Saturday 24 January 2015

Tourist Visa on Arrival

On 27 November 2014 the Indian government announced a facility of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for citizens of over 40 eligible countries, including those who are eligible for visa on arrival. You can apply for your visa on www.e-visaindia.com . ETA is issued for tourism, visiting friends and family, short duration medical treatment and casual business visits.

Tourist can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization on www.e-visaindia.com and get the approval online within 4 working days and can travel to India. They are required to take a print out of the approved application when they are travelling. All you are required to do is to go to the website www.e-visaindia.com fill the form, pay your fee online and print your ETA from there. www.e-visaindia.com is a one-stop shop for your entry to the Indian Territory. The point of entry would be one of the 9 designated airports where the passports will be stamped on arrival. Tourists must apply at least 4 days prior to the date of arrival. The validity is only for 30 days from the date of arrival and can only be obtained twice in a calendar year each for 30 days.

ETA allows arrival at the following airports: 
Bangalore Chennai Delhi Goa      Kochi
Kolkata         Mumbai Hyderabad Trivandrum



How it started?


It all started in October 2013 when India thought of initiating the process of giving access of visa-on-arrival to few more countries so finalized a list of 40 more nations. In January 2014, plans were confirmed by the ministers of India. The also decided to reduce the sixteen different types of visa categories to mere three: work, business and tourism. After many discussions over the possibility and consequences of the Visa on Arrival, finally in February 2014 the Indian government announced the approval of visa-on-arrival for up to 180 countries. It was possible mainly due to the new Immigration, Visa and Foreigners' Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) system. This system was not about the typical visa on arrival which used to create clutter at the airports, but it was a completely online computerized system based on online applications following the models of Australian Electronic Travel Authority system.  

5th February 2014 the Indian Government decided to introduce visa-on-arrival to tourists from 180 countries. Challenges such as technical implementation and setting up the website for applications, were expected to take about 6 months and the government authorities were hopeful of bringing it in place before the tourist season starting October 2014. Prospective visitors will have to apply online by filling up an application form. They could pay the fee online as well and the electronic version of the visa (ETA) should be granted within 3 days. The program was supposed to be applicable at all international airports. Finally on 27th November 2014 the Indian Government officially announced the ETA facilities for 40 countries for now. The work is still going on to extend this facility to many other countries which is expected to happen in near future.


Citizens of the following countries and territories who hold ordinary passports are eligible to obtain the ETA (except for those who are of Pakistani origin) which allows them to obtain visa on arrival.






Visa policy of India

     India
     Visa not required
     Visa on arrival with the Electronic Travel Authorisation
     Visa required



List Of Countries eligible for the Tourist Visa on Arrival program



·        Australia                 Brazil                    Cambodia            Djibouti

·        Fiji                          Finland                 Germany              Indonesia

·        Israel                       Japan                    Jordan                  Kenya

·        Kiribati                    Laos                     Luxembourg        Marshall Islands

·        Mauritius                 Mexico                 Micronesia           Myanmar

·        Nauru                       New Zealand        Norway               Oman

·        Palau                         Palestine            Vietnam               Vanuatu

·        Philippines                Russia                Samoa                  Singapore

·         Solomon Islands       South Korea      Thailand               Tonga

·         Tuvalu                       Ukraine             United Arab Emirates

 ·    United States             Papua New Guinea           



How and where can you apply for the TVoA?

Visa applications can be submitted online on the website www.e-visaindia.com or can be sent by post to an Indian consulate. It can also be submitted to designate Visa service provider in certain countries such as www.e-visaindia.com . Costs may differ per consulate and region you fall in. www.e-visaindia.com  charge a very nominal fee of $90.00 to check whether the completed Visa application form meets all requirements and submit the documents along with the Visa application on applicant’s behalf and also provide you the service to complete the entire process with ease. You just need to submit the application on www.e-visaindia.com and pay the fee online or over the phone and take a printout of the approval from the same website. The rest of the work is done them.