Govt Allows These Foreigners To Enter India; But They Need To Book Entire Flight, Re-Apply Visa

As per the reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs has (MHA) lifted some restrictions on international travel and visa. 

Who Is Allowed To Travel By MHA?

According to the recent statement issued by the ministry, Foreign Nationals belonging to some categories will be allowed to enter the country. 

A government statement on Wednesday said the Home Ministry has allowed foreign businessmen, engineers and healthcare professionals to enter the country on the condition that they get their visas re-validated and fly into the country in chartered flights.

Basically, the home ministry order covered four broad categories of foreigners who can enter the country in non-scheduled commercial flights or chartered flights.

• People belonging to the healthcare professionals, health researchers, technicians or engineers who can come and work at health sector facilities (labs, factories) in India are permitted to travel to India. However, this is subject to a letter of invitation from any Indian accredited University, registered and recognized healthcare facility or any registered pharmaceutical company.
•  Apart from that, MHA has allowed travel for foreign businessmen who want to come to India on a Business visa that too in non-scheduled chartered or commercial flights. Those holding B-3 visas for sports are not permitted.
• Also, those who have specialization in technical work or engineering and want to travel for installing, repairing and maintaining machinery of foreign origin can also come to India. But, this will be approved on the basis of the invitation of registered business entities in India.
• This also includes people, who are in the fields of engineering, designing, managerial field or specialized work are also eligible to enter on behalf of foreign business entities that are currently present in India. Further, the ministry has clarified that this includes all manufacturing units, software and IT units, design units and financial sector companies.

Why Would This Happen?

This seems like a cautious step in the form of home ministry order to allow foreigners to enter the country, particularly in the context of the government’s efforts to restart the economy.

Prior to this, the government had shut its doors to foreigners in March this year to minimize the spread of coronavirus cases, said foreign businessmen coming to India on re-validated business visas or fresh ones would be allowed into the country.

Basically, the select group of foreign nationals would have to obtain a fresh business visa or employment visa, as applicable, from the Indian Missions/ Posts abroad.

While for foreign nationals holding a valid long term multiple-entry business visa [other than B-3 visa for sports] issued by the Indian Missions/ Posts abroad would have to get the Business visa re-validated from the Indian Mission/ Post concerned.

Further, such foreign nationals would not be permitted to travel to India on the strength of any electronic visa obtained earlier.