International flights: As COVID-19 cases see a decline across countries, travel-related restrictions are being relaxed slowly. In a similar development, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on Sunday said he is delighted that India has agreed to resume the 2018 December Visa Exemption Agreement between the two countries, under which no visa will be required for Maldivians traveling to India. The said agreement between the Maldives and India was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 border closure.

Taking to Twitter, Shahid informed that from mid-October the Maldivian nationals will be exempt from visa requirements for tourists, medical and business purposes.

“Delighted that India has agreed to resume the 2018 Dec Visa Exemption Agreement between the Maldives & India, which was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 border closure. From 15 Oct 2021, Maldivian Nationals will be exempt of visa requirements for tourists, medical & business purposes,” Shahid tweeted.

International travel: 5 more points to know from this big story

  1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all visas granted to foreigners were suspended last year. Various other restrictions were also imposed on international travel by the Central government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. The Maldives has been open — with some suspensions — for tourists since July 2020. Sri Lanka opened to fully vaccinated tourists last month.
  3. Meanwhile, the Indian government recently announced that it will re-open for tourists from October 15 after being closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  4. Tourist visas will be granted for foreigners arriving on charter flights from October 15, and on other flights from November 15, the home ministry said in a statement.
  5. All Covid-19 protocols “should be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations”, the MHA stressed.

Meanwhile, fully vaccinated Indians with Covishield or any other UK-approved vaccine traveling to the UK will not have to undergo quarantine from Monday (October 11) i.e., today, British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, said on Thursday.

Ellis tweeted, “No quarantine for Indian travelers to the United Kingdom fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine from October 11. Thanks to the Indian government for close cooperation over last month.”