Government Suspends All Visas, Ban on Travel of OCI Card Holders

New Delhi : The government on Tuesday suspended all existing visas given to foreign nationals (except in certain categories) in lockdown until international flights from India ceased operations.

In a separate order, the Centre also extended on ‘gratis’ basis the visas of foreigners stranded in India due the lockdown for a period of 30 days beyond opening of international travel in the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also said that it has also postponed travel on multiple-entry lifetime visas given to expatriate citizens of India (OCI) card holders until international flights are suspended. It states that although OCI card holders already living in India can stay here for any length of time.

The order states that all existing visas granted to foreigners except diplomatic, official, UN international organizations, employment and project categories will remain suspended until the government removes the ban on international air travel to come and leave from India.

All commercial flights, international and domestic have been suspended in the country since March 24 when the initial lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Air and rail services continue to remain suspended with the extension of the lockdown on April 14 and May 2, till May 17.