NEW DELHI, 13 March 2020: India shuts down the country to tourists at noon today following the suspension of all visas until 15 April, according to a Bureau of Immigration ruling announced Wednesday.
It shuts down India to all tourists by suspending visa issue while returning Indian nationals could face quarantine for up to 14 days.
Land border checkpoints also shut except for just a few identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs that have in place “robust medical screening facilities”.
India’s Bureau of Immigration said the suspension will remain in place until 15 April. It extends to “all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except diplomats and officials of the UN and international organisations.”
The ruling announced by the Bureau’s deputy director, Dinesh Adhikari, comes into effect 1200, 13 March, at the port of departure of any foreigner who is making an onward journey to India.
Visas remain valid for foreigners who are already travelling in the country. There is also a channel to consider a visa extension for foreigners who already in the country.
The visa-free travel facility granted to OCI cardholders (overseas citizens of India who do not have an Indian passport) will be kept in abeyance until 15 April.
Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the Indian Mission for visa consideration.
The Bureau of Immigration states: “All Incoming travellers including Indian nationals arriving from any destination and having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany on or after 15 February 2020, shall be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days.”
International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated immigration checkpoints that have robust medical screening facilities and are identified separately by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
An additional travel advisory was appended to the Immigration Bureau statement based on instructions from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It stated that Indian nationals presently on overseas trips or planning to travel overseas should “avoid non-essential travel”. They could face quarantine for a minimum of 14 days on their return to India.
(Source: Bureau of Immigration)
