India eases visa rules for select countries; UAE likely to be added to list
UAE LIKELY TO BE ADDED TO LIST; ANY VALID VISA HOLDER ALLOWED TO TRAVEL
India has eased visa restrictions for travel to select countries and is likely to add the UAE to that list, depending upon the terms and conditions of an ‘Air Bubble’ agreement being finalised, Gulf News has learnt.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has eased visa and travel restrictions to and from countries with which the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has entered into an Air Bubble i.e., bilateral air travel arrangement during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MHA has now permitted entry to India for OCI (Overseas Indian Citizen) cardholders who belong to countries with which Air Bubble arrangements have been finalised by the MoCA such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France.
“Foreigners from these countries have also been allowed to avail Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes. Indian citizens have also been allowed to travel to such countries on any type of visa,” the spokesperson of MHA posted on Twitter.
Later the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor, also tweeted a statement on the recommendation by the missions. “I understand that a decision to this effect has now indeed been taken by MHA in India. This will come into effect only after the formal notification from @ MoCA_GoI in the next couple of days. Please book your tickets to UAE only after that. @cgidubai,” he said in the tweet addressed to Indians with valid visas intending to fly to the UAE.
Added clause
In an office memorandum related to this, a copy of which has been received by Gulf News, the MHA has added that the relaxation of visa and travel restrictions will be applicable to countries “that may be included” under such Air Bubble scheme in the future”.
“Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa of such countries may be permitted to travel to the country concerned, provided there is no travel restriction for entry of Indian nationals in that country,” the statement said.
“It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter the country concerned with the particular visa category before issue of tickets/boarding passes to Indian passenger,” it added.
India-UAE formula
India and the UAE are currently working on formulating an Air Bubble scheme that will supersede the special travel corridor set up to operate flights between both the countries till August 31.
Dr Aman Puri, the Consul General of India in Dubai, said the Air Bubble is “likely to be operationalised soon”.
Whether Indians holding visit/tourist visas and new entry permits would be allowed to fly to the UAE would depend on the terms and conditions that will be finalised under the Air Bubble agreement between the two countries, he told Gulf News yesterday.
“The Indian Embassy and the Consulate both have strongly recommended to the Ministry of External Affairs that the stranded Indians who need to travel for family reunion maybe permitted [to travel to the UAE] even though they may be having visit visa. We are expecting a resolution on the issue very soon,” said Dr Puri.