Visas of foreigners stuck in India due to Covid extended till Aug 31

The government of India has announced the extension of visas for all foreign nationals stranded in the country due to the ongoing pandemic till Aug 31. They will not be required to submit application to FRRO/FRO concerned for visa extension.

"Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by foreign nationals in getting their visas extended in India due to the lockdown, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to extend the Visa or stay stipulation period of foreign nationals expiring post 30.06.2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis," the MHA said in a statement.

"Due to non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid Indian visas had got stranded in India," it added.


Such foreign nationals have been applying for an extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis.

"The matter has now been reconsidered by the MHA in the light of non- resumption of normal commercial flight operations, and it has accordingly been decided that the Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals stranded in India will be considered as deemed to be valid till 31.08.2021 on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty," the statement added.

After a full lockdown to control the first coronavirus wave, parts of India has been kept under lockdown-like restrictions to control the spread of the more dangerous second wave.

Passenger flights to and from the country have remained suspended since last year.