Taking into account the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases; the Government of India including Group of Ministers (GoM) after a high level meeting issued a revised travel advisory, late in the evening on 11th March, 2020.
The key highlight of the advisory was the suspension of all tourists visa till 15th April, 2020 as issued by Bureau of Immigration (BOI) after meeting of GoM. The suspension of tourist visa comes in a wake to tackle the further spread of novel Coronavirus, as cases across India continue to rise.
The GoM, in its recent release announced, “All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, U.N./international organizations, employment, project visas stands suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.”
The release also highlighted that the suspension will also be applicable to visa free travel card holders. Further it stated that, “Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission.”
Besides, World Health Organisation has now declared coronavirus a pandemic. Earlier in the day, the Indian government suspended visas issued to citizens of France, Germany and Spain. These restrictions are already in place for citizens of China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea – the five countries worst hit by the pandemic of the virus. Also the government had urged the citizens to avoid non-essential travel to abroad. So far 73 cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in India.
