Category Archives: Visa

A visa-on-arrival facility is available to citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE if they are visiting India for tourism, business, conference, and medical purposes. This visa is valid for 60 days with the flexibility of double entry, said MOT. However, it is available only at 6 designated airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Amruta Bangera, Director of Marketing, IMOT, India, says, “Israel is safe and open for tourism. The first half of 2024 alone saw over 5,700 Indian arrivals to Israel. To attract more tourists, we are planning to introduce a first-ever e-visa program for Indians. Although still in its early stages, we anticipate launching a pilot run for e-visas by the end of the year.”

As per the new amendments in e-Visa provisions by the Ministry of Home Affairs, India’s Port Blair seaport is now a designated entry port for e-Visa holders. The amendment will boost yacht and superyacht business along with cruise tourism. Now, five other Indian seaports where persons with e-Visa will be allowed includes Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, and New Mangalore.

Riya Group announces its strategic alliance with Air India Express. The collaboration integrates Riya’s comprehensive visa services on the airline’s website, enabling customers to promptly access and apply for visas to any destination worldwide. This progressive step is conceived to ease the visa application process and enhance a traveller’s holistic booking journey on the Air India Express website.

Immigration authorities in the UAE have intensified inspection and screening at the country’s airports to detect individuals arriving on a visit visa to seek employment. Now, all passengers arriving on visit or tourist visas will undergo strict profiling, including verification of funds and other information. Visitors engaging in tourist activities should provide information on their hotel accommodations, return tickets, and available funds.

European Commission in recent data revealed an increase in Schengen visa applications in 2023. India has emerged as the key contributor in this, securing the third spot in the rankings for the number of short-stay visa applications. The country has lodged 9.66 lakh visa applications in 2023, an uptick from 6.7 lakh applications in 2022.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE announces that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has a new unified tourist visa called “GCC Grand Tours,” which would allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries and stay for over 30 days. This initiative aims to boost tourism and make travel across the GCC region more convenient. by simplifying travel across Gulf countries, with an estimated 128.7 million visitors by 2030.

Speaking at a special session titled ‘Attracting the Indian Travellers into the GCC’, Alhasan Aldabbagh, President, Asia Pacific (APAC), Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “The diverse experiences that Saudi Arabia is offering will attract Indians to the destination. We have eased out the visa and offering free transit visas for Indians for 5-8 hours.”

Feeling relieved, Mahendra Vakharia, Executive Committee Member, Immediate Past President – OTOAI & MD, Pathfinders Holidays, says, “Finally a long pending wish list of both the Indian travel trade as well as the Indian traveller is becoming a reality! This should have been done immediately post Covid to take full advantage of the upsurge in holiday demand to Schengen countries. But as we say, better late than never’! Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity.”

Teleport – India’s Most Trusted Visa Platform, invites Indian travel agents to attend a B2B webinar today at 3 PM IST. Participants will learn tips for easy visa appointments; tricks to avoid visa rejections, and all of it at the lowest rates. To register contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com, or call 9650196532.