Ministry of Home Affairs removes electronic visa restrictions

The Union home ministry has lifted restrictions on electronic visas, barring e-tourist visa, and allowed the nationals from as many as 156 countries to avail themselves of e-medical visa, e-business visa, e-medical attendant visa and e-conference visa, said officials.

They said the order was issued in the first week of April, when Covid-19 cases had yet to rise to the alarming levels they have now. “In the past ten days, we have received very few requests under e-medical and e-business visa categories,” said one of the officials.

Moreover, the Delhi government on Monday issued an order to convert 14 top private hospitals in the capital into Covid-only facilities. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded more than 13,500 Covid-19 cases.


The fresh directive allows nationals from countries such as the US but bars nationals from the UK and China. The restrictions on the number of flights allowed to and from the UK are in force till mid-April.

“Foreign nationals from these countries intending to visit India for medical treatment can apply online for a medical visa, including for their attendants. As per the visa rules, e-visa issued for business or medical grounds can't be used for any other purposes,” said another official.

The restrictions, prohibiting international travel to and from 107 immigration check-posts, was first issued in March last year ahead of the initial 21-day nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Later, the ministry allowed nationals from countries such as the US, UK, Germany and France to travel to India under the air bubble scheme in August 2020. Two months later, restrictions were further relaxed.