PRESS RELEASE
RESTORATION OF TOURIST/E-TOURIST VISA FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS
Keeping in view the improvement in covid situation in India, Government of India has relaxed visa and travel restrictions in the following ways:-
(i) Currently valid e-Tourist Visa issued for five years, which was suspended since March 2020, shall now stand restored to nationals of 156 countries.
ii) Currently valid Regular (Paper) valid Tourist visa with validity of 5 years, issued to foreign nationals of all countries, which remained suspended since March, 2020, shall now stand restored. Fresh regular (Paper) Tourist Visa up to 5 years validity may also be issued to the nationals of the elible countries subject to the restrictions imposed from time to time.
(iii) Currently valid old valid Long duration (10 years) Regular Tourist Visa which remained suspended since March, 2020 shall stand now restored for the nationals of USA and Japan. Fresh long duration (10 years) Tourist Visa can also be issued to nationals of USA and Japan.
2. Foreign nationals on Tourist/e-Tourist Visa would be permitted to enter India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airport ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation of India. In no case foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through Land border or riverine routes on Tourist Visa/E-Tourist Visa.
3. These instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by this Ministry regarding grant of e-Emergency X-Misc, Visa.
4. In respect of quarantine and all other health Covid -19 related matters, extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India shall be adhered to.
