Tourist visas to foreigners to resume from 15 October

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday announced that granting of fresh tourist visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights will commence from 15 October. Foreign tourists entering India by flights other than chartered aircraft would be able to do so only with effect from 15 November on fresh tourist visas, the Ministry said in a statement. “All due protocols and norms relating to Covid-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) from time to time shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations,” read the statement.

With this move, the Ministry said that the restrictions placed on visa and international travel stand further eased given the present overall Covid-19 situation. The MHA has decided to grant fresh tourist visas for foreigners coming to India after considering various inputs. The move followed representations from several state governments as well as various stakeholders in the tourism sector to start tourist visas also, to allow foreign tourists to come to India. Therefore, the MHA consulted all major stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism and various state governments where foreign tourists are expected to arrive. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all visas granted to foreigners were suspended last year.

Various other restrictions were also imposed on international travel by the Central government to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. After considering the evolving Covid-19 situation, foreigners were later on allowed to avail any kind of Indian visa other than a tourist visa for entry and stay in India.