Covid-19 updates – Travel and VISA relaxations in India
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It has been tough 7 months for international travelers whether it may be for leisure, business, or even in emergencies. As of last week of October 2020, the Government of India has relaxed the travel restrictions furthermore. The latest relaxations are to be read along with the series of previous relaxations/guidelines formulated by the government since 30th June 2020. Although certain restrictions are still kept in place keeping in view the ongoing pandemic situation, there has been further facilitation of travel for reasonable purposes. Details are given below.
Who is allowed to arrive in India as of now?
All Indians arriving from any country and holding a valid travel document
Nepalese and Bhutanese passengers with usual checks
All Foreigners holding valid OCI (overseas citizenship of India) and PIO cards
All foreigners intending to visit India for any purpose and holding valid VISAs (This also includes their dependents on the appropriate category of dependent VISA), except for those purposes under Tourist VISA. Read below to know more about which Visas are restored and valid now.
Tibetan migrants having residence in India. Further, such persons should be holding a valid Identity certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and a valid Return VISA to enter India.
What about the existing Visas obtained prior to Covid –19 restrictions?
All existing VISAs except for Tourist VISA, Medical VISA, and electronic VISA (eVISA of all types), are restored with immediate effect.
Return VISAs of Tibetan migrants stand restored with immediate effect.
If the validity of the restored VISAs is expired you should obtain a fresh VISA of the appropriate category from the Indian mission or post concerned.
Who is allowed to depart from India as of now?
Indians with a valid VISA for the destination country
Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal traveling to their respective countries subject to usual checks.
Foreigners departing to their own respective countries or departing to a 3rd country while holding the resident permit of that country.
Foreigners including citizens of Nepal and Bhutan who intend to visit a third country and are holding VISAs of any type of that country are allowed to depart.
According to these latest guidelines, the airlines concerned are made responsible to ensure that there is no travel restriction in the destination country for anyone departing from India.
Note:
Quarantine and all other Covid-19/health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should be strictly adhered to.
All passengers arriving in/departing from India are required to fulfill the Covid-19 criterion of India and the destination countries respectively.
Immediately after the Outbreak of Covid-19, all normal passenger traffic through all the 107 Immigration check posts was restricted. Now there is no such restriction of passenger movement. However, such movement is subject to the normal rules and VISA and other regulations as specified above.
These relaxations in no way should be understood as a relaxation from normal immigration protocols like the requirement of VISA, travel documents, and other Indian Immigration rules.
These Covid-19 updates are to be read along with previous guidelines formulated by the government of India. Do comment below if you have any queries.