THE Indian Government has further relaxed visa and travel restrictions to India keeping
in view the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country, according to a press release by the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver.
– All valid regular (paper) tourist visas issued before March 2020, except 10-year tourist visas, stand restored with immediate effect. Canadian nationals will be eligible for fresh regular tourist visas, except 10-year duration tourist visas.
– Electronic travel authorization or e-Visa issued to Canadian nationals before March
2020 will continue to remain under suspension. Canadian nationals are not eligible for
issuance of fresh e-Visa.
Foreign nationals on a tourist visa will be permitted to enter India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airport ICPs by flights including those under
the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) or the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In no case will foreign nationals be allowed to enter through land border or riverine routes on a tourist visa.
Visa applications can be filled online and duly filled forms are to be submitted along
with required documents and fee to the nearest BLS Office in Vancouver, Surrey, Edmonton or Calgary, or sent by post to BLS Center in Surrey (for CGI, Vancouver Consular jurisdiction). All visa-related information can be accessed at the BLS website: www.blsindia-canada.com
4. Entry visas for persons of Indian origin remain available but due to added documentation and scrutiny/verification requirements, processing time for such visas will be more than 45 days. Regular tourist visas will be processed in 30 days.