India welcomes Foreign Tourist with Open arms
Yes, you heard it right? India may start welcoming Foreign Tourists with open arms very soon!! Amidst Covid, India had suspended tourist visas since March 2020 and had put a ban on tourist visits in India. But now in order to revive the Hospitality and travel industry, the Government is taking calls on restarting the entry of foreign tourists but with certain safety measures. The news may be out soon regarding the allowance of foreign tourists in India. Persons holding eVisa will be allowed to enter into India only through the designated international airports (28) that are stated on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs of India. Once again India may get the opportunity to serve foreign guests as India has always believed in the slogan of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' which means Guests are treated as God.
India welcoming tourists has raced a sense of happiness in the minds of the foreign tourists who were longing to travel to India for long. The entry of foreign tourists in India has also come as a sense of relief to the Indian hospitality and hoteliers who have suffered huge losses since the time Covid had hit the nations worldwide.
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Eligibility to Travel to India
All international travellers arriving in India, regardless of vaccination status, must upload a negative RT-PCR report to the Air Suvidha portal taken within 72 hours of the start of their journey. Additional testing on entry/quarantine may apply depending on the country of origin from where the traveler is travelling from.
All international passengers shall submit a self-declaration form at least 72 hours prior to departure for India on the website by the Government of India.
Health screening procedures shall take place at airports and other ports of entry.
Compulsory Quarantine will be decided as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs of India.
Passengers who are found symptomatic or are screened positive during the test for fever/virus will be taken to designated isolation facilities for further evaluation and testing.
Wearing the Masks is necessary throughout the journey.
Eligibility for Applying for Indian Tourist Visa
- · Indian Tourist Visa is alloted/given to those International travelers whose sole objective for visiting India is amongst the following:
- recreation, sightseeing,
- persons visiting India for a casual visit to meet friends and relatives,
- attending yoga program for short term,
- Attending varied courses for a short term based on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc (which should not be a formal or structured course/program) (such courses which shall not be exceeding 6 months duration and not be issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma, etc),
- Visiting India for any Voluntary work for a short duration of time
- Visiting India for medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine,
- Visiting India for business purposes,
- Visiting India as attendant to e-Medical visa holder, or attendees of any conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India and any such authorities.
- The person applying for an Indian tourist visa should mandatorily have a passport which should have at least six months validity at the time of making an application for a grant of e-Visa.
- The Travellers visiting India should have a valid onward journey/return journey ticket.
- Travellers to India those are having a Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin may apply for a regular Visa at Indian Mission and shall obtain a visa from there.
- Indian tourist Visas are not available to the Foreign Diplomats or Laissez-passer travel document holders.
- Indian tourist Visas are not available to individuals whose names are merely endorsed on Parent's/Spouse's Passport i.e. each tourist/individual who is visiting India should have a separate passport.
- Indian tourist Visas are not available to International Travel Document Holders other than Passport.
Steps to procure Indian Tourist Visa
- Apply Online on the website of e-visa by Government of India (Upload Photo and Passport Page)
- Pay E-Visa Fee Online (Using Debit/Credit Card or Payment Wallet)
- Receive ETA Online (Electronic Travel Authorization/ETA will be sent on your email)
- Fly to India (Print ETA as the same shall be checked at immigration check post).
The news of the Government welcoming foreign tourists is impatiently awaited. The said decision is thought upon for a long and an update on the same is expected soon as the number of covid cases in India has seen a massive dropdown. Along with strict restrictions, India may soon announce the welcome of foreign tourists in India.
