OCI cardholders from select nations can enter India

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 7

The government today allowed all Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders, who belong to countries with which “air bubble” agreements have been entered into by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), to enter India.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, “The government has permitted OCI cardholders, who belong to countries with which ‘air bubble’ arrangements have been finalised by the MoCA, to enter India.”

He added other foreigners from these countries have also been allowed to avail Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes. Indian citizens have also been allowed to travel to such countries on any type of visa, he added.

Announcing the guidelines for “Unlock 3.0”, the MHA had said, international travel has been permitted in a limited manner under the government’s “Vande Bharat Mission” (VBM).

“Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner,” it had said.

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world, India suspended operations of scheduled commercial international flights on any of the country’s airports. However, the government launched VBM in May to evacuate stranded Indian abroad and according to data available with the MoCA at least 10 lakh people have so far been repatriated from across the world.

On July 16, the MoCA announced setting up bilateral “air bubbles” with countries to partially resume international flights to various destinations. Under the scheme, deals were struck with the US, the UK, Germany, France and the UAE.

An air bubble is a travel corridor between two countries under which scheduled commercial flights can be operated in a regulated environment. This arrangement has been made due to several travel restrictions across the world.

Flight operations

• The MHA says Indians have also been allowed to travel to such countries on any type of visa.
• Besides, other foreigners from these countries have also been allowed to avail Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes.

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