with family, business, or educational ties to India. It has also affected tourism and made Indians with relatives in Canada more cautious about cross-border plans.
Advice for Foreign Travelers
For anyone planning to travel to India—especially from countries like Canada 🇨🇦, where visa policies can change quickly—the following tips apply:
- Check for up-to-date visa and travel advisories from the Indian government or your own country’s foreign affairs website.
- Do not attempt to enter India at any border point without both a valid passport and valid visa.
- If you are in a third country (like Nepal), be sure your documents are in order before traveling.
- If you are unsure of the rules, check the official Indian government visa requirements before making any plans.
The Bottom Line
The case of Harprit Singh is a clear reminder that India strictly enforces its immigration laws and that entry without a valid visa, either from Canada 🇨🇦 or any other country, will result in serious legal action. These rules are especially strictly applied since the suspension of new Indian visas for Canadians.
Indian officials continue to keep tight control of their borders, especially with countries like Nepal, to prevent illegal entries and enforce the Immigration and Foreigners Act. For Harprit Singh and others in a similar situation, the penalties can be severe—ranging from being sent to jail, as happened here, to being deported from the country.
Travelers are encouraged to keep themselves fully informed about current visa rules and to never attempt to cross an international border without the legal paperwork needed by that country. For more detailed information on India’s requirements for foreign travelers, visit the official Indian Ministry of Home Affairs visa page.
This case shows how important it is to have all your documents, especially a valid visa, ready before traveling to India—or any other country that has strict border controls.
Learn Today
Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) → India’s border security force responsible for guarding land borders with Nepal and Bhutan and conducting immigration checks.
Visa Suspension → A government action that temporarily stops the granting of new visas to citizens of specific countries or regions.
Immigration and Foreigners Act → Indian legislation that regulates entry, stay, and removal of foreign nationals, with penalties for violations.
First Information Report (FIR) → A formal written document prepared by police detailing the initial account of a crime—required to begin legal proceedings.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) → A status allowing foreign citizens of Indian origin to live and work in India without a traditional visa.
This Article in a Nutshell
Harprit Singh, a Canadian citizen, attempted to enter India from Nepal without a valid visa in May 2025. Detained by Indian border security, his arrest highlights India’s strict immigration enforcement, especially after suspending new visas for Canadians. Compliance with visa requirements is crucial to avoid severe legal consequences and border detention.
— By VisaVerge.com
