{"id":237971,"date":"2020-10-24T13:27:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-24T07:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=237971"},"modified":"2023-10-03T14:52:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:22:54","slug":"mha-graded-relaxation-in-visa-and-travel-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/10\/24\/mha-graded-relaxation-in-visa-and-travel-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"MHA | Graded relaxation in visa and travel restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In view of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had taken a series of steps to curtail the inward and outward movement of international passengers since February, 2020.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Government has now decided to make a graded relaxation in visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals and Indian nationals who wish to enter or leave India.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Therefore, it has been decided to permit all OCI and PIO cardholders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose, except on a Tourist Visa to enter by air or water routes through authorized airports and seaport immigration check posts.\u00a0 This includes flights operated under Vande Bharat Mission, Air Transport Bubble arrangements or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. All such travellers will however have to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding quarantine and other health\/COVID-19 matters.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under this graded relaxation, Government of India has also decided to restore with immediate effect all existing visas (except electronic visa, Tourist Visa and Medical Visa).\u00a0 If the validity of such visas has expired, fresh visas of appropriate categories can be obtained from Indian Mission\/Posts concerned.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign nationals intending to visit India for medical treatment can apply for a Medical Visa including for their medical attendants. Therefore, this decision will enable foreign nationals to come to India for various purposes such as business, conferences, employment, studies, research, medical purposes etc.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>[Press Release dt. 22-10-2020]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>[Source: PIB]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In view of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had taken a series of steps to <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8808,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1188,2],"tags":[39924,40659,2635,39864,40390,43876,43877,40660,43875],"class_list":["post-237971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hot_off_the_press","category-news","tag-covid-19","tag-foreign-nationals","tag-Immigration","tag-indian-nationals","tag-mha","tag-oci","tag-tourist-visa","tag-travel-restrictions","tag-visa-relaxation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>MHA | Graded relaxation in visa and travel restrictions | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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Indulia"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_1\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":230414,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/06\/03\/mha-relaxation-in-visa-and-travel-restrictions-to-permit-certain-categories-of-foreign-nationals-to-come-to-india\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":0},"title":"MHA |Relaxation in Visa and Travel restrictions to permit certain categories of Foreign Nationals to come to India","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"June 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Government of India has considered the matter regarding relaxation of the visa & travel restrictions for certain categories of foreign nationals who need to come to India. It has been decided to permit the following categories of foreign nationals to come to India:- Foreign businessmen\u00a0coming to India on a Business\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hot Off The Press&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hot Off The Press","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/news\/hot_off_the_press\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":230009,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/05\/22\/mha-relaxes-visa-and-travel-restrictions-imposed-in-response-to-covid-19-permitting-certain-categories-of-oci-cardholders-stranded-abroad-to-come-back-to-india\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":1},"title":"MHA relaxes Visa and Travel restrictions imposed in response to COVID -19, permitting certain categories of OCI cardholders stranded abroad, to come back to India","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"May 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has relaxed Visa and Travel restrictions imposed in response to COVID -19, permitting certain categories of Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders, who are stranded abroad, to come to India. Following categories of OCI Cardholders stranded abroad, have been permitted to come to India:-\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hot Off The Press&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hot Off The Press","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/news\/hot_off_the_press\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":228246,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/04\/13\/grant-of-consular-services-to-foreign-nationals-presently-residing-in-india-due-to-travel-restrictions-in-the-context-of-covid19-outbreak-till-30th-april-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":2},"title":"Grant of Consular Services to Foreign Nationals, presently residing in India due to travel restrictions in the context of COVID19 outbreak, till 30th April, 2020","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"April 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In order to remove confusion in the public, it is informed that Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA), on 28.03.2020, had granted consular services on gratis basis to foreign nationals, presently residing in India due to travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19 outbreak, till 30th\u00a0April, 2020. (https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1613895) Regular visa,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hot Off The Press&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hot Off The Press","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/news\/hot_off_the_press\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":229131,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/05\/06\/grant-of-some-consular-services-to-foreign-nationals-presently-stranded-in-india-due-to-covid-19-for-30-days-from-date-of-lifting-of-prohibition-on-international-air-travel-of-passengers-from-india\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":3},"title":"Grant of some Consular Services to Foreign Nationals, presently stranded in India due to COVID-19, for 30 days from date of lifting of Prohibition on International Air Travel","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"May 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA), on 17.04.2020, had granted consular services on gratis basis to foreign nationals, presently stranded in India due to travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19 outbreak, till 3rd\u00a0May, 2020. (https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1615496). After considering the matter, it has been decided to extend the period of providing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hot Off The Press&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hot Off The Press","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/news\/hot_off_the_press\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":366803,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/11\/15\/bci-rules-on-foreign-lawyers-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":4},"title":"BCI Issues Rules on Foreign Nationals: Enrolment, Practice Scope, and Key Restrictions","author":"Shubhi","date":"November 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Understand BCI\u2019s 2025 rules for foreign lawyers practicing in India and impact on cross-border legal practice.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BCI Rules Foreign Nationals","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BCI-Rules-Foreign-Nationals.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BCI-Rules-Foreign-Nationals.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BCI-Rules-Foreign-Nationals.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BCI-Rules-Foreign-Nationals.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":230043,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/05\/24\/mha-issues-sops-for-movement-of-indian-nationals-stranded-outside-the-country-as-well-as-for-those-persons-stranded-in-india-who-are-desirous-to-travel-abroad-for-urgent-reasons\/","url_meta":{"origin":237971,"position":5},"title":"MHA issues SOPs for movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country, as well as, for those persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"May 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and for those persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons. This order is in supersession of MHA order, dated 05.05.2020, on the same\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hot Off The Press&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hot Off The Press","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/news\/hot_off_the_press\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8808"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237971\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}