India extends e-Visa validity to a year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian High Commission here says the terms of the e-Visa have changed from 120 days for double entry to one year for multiple entries but the fee of US$82 (RM333) remains the same.

Its High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mridul Kumar, said the Indian government had taken the liberalisation step in e-Visa to make it easier for Malaysian travellers who frequently visit India for tourism, religious and family purposes.

There have been misconceptions created in the mind of people that visa fees had been hiked Mridul Kumar

“Earlier, the e-Visa for tourism purposes had certain stipulations. You could go only twice within a window of 120 days with a validity period of 60 days in total.

“Now we have done away with that and have given the facility of e-Visa for one year,” he explained.

Commenting on the hike in Indian visa fees in July last year, Kumar said it was a complete misunderstanding and misguidance.

“There have been misconceptions created in the mind of people that visa fees had been hiked. The Indian government has tried its level best to give more facilities to people who want to travel to India,” he told Bernama.

Kumar was met after the official launch of the biography on south Indian film legend, the late MN Nambiar, titled Nambiar Swami: The Good, the Bad and the Holy by the actor’s grandson MN Dipak Nambiar.

The High Commissioner said the over-the-counter six-month tourist visa, which has been scrapped, costing US$40 (M162), but later the Indian government offered two categories of tourist visa – one year (multiple entries) for US$100 (RM406) and five years (multiple entries) for US$200 (RM812).

He said this was for the convenience of frequent travellers to India, adding that it would give people a longer duration visa with a longer stay.

On the 14-day free single entry for Malaysians, Kumar said: “It is under the consideration of the Indian government.”