India restores valid e-visa to 156 countries; regular visas to all; 10 yrs visa to the US, Japan nationals

India is open fully again, following the restoration of all visas: GOI

March 16, 2022

India is open for tourism again, as all regular visas are restored

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. Union Home Ministry officials also said all currently valid old long duration (10 years) regular tourist visas are given to nationals of the US and Japan have been restored. Fresh long duration (10 years) tourist visas will also be issued to the US and Japanese nationals.

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. Nationals of these 156 countries will also be eligible for issuance of fresh e-tourist visas as per the Visa Manual, 2019. Currently, a valid regular (paper) tourist visa with a validity of 5 years, issued to foreign nationals of all countries, which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored.

Fresh regular (paper) tourist visas up to five years validity will also be issued to the nationals of the eligible countries subject to the restrictions imposed from time to time, the officials said. Currently, valid old long duration (10 years) regular tourist visa which too remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored for the nationals of the USA and Japan. Fresh long duration (10 years) tourist visas will also be issued to the nationals of the USA and Japan.

The foreign nationals on tourist and e-tourist visas will be able to enter into India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (IPs) or Airport 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, the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through the land border or riverine routes on a tourist visa or e-tourist visa.

The Government instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by the Union Home Ministry regarding the grant of e-Emergency X-Misc visa, the officials said.

[with PTI inputs]

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