Reopening India: Visa Restrictions Eased For OCI And PIO Cardholders

New Delhi: To ease visa and travel restrictions imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Government today has decided to make a graded relaxation in visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals and Indian nationals who wish to enter or leave India. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a statement on October 22 in which it said, “It has been decided to permit all Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose, except on a Tourist Visa, to enter by air or water routes through authorized airports and seaport immigration check posts.”

“This includes flights operated under Vande Bharat Mission, air transport bubble arrangements or by any non scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the statement added.

All the travellers will have to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding quarantine and other health/COVID-19 matters.
Under this graded relaxation, Government of India has also decided to restore with immediate effect all existing visas (except electronic visa, Tourist Visa and Medical Visa), the statement said.

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