Government liberalises e-visa regime, makes it more tourist friendly
15 Feb 2019
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The ministry of tourism has announced important modifications to the e-tourist visa through a series of amendments in e-visa regime, liberalising it further and making it more tourist-friendly.
Accordingly, the duration of stay in India of e-tourist and e-business visas can be extended to a maximum of 1 year with multiple entry, subject to the stay stipulations.
Also, the existing restriction of allowing foreigner for a maximum of three times has also been removed.
On e-tourist visa continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 90 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa except nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan.
In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.
In all cases no registration will be required.
In case of business visas, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa.
No registration is required if the stay is for a period of less than 180 days.
E-Visa is valid for entry through two more designated airports (Bhubaneswar and Port Blair), which raises the total number of such airports to 28.
For attending destination wedding under normal e-tourist visa or tourist visa no separate category of destination wedding visa is required.
Foreign nationals who fall sick during their stay in India can now avail medical treatment without converting their visa into medical visa. This would take care of sudden medical emergencies.
Visa-on-arrival facility has now been extended to the nationals of Republic of Korea as well.
