Delhi: India on Wednesday restored all currently valid 5-year e-tourist visas, issued to citizens of 156 countries, suspended since March 2020. The move comes in just a days ahead of the resumption of regular international commercial flights.
The union government has also restored the regular paper visa for all nations with immediate effect.
The decision comes two years after the visas were suspended in March 2020 due to an outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Along with the 5-year visas, long-duration (10 years) tourist visas have also been restored for the citizens of the US and Japan and they will also be eligible for issuance of fresh visas.
An official said that all currently valid e-tourist visas issued for five years would stand restored to nationals of 156 eligible countries with immediate effect.
Citizens of these 156 counties will also be eligible for issuing a fresh e-tourist visa. Regular (Paper) tourist visa with validity of 5 Years, issued to foreign nationals of all countries, shall also stand restored.
Fresh regular (Paper) tourist visa up to 5 years validity may also be issued to the citizens of the eligible countries subject to the restrictions imposed from time to time, said the official.
Currently valid old Long duration (10 years) Regular Tourist Visa which remained suspended since March 2020 shall stand restored for the nationals of USA and Japan.
Fresh Long duration (10 years) Tourist Visa can also be issued to the nationals of USA and Japan, said the official.
The Foreign nationals of tourist/ e-tourist visas may enter into India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airports ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation.
In no case will foreign nationals be allowed to enter through Land borders or riverine routes on a tourist visa/e-tourist visa. Order for opening Land ICPs and riverine routes will be communicated separately.
As per the official notification, these instructions will not apply to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by this Ministry regarding grant of e-Emergency X-Misc. Visa.
All other health/ COVID-19 related matters, extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be adhered to.
