India decided to bar the entry of foreigners and kept on hold the visa-free facility granted to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders from 1200 GMT Friday in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The suspension which has been announced yesterday (Wednesday) says that all tourist visas are suspended till April 15 in a bid to contain spread of COVID-19 known as coronavirus.
Restrictions have been imposed on persons having OCI card too. The India’s Ministry of Health Twitter post says, “Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till April 15th 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.”
All OCI cardholders normally enjoy visa-free travel, but in light of Coronavirus outbreak restriction have been put in place. Now OCI cardholders will not be able to undertake visa-free travel till April 15, 2020. However, India advised that any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission. The OCI card holders living in Australia who intend to travel to India for any urgent reason may contact India’s High Commission or Consulates in Australia.
The Indian Government said all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas, have also been suspended till 15 April.
All incoming travellers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, and Germany, will be quarantined for at least 14 days.
India advised its citizens against undertaking any non-essential overseas trip, with the government cautioning that they could be quarantined for 14 days on their return.
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