India tightens tourist visa rules

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NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (AFP): India has tightened its rules for long-term tourist visas in a move that will hit thousands of foreigners living in the country or planning lengthy stays, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday.
Under previous rules, tourists on five- or 10-year visas were required to leave the country every 180 days. But many would simply fly to a neighbouring country such as Nepal for a brief stay before returning.
Now they will still face the same 180-day deadline, but will have to stay out of the country for two months before they can re-enter.
"We have changed the rules to prevent the misuse of the long-term tourist visa," a senior official at the foreign ministry told AFP, asking not be named.
The new rules have been implemented since November 4, he said, although the US embassy in New Delhi said the changes were being applied inconsistently and had caused problems for a number of its nationals.