E-tourist visa: Stay duration to go up

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to increase the duration of stay for foreign nationals with e-tourist visas and e-business visas from 60 days to one year with a multiple entry option, according to a tourism ministry statement issued on Friday.

The government has made a series of amendments in the e-visa or the online visa regime, liberalising it further and making it more tourist friendly, the statement said. The tourism ministry said it has been working closely with ministry of home affairs for easing of the visa regime in the country over a period of time.

E-visas are issued by the Bureau of Immigration under the home ministry.

“Keeping in view the huge popularity of e-visa regime among foreigners, the matter regarding further liberalisation of the e-visa regime has been considered. It has accordingly been decided... to increase the duration of e-tourist and e-business visas from 60 days with double entry to one year with multiple entries subject to stay stipulations and registration requirements,” said a home ministry circular dated January 22.

“It has also been decided to remove the restriction that a foreigner can be allowed e-visa for a maximum of three times in a calendar year,” the circular said.

The e-visa scheme, introduced in September 2014 with 46 countries, has now been made applicable for 166 countries.

E-visas are given to tourists, those visiting for business purposes, people seeking medical treatment, those coming to attend conferences, and medical attendants. According to the tourism ministry website, during January-november 2018, a total of 20,61,511 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa as compared to 14,56,615 during January-november 2017, registering a growth of 41.5%.Tourism minister K J Alphons said this would go a long way in boosting tourism. The hospitality industry welcomed the move. “This had been a long standing demand from us. It will boost regional tourism,” says Subhas Goyal, general secretary, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality.someone with an e-tourist visa can now stay continuously for each visit for 90 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa except those from the US, the UK, Canada and Japan, who can stay for 180 days.