India Friday extended visa validity of foreigners, who have remained stuck in the country since March last year, to August 31, on a gratis basis or free of charge due to Covid 19 restrictions on international commercial flights.
"In the light of non-resumption of normal commercial flight operations, it has 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 August 31, 2021, on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty," the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs said in a media release.
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These foreign nationals will not be required to submit any application to the FRRO/FRO concerned for extension of their visas, it said.
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"These foreigners may apply for an exit permission to the FRRO concerned as and when they get the opportunity to exit the country and the same would be granted without levy of any overstay penalty," reads the media release.
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Earlier, these foreign nationals had to get their visa extended every month.