New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, after considering various inputs, decided to begin granting of fresh tourist visas for the foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from October 15.
The foreign tourists entering into India by flights other than chartered aircraft would, however, be able to do so only with effect from November 15 on fresh tourist visas.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs in a release said all due protocols and norms relating to Covid-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time, shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations.
“With this, the restrictions placed on visa and international travel stand further eased given the present overall COVID-19 situation,” the release added.
Receiving representations from several state governments as well as various stakeholders in the tourism sector to start tourist visas to allow the foreign tourists to come to India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, therefore, consulted all major stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism and various state governments where the foreign tourists are expected to arrive.
Earlier last year, the Central government had due to Covid-19 suspended all visas granted to the foreigners besides imposing various other restrictions on international travel to arrest the spread of the pandemic.
After considering the evolving Covid-19 situation, the foreigners were later on allowed to avail any kind of Indian visa other than tourist visa for entry and stay in India.