The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has expanded the number of international ports through which foreign nationals holding e-visas can enter the country, adding 11 new entry points, including nine land ports and two airports. The move is aimed at facilitating travel and boosting the attractiveness of the electronic visa regime.
Before You Start
India introduced the e-visa facility in 2014 for nationals of 43 countries. The scheme, which provides an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival, has since been expanded and is currently available to citizens of 172 countries. The e-visa programme now covers 17 sub-categories under tourist, business, medical and student streams, besides transit, mountaineering, miscellaneous and group visitor visas for cruise travellers.
The MHA said the expansion had been carried out under its ongoing efforts to facilitate legitimate foreign travel while maintaining robust security mechanisms through technology-driven border management systems.