Govt suspends all existing visas, bars travel by OCI card-holders till ban on air services

Indian government suspends visas granted to foreigners, except certain categories till the prohibition on international air travel of passengers from and to India is lifted.

Earlier, it was suspended till the 3rd of this month.

In a separate order, the Union Home Ministry also said it has extended on ‘gratis’ basis the visas of foreigners stranded in India due to the lockdown. The extension will be for a period of 30 days beyond the opening of international travel in the country.

The ministry also said it has kept in abeyance multiple-entry life-long visas given to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders till international travel remains suspended.

However, the OCI cardholders who are already in India can stay in the country for “any length of time”, it said.

All existing visas granted to foreigners — except those belonging to diplomatic, official, UN international organizations, employment and project categories — shall remain suspended till prohibition on international air travel of passengers from and to India is lifted by the government, the order said. In the other order, the Home Ministry said regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation of foreign nationals whose visas have expired post-midnight February 1 or would expire during the ban on international air travel from India would be extended on ‘GRATIS’ basis just on submission of an online application.

Such extensions would be for a period up to 30 days from the date of the lifting of the prohibition on international air travel without any overstay penalty, it said.

Exit to such foreign nationals, if so requested by them, will also be granted on the same lines, it said.