If you’re Emirati and are planning a trip to India, we’ve got some real good news for you! Emiratis traveling to India can now get visa on arrival at the airport, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced. How cool is that! The visa on arrival is valid for 60 days and permits individuals to travel to South-Asian countries for business, tourism, conferences and medical purposes.
What’s In It?
Emiratis traveling to India will now enjoy visa on arrival, thanks to the Indian Embassy’s new move. When in India, Emiratis will be given visa-on-arrival at the airport. This will, permit them to enter South-Asian countries for business, tourism, conferences and medical purposes.
Introduction of Visa-on-Arrival facility to nationals of the United Arab Emirates @AmbKapoor @cgidubai @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/73crtH672g
— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) November 17, 2019
The visa on arrival service will be available across six cities in India including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. The visa on arrival policy is applicable only if you have previously obtained an e-visa or a standard paper visa.
The move is an initiative to strengthen tourism, trade and strategic ties between the two countries. The visa-on-arrival facility is not available to holders of diplomatic or official passports. Furthermore, the visa will be non-extendable and non-convertible.
As for the process, travelers must download, print and fill an application form and present the same to the visa officer on arrival. You have also the option to fill the form on arrival. The format of the form will also be available from the airlines on board the flight. UAE nationals must carry duly filled VoA Application Form along with duly filled disembarkation card.
What Else?
The next time you’re planning a trip to Oman, make sure you do so in advance. The country now has new visa rules for UAE residents. Authorities have now made e-visa compulsory to enter the country. Previously, visitors could fill a form and obtain visa on arrival at the immigration counters at the border.
However, tourists must now apply for an e-visa via the visa website https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ to legally enter Oman. Previously, residents had complained about the long queues at the immigration counters, especially during public holidays like the upcoming National Day.
The visa is priced at AED 50 and will be valid for four weeks, with extension of an additional week. The website further mentions that all GCC residents can travel using visa type 29A, if you have an approved profession. In case you’re the companion of the main traveller, you can opt for visa type 29B. Non-residents must apply for the Dubai/Oman joint visa through the embassy. The joint visa with Dubai is free, but the traveller has to travel directly to Oman from Dubai.
First Published: November 18, 2019 9:49 AM