India will grant visa on arrival to tourists of five countries
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 01, 2010
For the first time Indian government has introduced visa on arrival scheme for tourists of five countries including Japan and New Zealand. This is to facilitate bonafied foreign tourists who plan to visit India at a short notice.
The other three countries are Singapore, Finland, and Luxembourg. Surprisingly this facility is not being offered to the tourists from the US and UK.
External Affairs Ministry said that the scheme has been introduced for one year on experimental basis. The visa will have the maximum validity of 30 days and single entry facility will be granted by the immigration Officers at Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata airports.
The rule of a gap of two months between two visits will apply to only tourists visa holders.
This restriction will not apply to persons of Indian origin or overseas citizens of India card holders as well as foreigners holding business employment, students and other categories of visa.
The government has also slightly relaxed the visa rules for the tourists who use India as a hub and visit neighbouring countries.
In such cases, if the itinerary shows visits to India and other countries as part of the same trip, the government has allowed the Visa Issuing Authorities to relax the 60 day period of break and permit up to three entries into India.
For others however after the tourist visits India and leaves the country, there has to be a break of 60 days before he or she can apply for another tourist visa.
