Indian e-visa, a success in UK, sparks reciprocity row
India’s electronic visa scheme has been hailed by British travel agents – more tourists use the e-visa now than the regular one – but its success has raised issues about reciprocity as well as concern over fraud websites offering e-visas.
The UK is one of the countries where the e-visa was extended in 2015 at a time when there was some resentment among tour operators over every applicant needing to attend a visa application centre as part of the process.
The easier procedure and cheaper cost of e-visa has not only increased the number of tourists and other categories of visitors, but also affected the business model of India’s private partner that collects and delivers the traditional visa, VFS Global.
Official figures show that more e-visas were issued in 2016 than the regular visas through VFS Global: 2,39,410 e-visas and 1,50,652 regular visas. VFS Global has 13 application centres across the UK to receive and process visa applications.
The company did not respond to queries about the impact of the e-visa scheme, but sources told HT that concern has been expressed since its operations are based on the number of application processed.
Lower applications affect the model adversely.
India is one of the favourite destinations of British tourists and travel agents are delighted with the e-visa. A spokeswoman of the Association of British Travel Agents told HT: “Experience with British travellers going abroad is that a visa process that is either costly or arduous can deter travellers from visiting a country and so ABTA welcomes measures to streamline the process for holidaymakers”.
“Feedback suggests that holidaymakers travelling to India have embraced the introduction of the e-visa. Around 800,000 British nationals visit India every year,” she added.
An e-tourist visa costs around 58 pounds (plus 2.5% bank transaction charge), while the fee of the regular one is 119.44 pounds.
India now allows two entries in a 60-month period for e-tourist visa and e-business visa.