Post Third COVID Wave, India Restores All Categories Of Tourist Visas

New Delhi: Now that the Omicron-driven third wave of COVID-19 pandemic is under control, the Union government has decided to restore all categories of tourist visas for foreign nationals almost two years after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

There are 21 categories of visas issued by India including tourist visa, medical visa, business visa, conference visa, student and research visa, missionary visa, film visa, journalist visa, sports visa, intern visa, reported Hindustan Times.

“All categories of visa holders are now allowed to travel to India,” Hindustan Times quoted an MHA official as saying.
Last October, the Centre had welcomed back foreign tourists but with a rider.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now said in an order that it considered the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions because of the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country. The number of daily coronavirus cases has come down below 3000.

The decision was taken after consultations with Union Civil Aviation, Tourism, Health, External Affairs ministries and state governments.

The MHA stated on Tuesday that e-tourist visas which had been issued for five years will stand restored to nationals of 156 countries with immediate effect. Also, fresh five-year e-tourist visas to citizens of these 156 countries will again be issued.

The regular paper tourist visa, issued to nationals of all countries and has a validity of five years, has also been restored.
Long duration (10-year) regular tourist visa to citizens of the US and Japan are also being restored.

As per the MHA order, foreign nationals on tourist/e-tourist visas may enter India only through designated sea immigration check posts (ICPs) or airports by flights, including those under Vande Bharat mission or ‘air bubble’ or by any other flights.
The Centre has announced that regular international flight operations will be allowed from March 27.