India Cuts Visa Categories From 13 To 9; Application Form Fields Reduced By Up To 70%
Government has rationalised the visa regime by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to 9 and the number of sub-categories from 49 to 23. Ministry of Home Affairs said that the move is aimed at boosting foreign tourist arrivals, enhancing medical value travel and foreign student arrivals.
The step follows the earlier rationalisation undertaken in October last year when the main visa categories were reduced from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49. The Ministry said that the required fields and columns for all 23 categories and sub-categories of Visas have been reduced by 65 to 70 per cent. The Ministry said that to implement all changes made in the Indian Visa Regime, it is updating the IT systems and by year-end visas will be granted as per the new rationalisation.
