VYAPART INFO

Visa requirements for Indian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of India. As of 2 July 2019, Indian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 58 countries and territories, and ranking the Indian passport 86th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

A visa (from the Latin charta visa, meaning "paper that has been seen") is a conditional authorization granted by a territory to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that territory. Visas typically may include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits or an individual's right to work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry, and can be revoked at any time. A visa most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document.

Historically, immigration officials were empowered to permit or reject entry of visitors on arrival at the frontiers. If permitted entry, the official would issue a visa, when required, which would be a stamp in a passport. Today, travelers wishing to enter another country must often apply in advance for what is also called a visa, sometimes in person at a consular office, by post or over the internet. The modern visa may be a sticker or a stamp in the passport, or may take the form of a separate document or an electronic record of the authorization, which the applicant can print before leaving home and produce on entry to the visited territory. Some countries do not require visitors to apply for a visa in advance for short visits.

Visa applications in advance of arrival give countries a chance to consider the applicant's circumstances, such as financial security, reason for travel, and details of previous visits to the country. Visitors may also be required to undergo and pass security or health checks upon arrival at the port of entry. Some countries require that their citizens, as well as foreign travelers, obtain an "exit visa" to be allowed to leave the count

Recent Updates

• In June 2013, Bangladesh and India both agreed to grant visa on arrival to each other's citizens who travel with Diplomatic or Official passports. Due to this bilateral agreement, Diplomatic Passport and Official Passport holders are eligible for a visa on arrival if entering by air, road or sea but not train.
• The requirement for a visa was removed by Indonesia in July 2017, Qatar in August 2017, Serbia in September 2017, and Tunisia in October 2017.
• Visa free status was granted to parts of the Russian Far East: Primorye and the rest of Khabarovsk, Sakhalin, Chukotka and Kamchatka regions in 2018.
• Australia started offering an online, e600 visitor visa to Indian passport bearers in July 2017.
• Kyrgyzstan followed suit with online visitor visas in September 2017, Armenia in November 2017, and both Vietnam and Uzbekistan in 2018.
• Indians already in possession of a valid UK, United States, Canada or Schengen visa became eligible to apply for a visa on arrival for Oman in October 2017, and Chile (US visa only) in April 2019.
• Similarly, Argentina allowed Indian nationals with a valid US or Schengen visa to apply for ETA in March 2019.
• All Indian passport bearers became eligible for a visa on arrival for Gabon in October 2017, Rwanda in January 2018, Zimbabwe, Angola and Jordan in February 2018, the Bahamas (but only with a valid Schengen, UK, US or Canadian visa) on 24 April 2018 and Iran on 22 July 2018.
• Eligible Indian travelers can now participate in the Global Entry program for expedited entry into the United States.
• France abolished airport transit visas (ATV) for Indian nationals after 23 July 2018.