New Delhi: Making “graded relaxation” in visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals and Indian nationals who wished to enter or leave India, the government today decided to permit all OCI and PIO card holders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose, except on a Tourist Visa, to enter through authorized airports and seaport immigration check posts. This includes flights operated under Vande Bharat Mission, Air Transport Bubble arrangements or by any non scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
All such travelers will, however have to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding quarantine and other health/COVID-19 matters.
Under this graded relaxation, all existing visas (except electronic visa, Tourist Visa and Medical Visa), would be restored with immediate effect.
“If the validity of such visas has expired, fresh visas of appropriate categories can be obtained from Indian Mission/Posts concerned. Foreign nationals intending to visit India for medical treatment can apply for a Medical Visa including for their medical attendants. Therefore, this decision will enable foreign nationals to come to India for various purposes such as business, conferences, employment, studies, research, medical purposes etc.,” the Home Ministry stated.
It may be mentioned that in view of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Government had taken a series of steps to curtail the inward and outward movement of international passengers since February, 2020.
– globalbihari bureau
