ABU DHABI: Tourism is set to get a boost in India as the Government of India has decided to grant long-term, multiple entry visas to people who wish to visit the country for tourism, business or medical treatment.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday that the applicants intending to travel to India for the purpose of tourism, business and medical treatment can now apply for visa as per the new norms.
Those who wish to visit India for tourism can apply for a multiple entry visa with a maximum duration of six months. An applicant for a business visa may get a multiple entry visa with a maximum duration of five years, while a multiple entry medical visa can be granted for a duration of up to one year or the period of treatment, whichever is less.
BLS International, the outsourced agency to collect visa applications for India, would accept visa requests submitted by the applicants based on the revised provisions. However, the embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai reserves the final decision on duration and entries depending on the applicant profiles.
This is yet another positive step taken by the authorities after extending visa-on-arrival facility to citizens of 11 countries.
Source: Imran Mojib (2014). India relaxes visa norms to boost tourism, The Gulf Today http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/48f008b9-3240-46a2-85c1-31d9623338b5.aspx published Apr 24, 2014. Viewed May 02, 2014.