LTV for five years for minorities from neighbouring countries

The government has decided that long term visa will be granted by the ministry of home affairs for five years to minority nationals from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, a home ministry release said.

"The central government has decided that henceforth the Long Term Visa (LTV) will be granted initially by the Ministry of Home Affairs for five years at a time on the specific recommendation of the State Government/UT Administration instead of one year at present, the release said.

It said that powers have been delegated to the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/Foreigners Registration Officer to grant extension for a period of up to six months on the short term visa of the minority nationals from neighbouring countries applying for long term visa.

"A timeline of one month for FRRO/FRO and 21 days for the State Government/ UT Administration has been fixed for processing of LTV applications," a home ministry release said.

It said that children of minority nationals from neighbouring countries staying on LTV can now take admission in schools, colleges, universities, technical/professional institutions without any specific permission from the state government.

"Only an intimation is to be given in this regard to FRRO/FRO concerned, it said and added that states have also been empowered to grant permission to minority nationals from neighbouring countries staying on LTV to engage themselves in employment of purely private nature.

It said the central government has been looking at the hardships faced by the applicants from the neighbouring countries especially the minorities for getting Indian citizenship and long-term visa.

"In continuation of the efforts, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the above measures to streamline grant of long term visa and facilitate the stay of minority nationals from neighbouring countries, especially the minority communities from Pakistan," the release added.