Centre introduces film visas

In a major initiative to ease and promote arrival of foreign filmmakers and production houses to India, the Modi government has for the first time introduced ‘film visas’.

As per the directives of the ministry of home affairs, ‘film visa’ has been created as a separate category titled ‘film (F) visa’ and it will be granted under the e-visa category.

The move, cleared by the government recently, comes after months of work by Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who has been interacting with the MHA and the MEA for the creation of a special visa category for foreign filmmakers.

Sources said that Indian missions abroad may grant ‘film visa’ to such applicants who are coming to shoot films, serials or reality television shows in India after the I&B ministry approves these cases.

Interestingly, the government’s directive goes on to add that “foreigners granted film visa should refrain from commenting on any issue related to insurgency (if any) in the areas, participating in missionary activities, meeting banned outfits or its overground/ underground functionaries.”

The maximum duration for the visa will be for one year with multiple entry facility keeping in view the fact that the film production has many variables in its processes, sources added.

As per the new visa regime, maximum number of crew for a specific film being shot by an international production company in the country will be 125 in normal circumstances.