The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified 11 new international ports through which foreigners holding e-visas can enter India. The addition takes the total number of such ports across the country to 88.
The 11 newly notified ports include nine land ports and two airports. The land ports are Attari on the India-Pakistan border, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki and Moreh. The two airports added are in Bhopal and Tirupati.
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With this addition, India's total tally of 88 international ports for e-visa entry comprises 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the move further enhances the attractiveness and utility of the electronic visa facility.
Move part of wider visa reforms
The government said the expansion is part of a series of steps taken under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to liberalise, streamline and simplify India's visa regime. The stated objective is to facilitate legitimate foreign travellers while simultaneously strengthening technological infrastructure to enhance internal security.
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The ministry noted that India processes approximately 95 per cent of e-visa applications in under 72 hours.
E-visa facility now covers 172 countries
The e-visa facility, introduced in 2014 with Electronic Travel Authorization for nationals of 43 countries, is now available to nationals of 172 countries. It currently covers 17 sub-categories, including tourist, business, medical, student, mountaineering, transit and group visitor (cruise) visas.
According to the ministry, India now issues roughly 78 per cent of all visas as e-visas.
