MHA relaxes visa regulations for foreign businessmen as India opens up post-lockdown

As India begins to 'unlock' post-lockdown, Ministry of Home Affairs, on Wednesday, issued a memo stating that certain categories of foreign officials have been permitted to come into India. se categories include foreign businessmen on business via, foreign healthcare officials, foreign engineering specialists and foreign technical specialists on invitation from an Indian business entity. However, government is yet to commence international passenger flights to and from India.

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MHA eases visa restrictions 

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VISA restrictions during lockdown

Previously, Home Ministry extended regular and e-visas of all foreigners who are stranded in India due to coronavirus lockdown till May 22 on a gratis basis. Home Ministry also said visa granted to those foreigners, except diplomats and UN officials, who are supposed to come to India, will remain suspended. Currently, India's lockdown till June 30, bans international flights.

Moreover, all visas for foreign nationals and OCI card visa-free travel for Indian-origin people, who are t in country, remain suspended till restrictions on international travel to and from India remain in place. However, MHA has said that it will soon amend its order to provide relief to stranded Indians. On May 7, Centre launched Vande Bharat mission to bring back Indians stranded abroad amid Coronavirus global lockdown via aircraft and naval ships in a phased manner. While 57,000 Indians have been flown in till date, next phase will commence on June 13, as confirmed by MEA.

COVID-19: all visas, OCI cards for foreign nationals outside India remain suspended

International flights by August-September

On last Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri revealed that by August-September, a 'good percent' of international flights will begin operation. He added that while he is aiming to start international flights from mid-June, as per ongoing rate of growth in Coronavirus infections, ministry is confident that a fair number of international flights will commence operation by August. Domestic flights were allowed to resume operations on May 25, with conditions.

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'Unlock 1'

Centre has anunced that nationwide- Coronavirus lockdown has been extended in containment zones till June 30, 2020. Centre has also anunced that re-opening of areas outside containment zones will be done in three phases. As per new guidelines, night curfew timings have been amended to 9:00 PM to 5 AM throughout nation, except for essential services. India's active cases stand at 101497, recovered cases at 100302 with 5815 fatalities.