NEW DELHI, Dec 25 (BSS): The Indian government has softened its newfound toughness on visa rules and made some relaxations in the new guidelines on tourist visas.
The government earlier made it mandatory for foreigners holding long-term multiple-entry visas to take a two-month break between two visits.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which controls India's visa policy, has communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that foreign visitors might be allowed to return within two months of leaving the country -- as long as they made a "full disclosure" of their travel plans to the immigration officer while on their way out.
In the aftermath of Headley-Rana case, the MHA had wanted all foreign nationals with multiple-entry long-term tourist visas to re-enter only after a passage of two-month "cooling off" period.
The move had sparked fierce protest by several countries, including the US and the UK.
"It has since been decided that foreigners holding tourist visas, who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country and re-enter India before final exit, may be permitted two or three entries, as the case may be, by Indian missions subject to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documentation (ticket bookings)," an official statement of the ministry said.
Indian govt eases visa procedures
FE Team | Published: December 26, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
Share if you like