All Tourist Visas Suspended Due to Coronavirus Until 15 April

CORONAVIRUS SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

The authorities stated on March 11 that it’ll freeze all of the tourist visas to India at a sweeping effort to keep the spread of coronavirus as instances across India continuing to grow.

“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, U.N./international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020,” The health ministry said in a tweet.

The advisory said anybody using a”compelling reason” to Go to the nation could contact their closest Indian assignment, but it Wasn’t obvious if the ban could include short-term Small Business visas.

The order will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13.

The authorities advisory on March 11 is still among the very wide-reaching advisories because the epidemic started in late December.

These limitations were already set up for citizens of China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea — that the five nations worst hit by the epidemic of this virus.

India has also closed a boundary with neighbouring Myanmar to cancel the coronavirus epidemic. “As a preventative step (to stop ) transmission of coronavirus/COVID-19, the global boundary with Myanmar continues to be closed… until farther orders,” N. Biren Singh, chief minister of Manipur, that shares a boundary with Myanmar, stated in a tweet Tuesday.

The overall instances of coronavirus from the nation rose to over 60 on Wednesday, based on government information.

The ministry also stated the visa-free travel centre awarded to an overseas citizen of India (OCI)- cardholders are also kept in abeyance till April 15, 2020. This suspension may even make the most of March 13.

The recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries chaired by Cabinet Secretary were placed before GoM. After detailed deliberations on preventive measures, actions taken and preparedness for Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Group of Ministers took the following decisions:

  • All existing visas, except diplomatic official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.
  • A visa-free travel facility granted to OCI cardholders is kept in abeyance till April 15th, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13 March 2020 at the port of departure.
  • Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Indian Mission.
  • All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France. Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13 March 2020 at the port of departure.
  • Incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.
  • Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return, they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.
  • International traffic through land borders will be restricted to Designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by Mo Home Affairs.
  • Provision for testing primarily for students.compassionate cases in Italy to be made and collected for samples to be organized accordingly. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days