India Restores valid e-tourist visas to 156 countries after 2 years

The Indian government has resumed all currently valid five year e-tourist visas for citizens of 156 countries and regular paper visas for all nationals of all countries with immediate effect, two years after they were suspended following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Furthermore, all valid long-term (10-year) regular tourist visas for US and Japanese citizens have been restored.

In addition, US and Japanese citizens will be issued a long-term tourist visa (10 years).

The government has decided that currently valid e-tourist visas, which had been suspended since March 2020, will be restored to citizens of 156 countries, an official told PTI.

A fresh e-tourist visa can also be issued to citizens of these 156 countries according to the 2019 Visa Manual.

Foreign nationals of all countries are eligible for the current valid regular (paper) tourist visas with a validity of 5 years, which have been suspended since March 2020.

The official said that tourists from the eligible countries will also be issued fresh regular (paper) tourist visas with a validity up to five years, subject to any restrictions that may be imposed.

As of March, 2020, the USA and Japan will also be able to renew their old long duration (10 years) regular tourist visas that have been suspended.

In addition, USA and Japan nationals can apply for a fresh, long-term (10-year) tourist visa.

For foreign nationals on tourist and e-tourist visas, entry into India will be through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (IPs) or Airport Immigration Check Posts (ICPs), including flights under the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Tourist visas or e-tourist visas are not allowed to enter through the land border or riverine routes.

According to the official, the government directive will not apply to Afghan nationals, who will be subject to the separate directives issued by the Union Home Ministry regarding the grant of an e-Emergency X-Misc visa.