Lok Sabha Question No. 1498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Visa Free Access
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal, Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1498 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## VISA FREE ACCESS

## 1498. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of countries providing visa free access to Indian citizens;
- (b) the   total   number   of   countries   offering   visa   on   arrival   access   to   Indian citizens;
- (c) the total number of countries to which Indian Government offers Visa free access for its citizens;
- (d) Whether the Government has made any provision to offer rebate for any country in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

- (a) As on date, 16 countries provide visa-free access to Indian citizens (list of countries at Annexure-I ).
- (b) As on date, 38 countries provide visa-on-arrival access to Indian citizens (list of countries at Annexure-II ).
- (c) Citizens of 3 countries ( Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives ) are granted visa-free access and citizens of 3 countries ( Japan, South Korea and UAE ) are granted visa-on-arrival by the Government of India.

(d) & (e)  Government of India has been progressively liberalizing its visa policy with the objective of promoting tourism and investments into India from other countries. Keeping in mind the same objective, India has extended e-Visa scheme to 169 foreign countries/ territories till date.  These initiatives are expected to encourage other   countries   to   reciprocate   and   facilitate   travel   of   Indian   citizens   to   their countries.

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## Annexure-I

## FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHICH PROVIDE VISA-FREE ACCESS TO INDIAN CITIZENS

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Country            | Remarks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Barbados                       | Visa-free stay from 30 to 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         2 | Bhutan                         | Visa Free regime exists between Bhutan and India. Indian ordinary passport holders are granted a minimum of 7-days entry permit to visit Bhutan by road / air.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|         3 | Dominica                       | Visa-free stay up to six months for tourism and business                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|         4 | Grenada                        | Visa-free stay up to three months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         5 | Haiti                          | Visa-free facility available                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|         6 | Hong Kong                      | Visa-free stay up to 14 days in Hong Kong strictly subject to successfully completing Hong Kong Government mandatory Pre arrival Registration (PAR) online. However an Indian National is required to apply an appropriate visa from Hong Kong Immigration Department if he/she is unsuccessful in completing the Hong Kong Government Mandatory PAR or intends to visit Hong Kong for a purpose other than visit, such as employment, study or taking up residence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|         7 | Maldives                       | Visa-free stay for a maximum of 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|         8 | Mauritius                      | There is no visa requirement for Indian ordinary passport holders visiting Mauritius for any purpose. Passport & Immigration Office (PIO), Govt. of Mauritius, stamps visa of different types on arrival to segregate Indian visitors under various categories and maintain record. Tourist visa on arrival: A 60 days extendable visit visa is initially granted at immigration counter on arrival. Visit visa may be granted for a maximum period of 6 months in a calendar year on case to case basis subject to Immigration requirements. Business visa for a maximum of 120 days in a calendar year provided the maximum stay does not exceed 90 days during each trip. Medical visa for a maximum period of 6 months, extendable to complete the treatment provided request is made to PIO prior to expiry of the current visa. |
|         9 | Montserrat                     | Visa-free stay for tourism and business purposes for a period of three months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|        10 | Nepal                          | Visa-free stay for Indian Nationals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|        11 | Niue Island                    | Visa-free stay up to 30 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|        12 | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | Visa-free stay up to 30 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|        13 | Samoa                          | Visa-free stay up to 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|        14 | Senegal                        | Visa-free stay up to 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|        15 | Serbia                         | Visa-free stay up to 30 days within a period of one year                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        16 | Trinidad & Tobago              | Visa-free stay up to three months for tourism and business purposes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

