40,000 Foreigners Overstayed Their Invitation In India In 2020; What Are The Penalties?

New Delhi: More than 40,000 foreigners stayed back in India after expiry of their visas in 2020.

Despite a lengthy spell of COVID-induced nationwide lockdown and stringent restrictions on international travel, 32.79 lakh foreigners visited India.

Union Home Ministry data reveals that 54,576 foreign nationals lived in the country despite their visas expiring in 2019, while the number was 40,239 in 2020.

As many as 32,79,315 foreign nationals visited India between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, as per Home ministry statistics. The maximum number of foreigners during this period were from the United States (61,190), Bangladesh (37,774) and the UK (33,323).

Overstaying in India beyond the visa date can lead to a fine, imprisonment of up to five years and even a ban on entering the country again.

The penalty for overstaying in India beyond the visa validity date is nil for the first 15 days, Rs 10,000 for 16 to 30 days, Rs 20,000 for 31 to 90 days and Rs 50,000 if it is beyond 90 days.