LONDON, Dec 7: India has restored e-visa for UK travellers.
The Indian High Commission in London on Monday announced the resumption of
issue of electronic visa (e-visa) for UK travellers.
Vikram K. Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, said that e-visa
will make it easier for Britons to visit India. The system upgrade is going
on and the visa website will soon be available for applicants from the UK.
“We are rolling out e-visas once again and this service will be made available
to you forthwith. (Dates will be announced shortly). That should enable friends
from the UK far more easily to India. So welcome back, e-visas are up ahead
and all of our other services including visas at your doorstep remain available
to you. We look forward to a good winter season in which everyone gets to celebrate
their festivals in India which is the land of festivals," the High Commissioner
said.
How to apply for e-visa
Applicants can visit the official website of the Government - idianvisaonline.gov.in,
which is being upgraded. Applicant will click on ‘Apply here for e-visa’, select
the type of e-visa, provide the necessary details, and upload photo and the
passport page. Thereafter the visa fee is paid online by debit/credit card or
wallet. The fee depends on the country, type of e-visa and duration. It can
go up to $100. The Electronic Travel Authorization/ETA will come to the email
which may be presented at the immigration counter. In case of any errors/inadequacies,
the applicant will be emailed to repeat the procedure. The whole process may
take two-three days as against several weeks or months in the ncase of physical
visa. Applications should be sent a minimum of four days in advance of travel
and a maximum of 120 days.
During covid pandemic India had suspended the e-visa system but recently had
restored it to most other countries but not the UK. There have been misleading
reports in the British press over cancellation of India trips by Britons allegedly
due to last-minute changes in visa application rules by the UK High Commission
which the mission had promptly denied. Thereafter the pressure to get e-visa
resumed in order to reduce delays had begun.
The Indian and British travel industries, which have been demanding restoration
of the system, have welcomed the announcement.
India currently offers the e-visa to citizens of 156 countries.
