Government eases visa rules for tourists

Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced on Thursday that the government has eased visa conditions, eliminating the requirement for foreigners to take a two-month break before re-entering India. This decision aims to provide greater flexibility for travelers while maintaining security measures.

Easier Re-Entry for Transit Travelers

Under the revised rules, foreigners using India as a hub to visit neighboring countries can now enter the country up to three times during the 60-day cooling-off period. This relaxation is intended to accommodate genuine travelers with multi-destination itineraries without causing unnecessary inconvenience.

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Stricter Visa Rules Following David Headley Case

Following the David Headley case, the government recently mandated that foreigners with long-term multi-entry tourist visas must leave the country for two months before re-entering. Chidambaram announced at a press conference that the tightened visa rules require tourists to observe a 60-day break after leaving India before applying for another tourist visa.

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Chidambaram clarified that most tourists visiting India for a few weeks won’t face any issues due to the tightened visa rules. He emphasized that the changes would only affect a small number of tourists who use India as a hub to visit neighboring countries. In such cases, if their itinerary includes multiple visits to India and other countries as part of the same trip, visa authorities can allow up to three entries within the 60-day cooling-off period.

He also dismissed any speculation of disagreements between the Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the visa policy. Chidambaram stated that both ministries were aligned on the matter and fully supported the revised rules.

His statement came in response to criticism from Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who argued that stricter visa regulations could make India less welcoming to tourists. Tharoor faced backlash for his remarks, with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna asserting his authority over the ministry’s policies. Krishna made it clear that Tharoor must adhere to the guidelines set by the ministry.