India Issues Advisory For Restoration of Tourist Visa For Foreign Tourists

The Bureau of Immigration, Govt of India has issued an advisory for all airlines regarding the restoration of Tourist visas for foreign tourists arriving into the country. This comes after the Govt of India has reinstated the 5-year e-Tourist visa for visitors of 156 countries and regular paper visas for all countries.

It is worth mentioning that both tourists visas were suspended since March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. But now Nationals of these countries will also be eligible for the issuance of a fresh e-Tourist visa.

Restoration of Tourist visa for Foreign Tourists

• e-Tourist Visa under the three options (one month, one year and five years) which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored to nationals of 156 countries as indicated in Annexure with immediate effect. Nationals of these 156 countries will also be eligible for the issuance of fresh e-Tourist visas.

• Regular (Paper) valid Tourist visa issued to foreign nationals of all countries which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored. Fresh Regular (paper) Tourist Visa are also allowed to be issued by Indian Missions/Posts abroad to all foreign nationals

• Old valid Long duration (10 years) Regular Tourist Visa shall stand restored only for the nationals of the USA and Japan. Fresh Long duration (10 years) Tourist Visa can also be issued to the nationals of the USA and Japan.

• Long duration (10 years) Regular Tourist Visa issued to Canadian nationals before March 2020 will continue to remain suspended Canadian nationals will be eligible for fresh Regular Tourist Visa except for 10 years long duration Tourist Visa.

• The foreign nationals or Touristle-Tourist visa would be permitted to enter India only through designated Airports 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.

These instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to come on e-Emergency X-Misc. Visa.