New Delhi: The Indian government has significantly expanded the accessibility for e-visa holders entering the country by notifying 11 additional international ports of entry. This expansion brings the total number of approved entry points for e-visa holders to 88, comprising 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Among the newly added entry points is the India-Pakistan border crossing in Attari, Punjab. The new list includes two airports, Bhopal and Tirupati, and nine land ports: Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki, Moreh, and Attari (Road). Previously approved land ports included Raxaul, Rupaidiha, and Jogbani borders.
It’s important to note that while the e-visa facility is now available to a broader range of international travelers, it does not apply to Pakistani nationals. The Indian government does not grant e-visas to travelers holding Pakistani passports or those of Pakistani origin. These individuals are required to apply for a regular visa through an Indian Mission.
The e-visa program, initially launched in 2014 to simplify visa procedures for nationals of 43 countries, has since expanded its reach to citizens from 172 countries. It caters to 17 sub-categories of travelers, including those on medical, student, mountaineering, cruise, tourist, transit, group travel, and business visits. Approximately 95% of e-visa applications are processed within 72 hours, enhancing its efficiency and appeal. This latest move is expected to further boost the utility and attractiveness of the electronic visa system.
The comprehensive list of currently approved airports for e-visa holders includes Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bhogapuram, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa (Dabolim), Goa (Mopa), Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Port Blair, Pune, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, in addition to the newly added Bhopal and Tirupati.
The 38 seaports facilitating e-visa entry are Agatti, Alang, Bedi Bandar, Bhavnagar, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Cuddalore, Dahej, Dhamra, Haldia, Hazira, Kakinada, Ennore-Kamarajar, Kandla, Karaikal, Kattupalli, Kolkata, Kollam, Krishnapatnam, Mandvi, Mormugao, Mumbai, Mundra, Nagapattinam, New Mangalore, Nhava Sheva, Paradeep, Pipavav, Porbandar, Port Blair, Sikka, Tuna Tekra, Tuticorin, Vallarpadam, Visakhapatnam, Vizhinjam-Kovalam, and Vizhinjam.
