“India Offers Visa-on-Arrival for 3 Countries at 6 Airports”

07 august 2024 : On Monday, the Indian government announced the introduction of visa-on-arrival for citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, applicable for purposes such as tourism, business, conferences, and medical visits.

This service is presently active at six airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Eligibility for the on-arrival visa is restricted to nationals of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE who have previously obtained either an e-Visa or a standard paper visa for India. The visa will be valid for a duration of 60 days, allowing travelers to enter India up to two times within this period, as stated by the Indian visa portal.

Important considerations regarding this visa include:

1. Access to the facility is restricted for individuals whose parents or grandparents, whether on the paternal or maternal side, were born in Pakistan or who hold permanent residency in Pakistan. These individuals are required to secure the necessary visa from the appropriate Indian Mission or Post in order to enter India.
2. Holders of Diplomatic or Official passports are not eligible for the Visa-on-Arrival.

3 .The Visa-on-Arrival cannot be extended or converted.

4. Nationals from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE must complete an application form (Annexure I) to utilize the visa-on-arrival service.
5. As per the guidelines on the portal, travelers are encouraged to download, print, and complete the form, which should be presented to the ‘Visa Officer’ at the visa counter upon arrival. Alternatively, the form can be filled out upon arrival.
6. A physical version of the form will also be available from the airlines during the flight. Japanese, South Korean, and UAE nationals are required to carry a completed ‘VoA Application Form’ along with a filled disembarkation card.

Specific information for UAE travelers:

The Visa-on-Arrival Scheme applies to UAE nationals who have previously obtained an e-Visa or a regular/paper visa for India.

1. UAE nationals visiting India for the first time are advised to apply for an e-Visa.