More countries get visa on arrival

The visa on arrival is being rolled out to more random countries.. and it looks like the two month rule is going to be abolished... let's just hope that six month visas remain possible

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/11582848.cms

Paragraph 4 of the article says travel should become "less hassle-free". I hope they mean "more hassle-free".

let's hope they mean what they say both in letter and spirit.hoping to see a lot more travellers arriving to India

Usually (as far as my understanding goes) VOA facilities are extended on reciprocal basis. If that be the international norm, should we assume that the countries which were given VOA facilities by India, would reciprocate by extending similar facilities to Indian citizens? Is there any information on this front?

Don't think so, it's primarily with the objective of promoting tourism and considering internal security concern that might be impacted by people from specific countries.

So it might not be right to expect the countries those enjoy VOA in India would offer the same to Indians as well.

i see my joy was shortlived lol

NEW DELHI: The number of nations whose citizens are eligible for visas on arrival (VoA) in India is likely to be expanded to include 13 countries largely from Europe, south-east and central Asia after a review convened by the PMO felt security conditions need not be a hurdle to promote tourism.

Countries that could be offered VoA include Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Brazil and South Africa. At the meeting - also attended by officials from other ministries like culture and environment - it was made clear that security cannot be invoked to strike down important government initiatives.

Home ministry has been asked to work on details of the proposed visa regime in a manner that factors in security concerns by utilizing information-sharing agreements with Asean and the European Union while ensuring that travel to India becomes less hassle-free.

Ramping up tourist numbers is seen as a significant revenue earner with 600,000 foreign visitors a year being a miniscule proportion of global tourism. With timely intervention, the sector can grow much faster than the 24 million jobs currently targeted in the 12th Plan. So far, the VoA scheme has registered modest success with over 10,000 visas issued last year.

At present, 13 countries whose nationals can avail a visa on arrival include Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar. But the list excludes more populous nations even in the Asean who can be tapped for a much larger tourist footfall.

Tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai said, "Government is aware of the urgent need to develop infrastructure to ensure there is adequate connectivity, hotel room availability and facilities for tourists." The government is also drawing lessons from European countries that have leveraged tourism to tide over financial woes.

On tourism, the PMO has also asked the MHA and the ministry of external affairs to resolve the confusion around restrictions on re-entry of tourists within a 60-day period.The visa rule is likely to be relaxed and a solution reached in the next one month..

Besides increasing VoA facility to four additional airports, including Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bengaluru, the PMO has asked the civil aviation ministry to improve the facilities in the existing airports of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai so that tourists do not have to stand for hours for emigration and other clearances. The ministries of home and civil aviation have also been asked to increase counters and accept immigration fees in both Indian currency and dollars.


Source

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/11582848.cms

USP holders are allowed visa free or VOA to over 150+ countries, but those countries passport holders are not given reciprocal benefits. VOA & Visa Free is up to the country to evaluate. Some benefits are negotiated bi-laterally, and some on quid-pro-quo.

File a query with MEA for policy at the missions of the country(ies) in question.

USP munjay kay (mutlub kya hai)?
No VOAUSA for Indiyay..

Ho, Tella mandto na US Passport

It all started as a sort of RFC in corridors of South & North Block in DEL '07-08 ready for kickoff in '09 then USG shared the Hadely connection.

As the missions and all POEs get into the NATgrid (or whatever they call it now a days) more countries will be added; or so the rumor goes.

DE,FR,RU to be added to the VOA list next (or so the rumor goes)

Its in the news but when..

Also on this site: http://www.business-standard.com/ind...ntries/392258/ it says 16 more countries will be eligible including the Netherlands... So I'm very curious which list is correct and when this will be happening...

Visa on arrival soon for 16 more countries
Sneha Kupekar / Mumbai Apr 18, 2010, 00:33 IST

When that news came out, in 2010, only one country on that list mdae it to the six that were added to the original five.

Oh silly me... I just read the 18th of April part...