Visa rules relaxed for Indian, foreign nationals; curbs on tourist visits

All visas suspended eight months ago due to nationwide lockdown have been restored in an effort to bring normalcy to the civil aviation sector.

Now, foreign nationals can come to India for purposes such as business, conferences, employment, studies, research, medical purposes etc.

A Union Home Ministry order said the government aims to ease visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign and Indian nationals in the days to come.

The existing visas, except electronic visa, tourist visa and medical visa, will be restored as part of the exercise.

The permission for Overseas Citizens of India, Persons of Indian Origin and foreign nationals to enter the country includes air or water routes, besides Vande Bharat Mission air transport arrangements.

The travelers, however, will have to follow the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry regarding quarantine and other Covid protocols.

“All OCI and PIO card-holders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose, except on a Tourist Visa, are permitted to enter by air or water routes through authorized airports and seaport immigration check posts,” the Home Ministry said in a statement.

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As per the new relaxations, if validity of the above mentioned visas has expired, fresh visas can be obtained from Indian mission or post concerned.

Earlier in February, the Covid-19 pandemic had compelled the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take a series of steps to curtail the inward and outward movement of international passengers.