E-visa facility launched for 43 countries

November 27, 2014 07:23 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 04:44 pm IST - New Delhi

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma (left) at the launch of the 'Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)', in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma (left) at the launch of the 'Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)', in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

In a move that is expected to ease visa processing and help increase of tourist inflow to India, the government on Thursday rolled out the much-awaited electronic-visa system for visitors from 43 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Russia.

Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma said the move is bound to positively impact the economy of the country. “The implementation of Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled with electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will send a clear and powerful message that India is serious in making travel to the country easy,” the Minister added.

A tourist from these countries will now be able to apply for an e-visa through the designated website and pay the fee online to get an ETA within 72 hours. The facility will be available initially at nine airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kochi, Thiruvanthapuram, Hyderabad and Goa.

The addition of 43 countries is the first phase of the roll out and more countries will be added soon. Mr. Sharma said when e-visa is implemented from all the tourism generating countries, tourism to India will grow by at least 50-100 per cent.

E-visa will be valid for 30 days and a tourist can avail the facility twice a year.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was also present at the event, assured safety and security for all tourists particularly foreigners who come to India. “We are formulating a legal framework for this. We will ensure safety and security for all tourists,” he said.

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