The government on Friday extended the visas of foreign nationals, stranded in India due to the Covid-19 pandemic, till August 31 on gratis basis or free of charge.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said this was done as a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid visas got stranded in the country due to the non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last June 29, the MHA had initially issued an order conveying that the Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals expiring post June 30, 2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis.
However, an official statement said, such foreign nationals have been applying for extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis.
"The matter has now been reconsidered by the MHA in the light of non-resumption of normal commercial flight operations, and it has accordingly been decided that the Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals stranded in India will be considered as deemed to be valid till 31.08.2021 on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty," it said.
These foreign nationals will not be required to submit any application to the FRRO/FRO concerned for extension of their visas, it added.
Such foreign nationals may apply for an exit permission to the FRRO/FRO concerned before exiting the country, which would be granted on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty.
(Published 04 June 2021, 10:26 IST)
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