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New Delhi: In a major development, India announced on Thursday a gradual relaxation in visa and travel restrictions and allowed all foreign nationals, as well as all OCI and PIO cardholders, to travel to the country by air or sea. All of these people can now travel to India for any purpose except tourism.
The Home Office (MHA) said in a notification that such a relaxation applies to both foreigners and Indians wishing to enter or leave India.
“In view of the situation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India has taken a series of measures to curb the movement of international passengers in and out since February 2020. The Government has now decided to relax gradual on visas and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals and Indian citizens wishing to enter or leave India.
“Therefore, it has been decided to allow all OCI and PIO cardholders and all other foreign nationals who wish to visit India for any reason, except for a tourist visa, to enter by air or sea routes through airports. authorized and immigration checkpoints in seaports, ”the MHA statement said.
Foreign and Indian citizens can take advantage of the flights operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and Air Transport Bubble arrangements or any unscheduled commercial flight as permitted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to enter or leave the country.
However, all these travelers will need to follow the COVID-19 related guidelines issued by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The MHA further announced that all existing visas, except for the electronic visa, tourist visa and medical visa, are being restored with immediate effect.
“The Government of India has also decided to restore with immediate effect all existing visas (except e-visa, tourist visa and medical visa). If the validity of such visas has expired, new visas of the appropriate categories can be obtained in the corresponding Mission / Indian Post, ”said the MHA.
The statement reported that foreigners who wish to visit India to undergo medical treatment here can apply for a medical visa, even for their medical assistants.
“Therefore, this decision will allow foreign nationals to come to India for various purposes such as business, conference, employment, study, research, medical purpose, etc.,” the MHA said.
