Govt introduces e-visa facility for tourists from 43 countries
The visitor will have to enter India within 30 days of receiving electronic travel authorization and can stay for up to 30 days
New Delhi: The government has introduced an electronic visa facility that entitles nationals of 43 countries to a tourist visa on arrival.
The government’s website for electronic travel authorization was unveiled on Thursday by home minister Rajnath Singh and minister of state for tourism Mahesh Sharma.
Tourists from these countries will be able to apply for visa online by going to www.onlinevisa.gov.in and once approved, the applicant will receive an email authorizing their travel to India. On arrival in India, the visitor has to present the authorization to the immigration authorities who would then stamp the visa.
The scope of activities for travellers has also been expanded. In addition to sight seeing, visiting family and friends and rejuvenation, it allows casual business visits and short-duration medical tours.
The visitor will have to enter India within 30 days of receiving approval (ETA, or electronic travel authorization) and can stay in the country for up to 30 days. However, the tourist visa on arrival enabled with ETA cannot be used more than twice a year.
“In the first phase, we will be extending the tourist visa on arrival facility enabled by electronic travel authorization to 43 countries, and then expand it across the countries in a phased manner," said Anil Goswami, secretary, ministry of home affairs.
The following is the full list of the 43 countries: the UK, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Israel, UAE, Oman, Ukraine, the US, Russia, Jordan, Kenya, Palestine, Mauritius, Thailand, Mexico, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Tongo, Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Papua and New Guinea.
According to the government estimates, India is projected to receive 7.5 million tourists in 2014.
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