After Japan, India starts Visa-on-arrival for South Korean nationals
India has started granting visa on arrival to South Korean nationals, a move that is expected to boost inflow of tourists and business visitors, officials said today. South Korea is the second country whose nationals are now given visa on arrival by India after Japan, whose citizens have been getting the privilege since March 2016. Here are the details.
Facility includes double entry visit for business, tourism and conference
The visa on arrival facility to South Korean nationals was started from October 1, 2018, a home ministry official said. Like the Japanese nationals, the facility to South Korean citizens includes double entry visit for a period not exceeding 60 days for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes for entry through six designated international airports, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
On average, 600 South Korean nationals arrive daily in Delhi
According to an estimate, around 2 lakh Indian visas are issued to South Korean nationals every year, of which 80% are tourists. On an average, 600 South Korean nationals arrive in the national capital daily. Though visa-on-arrival facility was earlier offered to citizens of 12 countries, it was discontinued in November 2014, after the launch of e-Tourist Visa scheme.
Facility of e-Tourist Visa now covers 166 countries
Visa-on-arrival facility was earlier offered to citizens of Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and South Korea. The facility of e-Tourist Visa now covers 166 countries and foreigners can obtain an online visa within 72 hours for travel purposes.
1.7 million foreigners visited India with e-visa in 2017
The number of visas issued through the e-visa system is now approximately 40% of the total number of visas and the figure is soon expected to cross the 50% mark, which is an indication of its popularity. The number of foreigners who visited India with e-visa has gone up from 447,000 in 2015 to 1.7 million in 2017.
Foreign tourist number may reach 2mn by year end: Officials
The figure for 2018 is 1.87 million till October 31 this year and it may reach 2 million by December'18, the Home Ministry official said. The e-visa facility covers practically all the countries of the world and foreigners can arrive at any of the designated 26 airports and five seaports in India without interacting with any official before checking in at the immigration counter.
Printout of authorization e-mail will allow entry in India
Under the e-visa scheme, an applicant receives an email authorizing him/her to travel to India. The tourist can travel with a printout of this authorization. On arrival, they have to present the authorization to the immigration authorities who would then allow entry into the country.
