India Restores E-Visa for 156 Countries

• 16 Apr 2021

Why in News

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has restored electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreigners from 156 countries, who intend to visit India for the purposes of business, conferences, and for medical reasons, including in the case of medical attendants.

• E-visa for tourists is yet to be restored.

Key Points

• E-Visa:
  
  • Launch: The e-visa system is an innovation introduced by the government in 2014. The facility was expanded in 2017-2018.
    
    • The process has its roots in the 2010 Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and New Zealand.
    • The government merged the TVOA with Electronic Travel Authorisation, thereby creating the e-visa.
  • Five Categories: An e-visa also called Electronic Visa is provided in five categories—tourist, business, conference, medical, and medical attendant.
  • Process:
    
    • Under the arrangement, a foreigner can apply online four days prior to travel.
    • After the details are verified, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is generated, which has to be presented at the immigration check post on arrival.
    • Entry through e-visas is allowed only at 28 designated international airports and 5 major seaports in India.
  • Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry that issues visas to foreigners.
  • The facility is not available for the citizens of Pakistan and they are expected to apply for regular visas from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
  • E-visas are not valid for foreign diplomats which are dealt separately.
• Current Status:
  
  • Though the facility is available to 171 countries, after restrictions were announced in 2020, it has been restored only for 156 countries.
  • China, the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are excluded from the current restoration.

Source TH