Bhoomika Singh
India has restored all currently valid five-year e-tourist visas given to citizens of 156 countries and regular paper visas to nationals of all countries with immediate effect, two years after their suspension following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Officials informed all currently valid old long duration (10 years) regular tourist visas for the US and Japan nationals have been restored with immediate effect, the Consulate General of India in Chicago said in a press release.
The press release stated that the fresh issue of regular long-duration (10 years) tourist visas has been restored for US nationals. It also reads that the e-tourist visas under three options (one month, one year, and five years), which were suspended since March 2020, shall be restored. And the application for fresh e-tourist visas for eligible nationals can now be made at the Indian E-visa portal.
While the current scheme of regular tourist visa/e-visa (one month stay only) on a gratis basis will continue. “Foreign nationals on tourist/e-tourist visas would be permitted to enter India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airport ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.”
The release firmly stated that no foreign nationals, in any case, will be allowed to enter through the land border or riverine routes on a Tourist visa/E-Tourist visa.
The government has decided that the currently valid e-tourist visa issued for five years, which was suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored to the nationals of 156 countries.
Reacting to the announcement, Vishal Suri, Managing Director at SOTC Travel feels it’s a positive announcement which is being highly appreciated across the tourism industry, more so as it comes on the back of the reopening of India’s international skies w.e.f March 27th.
“This welcoming move by the Government of India comes at a time when countries are also reopening their borders and similar announcements from other countries will inspire India’s outbound travellers. The positive announcement is reflective of the declining Covid caseloads and hence serves to boost confidence in travel thus significantly contributing to the revival of the travel & hospitality industry,” he says.
Madhavan Menon, MD at Thomas Cook (India) Limited also welcomes the step. “This announcement is an important step that gives impetus to the revival of inbound tourism and allied sectors, including hospitality and aviation; also local communities and tourist guides dependent on tourism for their livelihood,” he said.
Nationals of these 156 countries will also be eligible for issuance of fresh e-tourist visas as per the Visa Manual, 2019. The government instructions will not apply to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by the Union Home Ministry regarding grant of -e-Emergency X-Misc visa, the official said.
