Category Archives: Visa

Members at a recent educational seminar conducted by Indiatourism Mumbai that was attended by more than 50 participants, requested to re-open e-visas for foreign tourists. NS Rathor, Chairman (Western Region), IATO, says, “Since international travellers start planning six months in advance, this would be the tight time to open up e-visas which would allow them to plan for the upcoming tourist season. It is important that our next steps are planned so that inbound tourism can open up smoothly and safely.”

The General Authority of Civil Aviation, UAE has suspended all inbound passenger movement to the UAE from India until July 6, 2021. This excludes UAE nationals. Passengers are advised to reschedule their tickets for travel at a future date. Dubai’s Emirates had earlier said that passenger flights from India would remain suspended at least until June 30. The suspension of incoming passenger traffic from India to the UAE began on April 24. It was extended on May 4 by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) in light of a deadly second wave of Covid-19 currently affecting India.

Indian nationals in transit through a French airport on their way to another country will require an airport transit visa (ATV). The categories exempt from the ATV include families of EU or Swiss nationals; Indian official passport holders; Schengen visa holders; and holders of permanent residence permits from EU countries, the UK, Japan, Canada and USA.

Under the current Presidential Proclamation, student visa holders from India are able to enter the United States if their classes start on or after August 1, 2021. The United States, however, will not approve exceptions for F visa holders with a programme start date before August 1, 2021. Students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas intending to begin or continue an academic programme commencing August 1 this year or later do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual National Interest Exception to travel.

BLS International has revealed that it has started accepting visa applications for the Embassy of Thailand in Delhi. Shikhar Aggarwal, Jt. Managing Director, BLS International, said, “We are pleased to partner with the Embassy of Thailand and will ensure a smooth, efficient and delightful experience for the applicants. Our endeavour has always been to facilitate best-in-class services to the travellers by creating value for our stakeholders. We at BLS have reinvented the wheel of visa services by making it a holistic solution with dedicated and professional teams that bring highest levels of customer satisfaction.”

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, speaking at the Virtual ITM, said that India is emerging as a crucial destination as far as medical tourism is concerned. “To encourage it further, we have already started issuing medical visa and are planning to soon restart e-tourist visa as well as scheduled international flights,” he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, speaking at the Virtual ITM, said that India is emerging as a crucial place as far as medical tourism is concerned. “To encourage it further, we have already started issuing medical visa and are planning to soon restart e-tourist visas as well as scheduled international flights,” he said.

VFS Global has been awarded the contract for Morocco visa services starting from 21 January 2021, and VACs have been rolled out in Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai. The centres are currently accepting work, business, seminars/conferences, student/researcher, family reunification, journalist and investor visas. Issuance of tourist visas is currently on hold due to the ongoing pandemic and related border closures. Pranav Sinha, Head – South Asia, VFS Global, says, “We are excited about starting the new year with a new partnership, and welcoming Morocco as VFS Global’s 65th client government.” As part of precautionary measures, customers visiting our centres may be subjected to body temperature checks to assess their health conditions and required to wear face mask and gloves. Customers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, including fever (higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius), cough and difficulty breathing will be allowed to reschedule their application submission for another day and will be advised to seek medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility of their choice.

In response to suggestions requested from tourism stakeholders to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) recently issued for restoration of tourist visa, the trade has recommended that Conference Visa may also be restored along with the tourist visa for supporting the M!CE market, and that SOPs be customised for the same.

Travellers from the 103 countries including India are now allowed to enter Oman without securing a prior visa and can stay for up to 14 days after the Sultanate decided to extend it Visa-free period.