TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The first passengers under the new ‘visa on arrival’ facility will start landing at Goa’s Dabolim airport from midnight Thursday. Goa is one of the nine airports that will welcome passengers from 43 countries including Russia, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand under this regime.
With the launch of electronic visa (e-visa) facility, tourists from 43 countries can apply for Indian visa in four simple steps. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma launched the tourist visa on arrival (TVOA) service enabled with electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme in New Delhi.
“This facility will enable tourists from 43 countries to apply and procure the visa within 96 hours with a validity of 30 days which is extendable subject to approval from respective embassies,” Tourism Minister Dilip Paruleker told the media on Thursday.
Airport Director K Rao said that all facilities had been provided and Dabolim airport was ready to welcome its first visa on arrival passengers. This visa will allow tourists to enter and remain in Goa (India) for 30 days from the date of approval of ETA and will be valid for 30 days in India from the date of arrival in India.
Officials said that the facility will be extended to other nations in a phased manner. Nine international airports, including Goa, come under this facility. The others include Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. This visa on arrival regime includes other facilities such as short duration medical visit and casual business visit.