## Annexure-II FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHICH PROVIDE VISA-ON-ARRIVAL ACCESS TO INDIAN CITIZENS

|   SL. No. | Name of the Country   | Remarks                                                                  |
|-----------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Angola                | Visa-on-arrival is granted for one month with prior submission of papers |
|         2 | Armenia               | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 21 days or 120 days, single entry         |
|         3 | Bolivia               | Visa-on-arrival is granted for a maximum 60 days period                  |
|         4 | Cabo Verde            | Visa-on-arrival facility available                                       |

|   5 | Cambodia                     | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-----|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   6 | Cameroon Union Republic      | Cameroon allows pre-approved visa-on-arrival                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|   7 | Cook Islands                 | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   8 | Ethiopia                     | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   9 | Fiji                         | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 4 months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|  10 | Guinea Bissau                | Visa-on-arrival is granted                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|  11 | Indonesia                    | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days on gratis-basis and for 60 days on a fee of US$ 35/-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|  12 | Iran                         | Visa-on-Arrival facility available. However Indian applicants have to apply online & obtain 'Submission Notice' before departure & Visa fee is paid at Iranian airport.                                                                                                                                                                           |
|  13 | Jamaica                      | Visa-on-arrival facility is granted for 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|  14 | Jordan                       | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  15 | Kenya                        | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 3 months which can further be extended by another 3 months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|  16 | Kiribati                     | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 2 months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|  17 | Laos                         | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  18 | Madagascar                   | Visa-on-arrival is granted for a period of 3 months (maximum) for tourism. If visa is granted for one-month on arrival it can be extended for another 2 months and if visa is granted for 2 months on arrival it can be extended for another one month by the Ministry of Interior, Republic of Madagascar.                                       |
|  19 | Mauritania                   | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 90 days only at Nouakchott International Airport.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  20 | Myanmar                      | Visa-on-arrival is granted. Tourist Visa for 30 days at a fee of USD 50, Business Visa for 70 days at a fee of USD 50, Workshop/Seminar/Meeting/Research Visa for 28 days at a fee of USD 40, Transit Visa for 24 hours at a fee of USD 20, Crew Visa for 28 days at a fee of USD 40                                                              |
|  21 | Nigeria                      | Nigeria allows pre-approved visa-on-arrival                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|  22 | Qatar                        | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days for tourism subject to certain conditions, which are as follows: i) the traveler must have passport validity of six months, ii) a return ticket, iii) hotel reservation confirmation, and iv) a valid debit/credit card in his/her name.                                                                   |
|  23 | Republic of Marshall Islands | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 90 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  24 | Reunion Island               | Visa-on-arrival facility is granted for a maximum duration of 14 days for the purpose of tourism. The hotel bookings have to be made through travel agents notified by the French authorities. The travel agents issue a voucher which has to be produced to the immigration authorities on arrival at Reunion Island.                            |
|  25 | Rwanda                       | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  26 | Saint Lucia                  | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 6 weeks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  27 | Seychelles                   | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 90 days with single entry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|  28 | Somalia                      | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  29 | Sri Lanka                    | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days which can be extended up to 180 days in case of Tourist Visa.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|  30 | Suriname                     | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 90 days on Tourist card                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|  31 | Tajikistan                   | Visa-on-arrival facility available. Visa to be applied online and approved well in advance prior to the actual date of travel, with support letter either from the EOI, Dushanbe or the organization/agency sponsoring the Indian traveller. Usually such visa is given for a period of 30 Days with Single Entry. Multiple-entry visa of 90 Days |

|    |          | validity is also given, only after recommendation from EOI, Dushanbe.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 32 | Tanzania | Visa-on-arrival is granted for maximum 3 months/single entry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 33 | Thailand | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 15 days                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 34 | Tunisia  | Visa-on-arrival is granted for a maximum of 3 months single entry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 35 | Tuvalu   | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 36 | Vanuatu  | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 1 month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 37 | Vietnam  | Visa-on-arrival is granted for a maximum period of 3 months. To avail VOA facility, one has to submit an online visa application; pay online processing fee; receive an approval letter from Immigration Authorities in Vietnam and present the approval letter to Immigration Authorities on arrival in Vietnam. |
| 38 | Zimbabwe | Visa-on-arrival is granted for 30 days/single entry at International entry points in Zimbabwe                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

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