India to Extend E-Visa Regime in Phases

Nine Indian international airports began welcoming foreign tourists from 43 more countries and provide e-visas from Thursday.

All arrangements, including the software for the system, are now ready at nine international airports -- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Goa.

Visitors from over 43 countries, including Germany, the US, Israel and Palestine, will be able to avail the much-awaited electronic visa facility.

Russia, Brazil, Germany, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine, Jordan, Norway and Mauritius, among others, would be getting the e-visa facility in the first phase. Mexico, Kenya and Fiji are also being considered for being given the e-visa facility.

As per the government decision, all countries, except a few in the "prior list", would be brought into the e-visa regime over the next two years.

Barring a few like Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Somalia, all the countries will be covered under the e-visa regime in phases.

The e-visa is expected to give a big boost to foreign tourist arrivals in the country. About 51.79 lakh foreign tourists visited India during January-September.

Thirteen countries currently enjoy the visa-on-arrival facility, including South Korea, Japan, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.