NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of the Interior announced on Thursday a relaxation of visa and travel restrictions for foreign nationals and Indians wishing to enter or leave the country.
Except for electronic and tourist visas, the ministry has said that it is restoring, with immediate effect, all visa categories that will allow foreign citizens, Indians, as well as those who hold Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards. , as well as Persons of Indian Origin Cardholders (PIO) to enter the country through authorized airports and seaport immigration checkpoints.
The visa categories with which people can now enter India include business, conference, employment, study, research and medical purposes, the ministry said.
In the case of a foreign national who wishes to visit India for medical treatment, he will need to apply for a new visa in this category, the ministry said. If approved, an assistant to the person wishing to receive medical treatment will also receive a visa, he added.
The decision is seen as part of a series of measures aimed at supporting others already taken to achieve normality and stimulate economic growth after a strict lockdown earlier this year that paralyzed economic activity.
“The government has now decided to gradually relax visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals and Indian nationals who wish to enter or leave India,” the statement issued by the Interior Ministry said.
“Therefore, it was decided to allow all OCI and PIO cardholders and all other foreign nationals who intend to visit India for any reason except for a tourist visa to enter by air or sea routes through from authorized airports and immigration checkpoints in seaports. ” He said.
“This includes flights operated under the Vande Bharat Mission, Air Transport Bubble agreements or any unscheduled commercial flights as permitted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the statement said. The reference was to “air bubble deals” with more than a dozen countries including Bangladesh, Oman, Kenya, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. As of October 14 , India had established such agreements with 17 countries.
However, a warning sounded that all travelers entering India will have to comply with the government’s stipulations on quarantine and covid-19 testing.
“All of these travelers, however, will have to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding quarantine and other health / covid-19 matters,” he said.
The easing of visa rules comes nearly seven months after India imposed some of the strictest rules to stop the transmission of Covid-19 in a country of more than 1.3 billion people. India imposed a complete blockade on March 24 that lasted until early June.
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