TOURIST VISA – IMPORTANT UPDATES !!!

Restoration of Tourist/ e-Tourist Visa for Foreign Tourists to India

Ministry of Home Affairs, vide its Office Memorandum dated 14 th March 2022 has further relaxed the visa and travel restrictions. Accordingly, with immediate effect it has been decided that :

(i) 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 (list attached) with immediate effect. Nationals of these 156 countries (list attached) will also be eligible for issuance of fresh e-Tourist visa.

(ii) 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 the Indian Missions/posts abroad to all foreign nationals.
Note: There are separate procedures for Chinese nationals.

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

3. The foreign nationals on Tourist / e-Tourist Visas 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.

4. These instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by MHA regarding grant of e-Emergency X- Misc. Visa.

5. In respect of quarantine and all other health/ COVID- 19 related matters, extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be adhered to.

List of 156 Countries for e Tourist Visa