OCI cardholders from USA, UK, Germany, France can visit India says Home Ministry

New Delhi, Aug 8: In a major development, the Home Ministry on Friday eased the visa restrictions imposed during the lockdown. It said that the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders from the US, UK, Germany, and France, are allowed to visit as India has signed 'air bubble' arrangements with them.

 

 

Meanwhile, other foreigners from these countries have been allowed to avail of the Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes. According to a home ministry notification, Indian citizens have also been allowed to travel to these countries on any type of visa. Home Ministry spokesperson in a tweet said that "Ministry of Home Affairs has permitted OCI cardholders to enter India who belongs to countries with which 'air bubble' arrangements have been finalised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation."

 

 

The order also allows Indian nationals “holding any type of valid visa of such countries” to travel to that country “provided there is no travel restriction for entry of Indian nationals in that country”. This order had allowed the entry of foreign minors and students having at least one parent who is either an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder, foreign nationals married to Indian citizens, and foreigners who are single parents with Indian passport- or OCI card-holding children.

 

India so far has bilateral air travel arrangements or 'air bubbles' with the US, UK, Germany, and France during the coronavirus pandemic-related international travel restrictions. Other countries may be included under this scheme in the future. An air bubble agreement allows the free movement of commercial flights between two nations.