Extension of e-Tourist Visa scheme to 37 more countries
Effective February 25, 2016, the e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) facility will be extended to 37 more countries bringing the tally up to a total of 150 countries.
The 37 countries that will now be included in e-Tourist Visa scheme are Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Iceland, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Namibia, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
VoA for Japanese Nationals
Visa on Arrival facility will be extended to Japanese nationals effective March 1, 2016, in addition to the e-Tourist Visa.
Submission of OCI in Lieu of PIO Extended to June 30, 2016
The date for the submission of online applications by Person of Indian Original (PIO) cardholders to register as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) has now been extended till June 30, 2016.
India Business Card – Special Business Visas for SAARC Nationals
From April 1, 2016, India will offer multi-city, multiple-entry business visas to nationals of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries coming to India on business.
This business visa, to be called "India Business Card", will be granted for five years or less, to businessmen of any member state of the SAARC, including Pakistan.
For Pakistani nationals to qualify for a three-year multiple-entry card, they should run an enterprise worth INR ten million and should have an annual income of at least PKR one million (Pakistani rupees). Such Pakistani enterprises should also be members of any Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan that India recognises.
The added advantage offered is that under the new scheme, Pakistani entrepreneurs will be exempted from reporting at the local police station, which is generally mandatory Pakistani nationals coming to India on any other visa now.
Currently Pakistani nationals are eligible for multiple-entry business visa for a maximum period of one year and can travel to ten cities / places. The new scheme offers facility to travel to 15 cities for three years.
Nationals of SAARC Countries other than Pakistan that is Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives are not subject to any special visa conditions. Bhutan and Nepal nationals do not require a visa for India.
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