NEW DELHI: Indian Govt. announced to restore all categories of tourist visas for foreign nationals, as international travel was suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
An order issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Tuesday said it has considered the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions keeping in view the improvement in the Covid-19 situation in India.
The ministry said that the valid e-tourist visas issued for five years shall stand restored to nationals of 156 countries with immediate effect. Fresh five-year e-tourist visas to the citizens of these 156 countries will also be issued.
The regular paper tourist visa, which has a validity of five years and is issued to nationals of all the countries, has also been restored. Similarly, long-duration 10-year regular tourist visa to the citizens of the United States and Japan has also been restored and new ones will be issued with immediate effect, the ministry said.
All these visas were suspended in March 2020, when regular international flights were stopped.
However, all land and riverine borders, including the Attari-Wagah post along Pakistan, will continue to remain shut, except for those with special permission. The Ministry said that the “instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals” who will continue to be governed by e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous Visa.
Earlier in October 2020, a graded relaxation in visa and travel restrictions was done for foreign and Indian nationals, who wanted to come to India for business, conferences, employment, studies and research purposes except for the tourist visas.
The tourist visas were opened for the first time in 18 months from November 15 last year but that too only for travel in chartered flights.
Tuesday’s order, which has been shared with the Indian embassies, said the foreign nationals on tourist/e-tourist visas may enter India only through designated sea immigration check posts (ICPs) or airports by flights, including those under Vande Bharat mission or ‘air bubble’ or by any other flights.
The government has already decided to allow regular international flight operations from March 27. Scheduled international flight services have remained suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The order said in no case, the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter the country through the land border or riverine routes on tourist visas. A separate order will be issued for the opening of land borders soon.
“All categories of visas are now allowed to travel to India,” said an MHA official, requesting anonymity.