16^th March 2022

To All Members,

Sub: Restoration of Tourist/e-Tourist Visa for Foreign Tourists

Dear Friends,

As you are aware, IATO has been aggressively following up with the Government to restore Tourist/e-Tourist for Foreign Tourists including 5 years and 10 years Visas directly with MHA and through Ministry of Tourism.

You will be pleased to know that Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India  has issued orders for restoration of Tourist/e-Tourist Visa of all kind with immediate effect.

A copy of MHA Order dated 15^th March is enclosed and is also available on the following link of Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India website:-

https://boi.gov.in/content/restoration-touriste-tourist-visa-foreign-tourist

Please note Government of India official website  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ , which is the Authorised Portal for Visa Application to India is yet to be updated and we hope it would be updated soon.

Also please note, we are writing to the Government to allow entry through Land borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Apart from this we are also writing that e-Tourist Visa for countries like UK, Canada and other countries is to be revived.

You may inform your foreign counterparts accordingly.

With regards,

Rajiv Mehra

President

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Restoration of Tourist/e-Tourist Visa for Foreign Tourist

MHA O.M No.25055/24/2022-F.V/F.I Dated March 15, 2022

In continuation of this Ministry's O.M. of even number dated 21.10.2020 on the above mentioned subject and keeping in view the improvement in COVID-19 situation in India, the Government has considered the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions.

    
2. Accordingly, with immediate effect it has been decided that:

(i) Currently valid e-Tourist Visa issued for five years, which was suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored to nationals of 156 eligible countries with immediate effect. Nationals of these 156 counties will also be eligible for issuance of fresh e-Tourist visa.

(ii) Currently valid Regular (Paper) Tourist visa with validity of 5 Years, issued to foreign nationals of all countries, which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored. Fresh Regular (Paper) Tourist visa up to 5 years validity may also be issued to the nationals of the eligible countries subject to the restrictions imposed from time to time.

(iii) Currently valid old Long duration (10) Regular Tourist Visa which remained suspended since March, 2020 shall stand restored for the nationals of USA and Japan. Fresh Long duration (10) Tourist Visa can also be issued to the nationals of USA and Japan.

3. The Foreign nationals of Tourist/ e-Tourist Visas may enter into India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airports ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or 'air bubble' scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation. In no case the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through Land border or riverine routes on Tourist Visa/e-Tourist Visa. Order for opening of Land ICPs and riverine routes will be communicated separately.

4. These instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by this Ministry regarding grant of e-Emergency X-Misc. Visa. All other health/ COVID-19 related matters, extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be adhered to.