As you are aware, IATO has been pleading with the government about the problems being faced by the cruise tourists about the inordinate delay in completing the immigration formalities including bio-metric at sea ports upon arrival in India. Presently facility of E-Visa is available at 5 seaports i.e. Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai and New Mangalore.

 

You will be pleased to know that keeping in view the difficulties being experienced by the tourists due to inadequate number of immigration counters presently available at above five major sea ports, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India vide office memorandum no. 25020/75/2016-F.I (Vol. IV) dated 20th December 2017 has exempt the cruise tourist arriving with E-Visa at the ports of Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai and New Mangalore from the requirement of biometric enrolment for a period of three (3) years i.e. till 31st December 2020, for the persons above the age of 12 years and below the age of 70 years.

 

Members may inform their overseas tour operators accordingly.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Sincerely,