New Indian visa rules to check abuse
by Mary Jones - January 17, 2011
India, 17th January: The government of India has announced a few changes in the Indian visa rules to curb misuse of Indian tourist visas and to increase safety of their own interests.
The changes in the Indian visa rules will be applicable to short term as well as long visitors to India, stated the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per the new rules, all visitors coming to India should be required to have a gap of at least two months before making plans to re-enter the nation.
Meanwhile, students wanting to enter India before the expiry of two months gap between their earlier visit and their current visit will be allowed to do so depending on the merits of each individual case, the home ministry statement maintained.
Moreover, foreigners wanting to re-enter India for the purpose of regular medical treatment will also be exempted from compulsory gap of two-months between their visits, added the circular by the home ministry.
Persons wanting to come to India for medical treatment will be issued a special Indian medical visa and will not be required to abide by the rules introduced for Indian tourist visa, the circular issued last week clarified.
In the year 2010-11, the number of foreigners arriving in India for medical treatments is likely to go up to 50 million as compared to the year 2002 when the number of foreigners visiting India for medical treatments was barely 150,000.
The circular stated that foreigners wanting to re-enter Indian before a gap of two-months between their last visit will have to seek special permission from the concerned missed and will have to submit details of their supporting documents.
It has been clearly stated by the circular that no foreign tourist will be permitted to take part in activities except recreation on Indian tourist visa and such visas are neither convertible nor extendable.
The Indian tourist visa allows foreigners to travel in India but does not allow them to conduct business or undertake any sort of employment in the nation. The statement by the circular reads that the foreign visitor is not entitled to any other activity on an Indian tourist visa.
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